Meet Hanan Khan: our 2021 show your pride essay contest winner

    Hello, my name is Hanan Khan. At first you might think that I am Indian because of my last name KHAN. Well, yes, my ancestors are from India, but I was born and raised in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I came to the United States Of America in 2015 as an International Student, and I am still an International Student. During last year, the year of dooms days of quarantine, and Covid scare. I have been encouraged by the presence of the strong women in my current school, Mount Holyoke College, to embrace who I am. I have come out to my family as a lesbian during 2020. Which was both liberating and terrifying.

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2020 was not the best year for so many people. But for me it was the year that I connected with myself more than any other year. Yes, it was gross full of fear, isolation, and unemployment, but this helped me to really connect with my core soul, real desire, and understanding my own sexuality.

​I have found that I was conforming to society’s norm of what women should do, or whom a woman should be with. And I was raised to believe a woman should be with a man no other option was available this was drilled in me by society, religion, parents, and peers’ friends. 

​ I have come out to my family, but I am still new to the LGBTQ community. I would love to have the flag of pride shine on my head. I love Rainbows colors. I would wear it with Pride because I earned it. I had to leave everyone I know behind to earn my Pride. I was rejected by my own mother to earn it. And I am pretty sure society will not accept me in Saudi for being a lesbian, but you know what I am happy to have found my identity last year. I own it to myself to celebrate the PRIDE I earned with all the confidence in me the flad will shie because my soul has the prober home for it now. My body and soul are finally unified. I am Gay and proud!!

Photo Credits: Ari Mendes & Rica Mendes
Hair & Makeup by Rica Mendes, Yaffa Beauty by Rica