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GLAAD's Sarah Kate Ellis Offers A Rallying Call For Lesbian Women To Break The Status Quo

"Destroy the barriers that you encounter and people’s misconceptions about what you can’t do. Fight."

This letter is part of our inaugural editorial series, "Letter to Myself," in which we asked 40 remarkable queer people to write a note to their younger selves.

Dear Sarah Kate,

Right now, you’re living in a world where you don’t see a road to success for lesbian women like yourself. Where others are able to look at television, news, and films as portals to what their lives might hold, you see nobody that you can relate to. I know it hurts. You’re unsure and a little scared. That’s okay. Fear and uncertainty can evolve into strength and fierce determination. The challenges you are facing will make you a fighter.

The status quo wasn’t built for a lesbian woman like yourself—so break it. You don’t see lesbian women in the executive suite, on TV, or in the news, so be your own role model. Destroy the barriers that you encounter and people’s misconceptions about what you can’t do. Fight.

Not only for yourself, but so that young women like you won’t have it hard as you did.

Work hard. Persist. Don’t take "no" for an answer. Rely on your strength and your imagination.

Put yourself out there and show initiative and drive. Hold fast to your values and what you believe in.

And don’t forget to seek out and find love—from your friends, family, and the lesbian community. Continue to show your true self to your biological family, because you are lucky and they accept you for who you are, and don’t forget to seek out love and acceptance from your chosen family. And find love in the family that you will have: Your dreams of being happily married and having a house with kids running around are not only attainable, but you deserve and are worthy of them.

You don’t see a path for yourself, so build your own. The only rules or roadblocks are the ones you set for yourself.

Sarah Kate Ellis

Sarah Kate Ellis is the President and CEO of GLAAD.

Read more letters here.

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