Privilege is not always easy to notice when you are the one who has it. It feels ordinary, like the way life simply is. But it’s crucial to recognize that others may not walk the road with the same ease or acceptance. Take heterosexual privilege, for example. Being straight means you can walk hand-in-hand in public and introduce your partner to family without fear. But for queers, these simple acts often come with great risk.
Within the LGBTQIA+ community itself, privilege exists and is unevenly distributed. A cisgender gay man may struggle with homophobia, but not the sexism his lesbian friend experiences. A trans person from a wealthy background has more of a safety net compared to those from poor families.
For some of us, coming out may only mean facing a few awkward conversations. But for others, it could cost them their family, their job, their income, or even their personal safety. It’s because we have different privileges shaped by the many layers of our identities.
By recognizing these layered realities, we realize that our struggle is never just one story. Not to make us feel guilty, not to compete over who has it worse, but to open our eyes to the uneven ground we all stand on. Solidarity begins here, when those with relative privilege acknowledge it and choose to stand with those who have less. It means using our voices to amplify others and making sure no one is left behind in this fight for liberation.