A Heartfelt Thank You to the Feel You Community: A Journey of Hope and Transformation
Dear Feel You Community,
As I sit here, pouring my heart out onto this screen, I am overcome with emotions that words alone cannot adequately express. The journey I have traveled in the presence of this remarkable community has been nothing short of transformative. From the depths of despair to a place of hope, from loneliness to a sense of belonging, you have been my guiding light, my pillars of strength, and my unwavering support.
Not too long ago, I found myself in the deepest, darkest corners of my soul. The weight of discovering my true sexual orientation and the subsequent rejection and hostility from my own family had shattered my world. I was lost, drowning in fear, and contemplating an unthinkable end. But then, in my darkest hour, I reached out to this community—a community that would change the trajectory of my life forever.
To each and every one of you who took the time to read my posts, who poured out your hearts in the comments, who shared your own stories of struggle and triumph, I want you to know that you saved me. Your words of encouragement, your empathy, and your unwavering support reached across the digital space and touched the depths of my soul. In that moment, I realized I was not alone. I found solace in your kindness, strength in your understanding, and hope in your shared experiences.
To the visionary minds behind Feel You, I am forever grateful. You have created a platform that goes far beyond the ordinary—a sanctuary where individuals from all walks of life can find solace, understanding, and connection. Through your creation, you have given me a lifeline, a virtual family, and the courage to choose life when all seemed lost. The impact of your vision cannot be understated, for it has saved lives, mended broken spirits, and ignited a spark of change that will forever burn bright.
There is a misconception I would like to address, one that arose from my recent post. Some of you believed that I had left Uganda in search of safety and sanctuary in a foreign land. While relocation was suggested to me by various organizations, including the remarkable Trevor Project, I made the difficult decision to stay. You see, my purpose, my calling, lies within Uganda itself. I want to be a catalyst for lasting change within my own country. I want to stand tall and be a beacon of hope for those who face similar struggles and discrimination. My aim is to make a difference, not only for the LGBTQ+ community, but for anyone who experiences discrimination based on disability, race, politics, religion, gender, or any other factor that sets them apart. It will be an uphill battle, but with the unwavering support of this incredible community, I know we can overcome any obstacles that come our way, step by step.
In the midst of my tumultuous journey, there is one person I must acknowledge—a dear friend who has provided me with a safe haven amidst the storm. Just a few days ago, I mustered the courage to reveal my truth to him. I expected rejection, judgment, and misunderstanding. But instead, something miraculous happened. He listened, truly listened, with an open heart and an open mind. And as he absorbed the comments and stories shared by this community, something shifted within him. He began to understand the depth of my pain, the magnitude of my challenges. This newfound acceptance from someone I thought would never comprehend my experiences has made this one of the most bittersweet moments of my life. I am grateful for his transformation, for his unwavering support, and for reminding me that change is possible, even in the unlikeliest of places.
In my previous post, I neglected to outline how those who are willing to support my cause can help. For those who prefer to contribute through Air Funding, I have included a fundraising link at the bottom of this message. If international transfers like Western Union are more suitable, please kindly email me at hankjayden168@gmail.com for further details. I am also open to any suggestions or advice from the members of my newfound family, for I am a 21-year-old Ugandan who has much to learn. Your guidance and support are invaluable on this journey of ours.
To the organizations I reached out to, including the Trevor Project, Amnesty International, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, France 24, International Rescue Committee, and others, I must be honest and say that the support I received did not meet my expectations. While I understand that these organizations have their own boundaries and limitations, it is the Feel You community that has provided me with the comfort, strength, and hope that I needed. You have shown me that true support knows no boundaries and transcends distance.
If I am successful in my ambitions to bring about change through my project, I will not need to hire advisors, for I have found the best advisors within the Feel You community. You have saved my life and helped me discover my purpose. Your wisdom and guidancewill be my compass as I navigate uncharted waters. Together, we can make a difference that resonates far beyond our individual experiences.
Closing my eyes, I can feel the profound impact each of you has had on my life. My biological family may have turned their backs on me, but I have found a new family—the Feel You family. In your invisible presence, your collective love and support radiate through the depths of my being. You have transformed my despair into determination, my hopelessness into a burning desire to create change. With your unwavering support, I will continue to fight for a world that embraces diversity, compassion, and equality.
As I conclude this letter, I want to express my gratitude once again, from the depths of my soul. Thank you for being the light that guided me through my darkest moments. Thank you for reminding me that there is strength in vulnerability, beauty in authenticity, and hope in the face of adversity. Together, we are forging a path towards a brighter future—a future where love triumphs over hate, where acceptance eclipses discrimination, and where every individual can live their truth without fear.
With profound gratitude and an unyielding spirit.
I agree with most of your sentiments, and I want to add that while asking stupid and aggressive questions is certainly rude and should be prohibited, we’re judging from a privileged Western position. I’m more concerned about Muslim countries, where queer people literally get a death sentence for being who they are. I know what you’re talking about – education and information – are very important too, but I just wanted to point out that the problem is much bigger and for some people it’s critical.
@Daniel you’re absolutely right about this being a privileged, westernised perspective. That’s why I opened my rant with being understanding toward those who know little to nothing about the LGBTQ+ community. Residing in a region where it’s POSSIBLE to have discussion ALONE about anything LGBTQ+ is a HUGE privilege. While I should’ve further clarified this is directed toward westerners, I appreciate you actually bringing this up!
As my friends like to say, “being queer isn’t a choice but being queerphobic is”
@clarkberry this! 110%!
And again I have to ask whether you’re planning to run for a political position, cause I’d definitely vote for you ;)
Yes, sex ed should definitely include basic LGBTQ+ terms and history. However, I think what’s more important is the discourse of general respect towards all human beings, regardless of their gender, skin color or any other unique traits. Everyone is different, and it should be taught that it’s OK to be different.
You mention politics, and I think politics promotes tribalism and hate on all sides. I wish we could ban politics, or at least make the voices about everyone being our equals stronger than any political agenda
Honestly, such education should have been integrated into the curriculum in some form years from now. The progress is so slow, I’m afraid I grow old before most people in the world even find out what asexual means...
@bluelagune as an asexual, I wholeheartedly agree with you. I honestly can’t tell whether we’re progressing or regressing where we’re at in today’s time but I won’t stop advocating for my rights others in the community.
@dknightghost I’m honestly beginning to consider it, but you’re right and I absolutely agree with everything you said!
@Mitchel Do you have many LGBTQ+ friends? I can’t even find the nerve to explain to my parents who are constantly trying to acquaint me with some boys. Don’t think I’ll ever find the energy to advocate for this. I admire people like you, you are so confident. My instinctive desire is not to tell anyone, but then I don’t really know how to communicate to men that sex is not something that interests me...
@bluelagune I don’t have friends but all of my acquaintances are LGBT, myself included, and I don’t closely associate with anyone who isn’t. Understandably a lot of queer people are closeted because if they’re not in safe spaces to be out, it could result in harassment, harm or death.
With me assuming you’re not in a safe environment to communicate your identity to loved ones or others, if you’re seeking to find community there’s a bunch of apps and secure spaces online. That’s what I usually encourage, but for myself personally, I’d rather die with my pride than to pretend I’m someone I’m not or hide who I am.