[Image: A three layer chocolate cake with pink, white and chocolate frosting. A wedge is cut out and placed to the side. Text: I recently came out as asexual to my campus LGBTQ group. For the first time in my life I felt like I belonged to something. Like I was part of something tangible. For once in my life I fit in. It’s hard to express how much happiness I experienced. Everyone was so kind, so supportive and loving.

That is until two girls decided I wasn’t queer enough for them. They said I wasn’t welcome in their space because I’m heteroromantic. They constantly made fun of me, it was a constant game of “queerer than thou” and I just couldn’t win. Always snickering and gossiping. It was awful. 

But then something amazing happened. The leader came out in support of me. Eventually the two girls were asked to leave the group if they couldn’t accept me. 

So they left. They would rather hate me that tolerate my presence. It was painful. But now I know that I have people who love and support me, people who will go up to bat for me. Most importantly, people who believe in the validity of my identity. I also know that having gone through the abuse and policing those girls subjected me to I’ve come out stronger. I want to thank them for that.]