“I was unstable and grieving and more suited for a patient friendship than the dramas of new love. But I loved her and in thirst, I acted unlovingly by climbing into a lap in which I wasn’t welcome. My behavior is the definition of obscene.”

“Why some people mean? One income that isn’t a livable wage plus racism will do that to you, and you can’t imagine the rage until you’ve lived it.”

I’m guest editing an essay series for Autostraddle next month and am looking for personal essays about how your black queer life has been saved or influenced by art in all forms, from television to sculpture.

“Jessi showed me that it was cool to focus on my ambitions and to form deep relationships with other girls instead of being boy-obsessed.”