Meet Lindsay Lumsden (she/her), a queer black woman who refuses to hide who she is. "The strength and resilience not only I have gained in myself, but those that have come and fought for my rights before me, I take pride in that history as well." We dive into how her history has impacted who she is today and how Humankind has helped bring out a level of confidence that she has never felt before.
The full conversation is a must-read.
The full conversation is a must-read.
Tell us about yourself, who is Lindsay?
I was adopted from Kampala Uganda and moved to Pennsylvania, USA where I spent the majority of my life. I grew up in a pretty conservative religious family. I think I came to terms with my sexuality pretty early but didn’t know the right words to describe it because those topics were not discussed in the environment I grew up in. There was definitely a lot of religious trauma to unlearn, which I still struggle with now when it comes to addressing my sexuality. I came out officially in the 8th grade. I identify myself as a lesbian but I’m not necessarily one for labels. My style is androgynous for sure, but as far back as I can remember I could not understand why I was or was not allowed to wear certain clothing in my home. My clothing choices are definitely the best way I know how to express myself. It gives me the power to control how people perceive me at just a glance.
Existing as queer person is becoming increasingly more difficult. How do you remain positive in today's climate?
Already growing up in a less than accepting environment I think allowed me to grow a thick skin. Going on the internet in today’s world can be a scary place so I try to make sure I’m only really looking at credible sources because there is so much hate out there to see when it comes to our community. I also remind myself that I am here to live for me and to live my truth regardless, no one has the power to take away my choice of who to love and I think that keeps me positive.
Pride month is around the corner, what does pride mean to you?
Pride to me means, hard or not, proudly and authentically choosing love. I refuse to hide who I am for anyone. As a queer black woman there are so many unique things about my identity that I have to be proud of. The strength and resilience not only I have gained in myself, but those that have come and fought for my rights before me, I take pride in that history as well.
You got to help launch our newest Pride Collection, how does Humankind make you feel?
Getting the opportunity to model for Humankind was an awesome experience. I had seen the brand advertised previously and definitely taken a liking to the style of swimsuits they offered. Before the photoshoot I had not bought a swimsuit in probably 5 years. I avoided swimming my whole life because gender neutral swim apparel is not something that’s being created at a high rate. When I first put the Swim Top and Checkerboard Trunks on, I stood in the mirror spinning around a few times because that feeling of comfortability was something I had never felt in a swimsuit. And because I avoided situations where I would be swimming, it was this amazing feeling that I did not even realize was an option or something I was looking for.