Mark A. ⏏️ {FalconMarkSix}<p><a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/Pride" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Pride</span></a> <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/AsianHate" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AsianHate</span></a> <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/Gay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Gay</span></a></p><p><a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/PrideMonth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PrideMonth</span></a> is a rough time for me. I know I belong in the <a href="https://tech.lgbt/tags/LGBTQ" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LGBTQ</span></a>+ community, it's inclusive for all, but I've experienced a lot of Asian hate/racism from within the community in the past. It *should* be better now since there's more awareness of Anti-Asian hate, but Pride Month triggers past trauma and it's hard to let it go.</p><p>When I came out to my friends, I lost most of them. Afterwards, I tried using gay apps to connect with people. The amount of fetishization that happened from within, not to mention descriptions of "no femmes, fats, or asians", I grew incredibly depressed. I hated my body and my ethnicity. It wasn't until I met my amazing partner that he pulled me out of self-deprecation and helped me raise my self-esteem/self-worth. I started embracing my ethnicity, personality, and differences. I'm much happier now.</p><p>I want to remind people to be open. Racism/prejudice/hate can come from places one might not expect. You never know what experiences one has been through either.</p>