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LGBTQ Folks Use #2009vs2019 Meme to Celebrate Queer Self-Acceptance
It's not just about age. The #10yearchallenge allows some to show how they've grown in embracing queer and trans identities.
January 14 2019 4:40 PM EST
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The #2009vs2019 challenge -- also known as the #10yearchallenge -- has recently taken over social media.
The viral meme consists of users posting pictures from 2009 and 2019 (or for some, the timeline goes back much further), in order to reveal how they've changed over the years.
While the challenge had its early origins on Facebook as a question of "How hard did aging really hit you?, many are using it as an opportunity to highlight the positive changes of the past decade(s).
In fact, LGBTQ people on Twitter are seizing the viral event as an opportunity to reveal what living in their truest skin really looks like. While recent policies and actions by the current U.S. administration have caused some to look back with longing eyes, it's important to make note of the positive changes the past decade has given many queer folks to live more freely.
These social media users' posts are bursting with pride and signal that the best kind of "glow up" is accepting and being able to reflect your true self.
Check out a selection of the posts below:
\u201cGlow up alert \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udc40 2008 vs 2018 #10YearChallenge\u201d— Serena Daniari (@Serena Daniari) 1547404472
\u201c#2009vs2019 \nFrom annoying self-centered boy to fabulous trans mermaid. \ud83d\ude0e\u201d— Aline AndOut (@Aline AndOut) 1547367417
\u201c#2009vs2019 in 2009 i became a woman in the eyes of the jewish faith. in 2019 i'm no longer a woman. whoops\u201d— dump the puck or big time rush (@dump the puck or big time rush) 1547363857
\u201cFine I'll play.\n\n#2009vs2019 (feat. @Marcelevision)\u201d— Lux \ud83e\udd79 (@Lux \ud83e\udd79) 1547347924
\u201cHeyyy it\u2019s #2009vs2019\n\nI\u2019ve awoken as an entirely different being to the point i barely recognize the 2009 pics as me anymore\u201d— \ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffb (@\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffb) 1547349087
\u201c#2009vs2019 maybe being trans did help me not be a total loser\u201d— MOVED . check pinned! (@MOVED . check pinned!) 1547435372
\u201c#2009vs2019 hello puberty x2\u201d— Pheen \ud83c\udf31 (@Pheen \ud83c\udf31) 1547470057
\u201cI was still wearing my purity ring. #2009vs2019 \ud83d\ude02\u201d— Kay (@Kay) 1547344193
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