lesbian

Kennedy Robbins sits on their bed with their cat, Lilith, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at their home in Columbia. After ending their relationship with their high school boyfriend, Kennedy began exploring their gender and sexuality. They soon realized they are a genderqueer lesbian. “It’s so funny looking back and going, ‘Oh, oh you poor thing. I would be laying in bed dreaming of a life of like, ‘Oh, I really wish I could grow old with a woman and be married to a woman, and that would be my life.’ But like, ‘Oh, I guess I’ve found my life partner, and I’m just here now, so I’ve just got to live this life of heteronormativity,” Robbins, who is now in a relationship with a woman, said. “I’ve noticed a lot of just being around her and having these moments of, ‘Oh my God. You’re a real person. Like, you’re here right now. I’m living this life. I’m sitting next to you in this bed, and you’re actually real. That’s crazy because I didn’t think that would be possible for me at a certain point. But I get queer joy when I’m with my partner and just doing mundane little things with them that I didn’t think I’d be able to do before.”

KBIA News

Kennedy Robbins: "This was a life that I really wanted for myself."

Bailey Stover

Kennedy Robbins lives in Columbia and came out as a genderqueer lesbian after ending their relationship with their high school boyfriend. They spoke about realizing that they could live as their authentic self and have a happy life.

Ellie Nixon, who is a 20-year-old pansexual queer person, sits on her couch on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at her apartment in Columbia. Despite growing up in a home where queerness was sometimes spoken about derogatorily and where she remained closeted during her adolescence, Ellie now lives in her own apartment and has begun to more critically question her own gender and sexuality. “I don’t ever want to hide anything about who I am from the public or from myself or feel a need to be ashamed of it. But it is nerve wracking, especially when people are making comments, people are catcalling. It’s very uncomfortable, and it is scary,” Nixon said. “I actually noticed that the first time that I really went out with people on a date with someone that was feminine-presenting, I ran into a bunch of childhood friends who happened to be there. And they told me that I looked happier than I had ever been, and I continued to receive comments like that from people I ran into in public. It was just that I seemed to be more open and myself and proud of myself and confident, and it made me very happy.”

KBIA News

Ellie Nixon: “Gender is a weird one for me. I'm not sure that I'm super far in my journey with that.”

Bailey Stover

Ellie Nixon is a 20-year-old pansexual queer person who's relationship with gender is currently in flux. She spoke about her gender journey and learning to be comfortable with who she is.

Hannah Dolan sits in her living room on Friday, April 5, 2024, at her home in Jefferson City, Mo.

KBIA News

Hannah Dolan: "Queer authenticity takes a lot of bravery."

Bailey Stover

Hannah Dolan is a Jefferson City native who went to college out-of-state before returning home. During her college years, she was able to explore her sexuality. She spoke about embracing her authentic lesbian self.