TOWAMENCIN- What does it mean to be gay in 2016? What does it mean to be born in a generation that is more open to one’s sexual orientation?  In previous decades, discrimination towards members of the LGBTQ+ community was not uncommon and can still be found today. However, millennials like Melissa Braccia, president of North Penn’s Rainbow Alliance Club, are an inspiration – doing their part to lead a trend of positivity and acceptance towards the community.

Braccia has only been president of the Rainbow Alliance since the beginning of this school year; yet, she has already pushed to make the club and the LGBTQ+ community more mainstream within the microcosm of North Penn. She made an appearance on “Mornings”, North Penn’s weekly morning show, to spread awareness of Coming Out Day. She also held a booth at back to school night and other community events to bring awareness not only to the students but to their parents.

“It’s inspiring to have a high role in the LGBT community, even if it’s just in my school – it’s really rare to have a lot of ‘out’ people in a high school, especially this age group, so it’s really nice that I can make the community have more of a role in our school in general,” shared Braccia.

The club acts as a platform not only for Braccia, but for the many members and non-members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“It’s really empowering and it gives me confidence in the community and it gives me hope for people to better their own lives, like if they’re trying to come out or just support in general,” shared Braccia.

Braccia’s determination to serve the LGBTQ+ community began with her own story. In tenth grade, after breaking up with another boyfriend, she began to question why her past relationships and friendships didn’t work out. After pondering, she came to a moment of realization and was finally honest with herself. The events that occurred in her childhood started to make sense. The most evident: her first kiss in third grade with a girl.

“I don’t know why but it felt so natural. Although, I remember feeling really shameful about it because I thought it was wrong,” Braccia reflected.

Officially, Braccia came out at the end of the summer in 2015. At that point, she was in a relationship with her first girlfriend.

“It was easier to come out when I was in a relationship because, for most people at least, if you’re gay it’s easier because it’s like here’s proof. It’s frustrating that we have to come out in general because I wish no one would assume,” explained Braccia.

Mel now identifies as a lesbian but there was a time in her life when she questioned her gender identity partly because of her same-sex attraction. At some points, she thought she was agender, which means that she did not feel nor see herself as either of the male or female gender binaries. Braccia realized that the reason she felt that way was because of society impressing hetero-normative standards on its citizens. From there, she took credence in the feminist movement, concluding that she didn’t need to be the cookie cutter version of a woman.

“My first Pride, Philly 2016, was so empowering. It felt so good to finally not feel like the minority. You live your whole life and everyone expects these things of me, like all these stereotypes, but you go to Pride and all that is gone. And sometimes it’s kinda scary because it’s like everyone loves me here,” said Braccia

By sharing her story, Braccia encourages many other students to share theirs. Braccia is not only a leader in the North Penn community, but a voice for those who have been shackled by society’s standards. Whether a part of the LGBTQ+ community or not, Braccia is an inspiration to all to take a stand for what they believe in and define societal standards.