Queer Resilience: Finding Strength in the Face of Challenges
In the face of challenges, LGBTQ+ communities have always shown an incredible strength – a fierce resilience that’s been woven into the fabric of our history. From the early days of the Stonewall riots to quiet acts of courage in rural hollers, queer resilience shines through in the ways we show up for each other and ourselves.
As a queer therapist and lifelong resident of Eastern Kentucky, I know that resilience isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a lived reality. It’s the art of finding ways to keep going, even when the world feels hostile or unwelcoming. And in the holler, that strength can look like carving out safe spaces, telling your truth, or even just showing up as you are.
The Legacy of LGBTQ+ Resilience
LGBTQ+ history is full of people who found ways to thrive despite the odds. The LGBTQ+ community has always been more than its struggles – it’s been a testament to hope, creativity, and connection.
The Stonewall uprising of 1969 was sparked by trans women of color, drag queens, and other marginalized queer folks who demanded to be treated with dignity.
In rural communities, like many here in Kentucky, queer people have created underground networks of support and love, even when visibility was risky.
Organizations like PFLAG and The Trevor Project were born from the need to lift each other up and provide support where the system failed.
These stories remind us: we come from a long line of fighters and dreamers.
The Stonewall Riots: A Spark of Queer Resilience
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, LGBTQ+ folks—drag queens, trans women, gay men, and allies—decided they’d had enough. Police raids on gay bars were common, but that night, instead of shrinking back, the crowd fought back.
For six days, people protested in the streets, demanding dignity and equality. Led by Black and Brown trans women like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, the Stonewall Riots marked a turning point in LGBTQ+ history.
What started as a small act of resistance became the foundation of Pride – a reminder that resilience lives in every one of us.
“We are the proof that hope can bloom in the harshest of places – and that our love, our laughter, and our lives are acts of beautiful resistance.”
Building Personal Resilience: ACT & DBT Strategies
Here in the holler, many LGBTQ+ folks face unique stressors – from family rejection to religious stigma to simply feeling alone. But you’re not alone, and there are ways to navigate these feelings with care and compassion.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offer some helpful tools:
✅ ACT: Allow Your Emotions
It’s normal to feel anger, sadness, or fear when you’re faced with stigma or rejection. ACT teaches us to accept these feelings as part of the human experience – not something to fight against. Instead of pushing away hard emotions, we can make space for them while still moving toward what matters.
✅ DBT: Radical Acceptance
DBT’s principle of radical acceptance means acknowledging reality – even when it’s painful. You don’t have to like it or approve of it. But when you stop fighting what’s out of your control, you free up energy to focus on what you can control: your values, your actions, and your voice.
✅ ACT: Values-Driven Living
Ask yourself: What matters most to me? Is it community, authenticity, creativity? Even when the world feels heavy, your values can be a guiding star. Let them shape your choices and help you find meaning in the struggle.
✅ DBT: Self-Soothing and Support
When the world feels harsh, it’s okay to turn inward and take care of yourself.
🪻 Take a walk in nature
🪻 Listen to music that resonates
🪻 Reach out to a friend or a therapist
🪻 Hold onto the truth that you are worthy of love and belonging
Resources for LGBTQ+ Folks Seeking Support
Here are some resources that can help you build resilience and find community:
🔹 National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network – Therapy resources and support for QTPOC
🔹 The Trevor Project – Crisis intervention and resources for LGBTQ+ youth
🔹 Trans Lifeline – Peer support hotline run by and for trans people
🔹 PFLAG – Family and ally support to help navigate the challenges of coming out and living authentically
🔹Camp Beacon – https://www.campbeacon.org/ – Kentucky’s first summer camp for LGBTQ youth, fostering belonging, acceptance, and leadership
🔹CenterLink’s list of LGBT community centers in your state: https://www.lgbtcenters.org/LGBTCenters
🔹Lambda Legal help desk for legal assistance: https://www.lambdalegal.org/helpdesk
🔹Learn more about the laws and policies in your state: http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps
A Personal Note
As someone who’s spent years navigating my own journey, I know that resilience doesn’t mean you never feel pain. It means you keep going anyway – and find ways to hold yourself with compassion.
At Counseling in the Holler, I’m here to create a safe space for you to explore your emotions, your values, and your dreams. You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s find strength together.
Want to connect with a therapist who understands your journey?
If you or someone you care about is struggling with mental health, addiction, discrimination, identity challenges, or just navigating life’s changes, please remember: you’re not alone. At Counseling in the Holler LLC, I’m here to offer compassionate support for folks across Kentucky—children and teens (ages 7-17), and adults (18+). Don’t hesitate to reach out. Healing and hope are possible, and I’m ready to walk alongside you.
You deserve to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Happy Pride, y’all. 🏳️🌈💜
