Poetic Veteran

Military boots covered in mud on wet ground during training

An Open Letter to my Recruiters and Drill Sergeants

At a time when I was still fighting internally, still trying to understand who I was and what I stood for, you helped redirect...

Pointe Noire (Film Recommendation)

What also stands out is the film’s cultural texture. Quebec filmmakers often bring a flavor to cinema that Hollywood struggles to replicate because their...

People holding candles and rainbow flags in a park during a community vigil titled 'LOVE IS LOVE'

When Safe Spaces Become Targets: A Veteran’s Reflection on Hate, Fear, and the Fight for Humanity (Essay)

The reality is this: fear spreads faster than understanding when people stop seeing one another as human beings first. We are watching division become...

People holding a rainbow-colored LGBTQ banner at a Pride parade with flags and signs promoting equality and love

Running Isn’t the Same as Hiding (Essay)

But intimate partner violence is only one piece of the storm cloud. Family environments and childhood experiences shape LGBTQ+ mental health long before adulthood...

Viking warriors with shields and axes disembarking from longships onto a rocky shore by a fjord with snow-capped mountains

Northbound Ghosts and Bloodlines (Essay)

For years, I think part of me searched for certainty. A concrete answer. A final stamp that explained why I always felt pulled in...

Wooden sign that says 'Not for sale, no wedding allowed' hanging in front of a stone building with flowers.

Not For Sale (Poetry)

My heart is not currency, not casino chips pushed across velvet tables by people gambling on my softness like it’s entertainment.

Woman smiling outdoors wearing navy blazer and pearl necklace with American flags in background

Looking Toward 2028: LGBTQ Rights, Veteran Advocacy, and the Future of American Policy

One of the major divides in modern America continues to be the uneven landscape of LGBTQ protections across state lines. States such as California,...

The Name Before the Language: From Mitch to The Trans Theory (Reflection)

The Studz Most Wanted era… yeah, that space was loud in all the wrong frequencies. What looked like a community from the outside had...

Winding trail through green hills with sunrays breaking through dark clouds

Family Isn’t a Headline (Poetry)

That’s where I hold onto her— MSG Gina Barton. During my medical board process, when everything felt uncertain, when identity felt like it was slipping through the cracks of...