Brianna da Silva

Tag: lgbtqia+

Brianna da Silva written by Brianna da Silva
May 12, 2021 1

Where #OwnVoices Went Wrong

In 2015, Corinne Duyvis created the now-popular #ownvoices tag on Twitter as a way to highlight books where the author shared a marginalized identity with the protagonist. For example, if a lesbian author wrote a story with a lesbian protagonist, that would be considered “own voices” for “lesbian representation.”

This term and hashtag started as an innocent way to highlight books that weren’t getting enough attention and support. But its usage has spiraled out of control into something rather toxic in the publishing industry.

Here’s where #ownvoices went wrong.

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Brianna da Silva written by Brianna da Silva
June 26, 2019 0

Yes… I’m gay

When I was still an Evangelical Christian, but starting to suspect — and slowly accept — that I was bisexual, I didn’t think (at first) I’d ever act on my same-sex attractions.

I’d had this vision of myself with a husband for quite a while; certainly I’d been dreaming of that future, and looking forward to it. My being bisexual wouldn’t change that.

I wanted a husband. Right?

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Brianna da Silva written by Brianna da Silva
June 8, 2018 0

Reclaiming the temple: Chapter 3

This is Chapter 3 of my story about femininity, sexuality, and faith. Read Chapters 1 & 2 first.

I first noticed boys when I started high school.

For me, as a home schooler, “starting high school” meant going to a new co-op (much like a mini private school), where I took classes with other home school students.

I was a hopelessly awkward, unstylish, bumbling adolescent that freshman year, hiding behind mismatched layers and baggy flaring jeans that guarded my figure like an embarrassing secret. My long, curly hair was an unruly tyrant, and a constant source of insecurity.

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Brianna da Silva written by Brianna da Silva
February 3, 2018 2

Reclaiming the temple: Chapter 2

This is Chapter 2 of my story about femininity, sexuality, and faith. Read Chapter 1 first.

Sex ed is rather straightforward when you’re home schooled.

As the oldest of six kids, I was the first to experience the “Passport to Purity” tradition. (As my mom always joked, I was the “guinea pig” of the family.) When I turned eleven, my mom took me on a special weekend getaway, just the two of us. We watched The Polar Express in the theaters, awestruck by the lifelike visuals. We stayed in our own hotel room.

And we spent long car rides listening to some very intriguing tapes about puberty and… human reproduction.

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Brianna da Silva written by Brianna da Silva
January 31, 2018 0

My top SFF reads of 2017

I read a lot of books last year — the most I’ve ever read in a year, actually. (More than sixty!) Out of the many titles and numerous genres I devoured, there were ten works of science fiction and fantasy that really stood out to me.

Some were new releases. Others were classics or old gems. Not all of them were perfect or free from problematic elements. But all of them inspired me, challenged me, or broadened my way of thinking about the genre of speculative fiction.

Today, I’ll share them all with you, including what I liked and where I believe they fell short.

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Brianna da Silva written by Brianna da Silva
January 27, 2018 0

Reclaiming the temple: Chapter 1

This is Chapter 1 of my story about femininity, sexuality, and faith.

Since I was a young girl, I always felt something about me was different.

It wasn’t the fact that my personality, interests, and play style were unique among the girls I knew. Luckily, for the first decade of my life I had almost no exposure to the concept of gender roles. I never thought twice about my passion for digging in the dirt in search of worms, my unending itch for adventure, or my fascination with science and history.

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