Wise's Marcella Vasconcelos for DIVA Magazine

In an inspiring interview with myGwork for DIVA Magazine, Marcella Vasconcelos, a Training Specialist at Wise, shares her insights on creating safe spaces for the queer community.

Reflecting on her journey navigating bisexuality in the 2000s, Marcella emphasizes the essential role of education in advancing LGBTQ+ rights. This powerful narrative not only sheds light on her experiences but also offers valuable lessons for everyone who wants to be a stronger ally to the community.

In an excerpt from the piece, Marcella describes her personal journey with identifying as bisexual:

"It was very confusing as a kid, because I was not aware of bisexuality. I knew I liked boys, so I didn’t consider that I might be into girls. That was helped by the fact that I didn’t get along well with girls during childhood. I was tomboyish and didn’t share the same interests which was deemed weird. In the 90s, in a small Brazilian city, feminism was a few years away from becoming mainstream. My environment would compare me with other girls, and I’d get caught up in classic, normalized female rivalries. That created an emotional block. When I’d really like a girl, I’d think that I wanted to be them instead of being attracted to them. As a pre-teen, with internet access, I was not limited to what was available on TV or the local bookstore. With much more to explore, I started consuming queer content and deconstructing ideas I had about same-sex relationships. I also connected with queer and queer-knowledgeable people.

At 15, I admitted I’m bisexual and allowed myself to explore that. It was very messy, as admitting it didn’t neutralize my problematic feelings. I’d still compare myself to other women, I’d still antagonize them to fight my own insecurities. I still couldn’t get emotionally involved with them. I was questioned by family and friends, suggesting it was just a phase and I was trying to be different, when I was just being my authentic self. Most men would fetishize me, most women wouldn’t take me seriously. I became terrified of being in a relationship with a woman, closing myself off anytime I’d be pursued as a romantic interest. I had no idea how to be with them. In turn, I started to question myself: was I really bisexual? I’m currently in my first serious relationship with a woman, which started when I was 28! We’ve been together for almost two years. I jokingly compliment her persistence, because she had to break many of my emotional walls for us to be together. All jokes aside, I am very thankful for it. Otherwise, I would have missed the opportunity of being with the amazing, loving, funny, beautiful person that she is."

Readers can access the full interview on DIVA's platform to dive deeper into Marcella's journey and her thoughts on making a difference in the community.