“As an Asian American, cisgender woman, and someone who identifies as pansexual, I fully embrace my intersecting identities. However, my identity presents diverse struggles when I’m traveling. I constantly grapple with the “Safety Tax” — a burden that marginalized groups have to bear in order to avoid danger. For example, I routinely tie my hair up into a bun when I’m traveling at night because I’m scared someone could pull my hair. I also often pretend that I’m talking to someone on the phone when I’m really just talking to myself to ensure my safety. I experience constant anxiety about how society views me — whether it’s the objectification of being a woman in our world today or the blatant racism with the recent anti-Asian hate crimes.” - @NadyaOkamoto
Thank you @nadyaokamoto for sharing your experience with us. Head over to our stories for resources to continue learning, celebrating + supporting our queer community all year long. 🏳️🌈 #pride