We are who we are because of our upbringing. Where, when, and how we grew up forms the building blocks that make us up. How we express our gender and sexuality is largely nfluenced by our families and cultures. Some people are nurtured in an environment where anything goes and they're free to be whoever they are. In other cases, people grow up loving their home and wishing that their home loved them back.
"Jell-O Salad" by Gabrielle Montesanti is a poignant poem illustrating how we are influenced by generations of those before us, even without us knowing. This deep rooted sense of belonging is twisted inside of us when we realize that there is something about us that is different. We are afraid we might truly be the odd one out.
I think about whipping up some Jell-O
salad, but something always stops me. Maybe I’m worried I can’t make it
like my people. Maybe I’m afraid I won’t like the way it tastes.