Beneath the Skin

I have not felt truly seen. Judged by looks alone, I am subject to the assumptions people make about me solely because of my sexuality and faith. I feel constantly on edge, knowing that I must be on my best behavior because people wait for me to show faults that they can use to validate their hate of the communities I strive to find a home in. Why can I not be seen for what truly matters? Beneath the skin, I am the same bones that make up the rest of you. I am made in the same image of God as the rest of you. I have experiences and feelings that cannot be summed up by a single judgmental viewpoint and stereotype of the LGBTQ community or Christians. I am a child of God before all else. I am equally deserving of love, respect, and acceptance as the rest of humanity.