Have you read Sophia Bush’s Glamour piece ‘I Finally Feel Like I Can Breathe’? You know, the one where she spills her soul on self-love, her identity as a queer woman, and all that good stuff? If you haven’t, give it a read, then come right back here to see how relatable and inspiring it is, especially for fellow LGBTQ+ folks out there.
At Gay Moms Club, our admiration for Sophia Bush runs deep. We’ve followed her journey from One Tree Hill to beloved high school classics like John Tucker Must Die, and more recently, JUNCTION, we’ve always rooted for her success. Now, in what some would call a public ‘coming out’ piece, our love for Sophia only grows.
“In 2023 actor Sophia Bush made headlines when she filed for divorce one year after a storybook wedding. By the fall it was public knowledge that she was in a new relationship. With a woman,” The Glamour article opens for context, “The internet seemed to be foaming at the digital mouth for a scandal, but to those who knew her, it was clear she’d never been more herself. Here, in her own words, Bush speaks to the power of finally learning to listen to her intuition.”
Whether you’re a lesbian mom, a bisexual woman, or a person who identifies as queer, one thing remains true: Ms. Bush has created a moment for us all to feel seen, inspired, and even more so, understood.
The push and pull of embracing our identity
Firstly, can we take a moment to appreciate Sophia’s candor? In her article, she’s seeming like a trusted friend who sits you down and says, “Hey, it’s okay to be exactly who you are.”
Navigating a divorce is challenging in itself, especially when it unfolds in the public eye, but then finding the courage to embrace one’s true self afterward is quite an additional hurdle. In Sophia’s piece, she describes how the pressure to fit into society’s cookie-cutter mold affected her identity, her choice to be in a marriage that wasn’t right for her, and ultimately, her journey of self-discovery despite these challenges.
“I sort of hate the notion of having to come out in 2024. But I’m deeply aware that we are having this conversation in a year when we’re seeing the most aggressive attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community in modern history,” she wrote, “There were more than 500 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills proposed in state legislatures in 2023, so for that reason I want to give the act of coming out the respect and honor it deserves. I’ve experienced so much safety, respect, and love in the queer community, as an ally all of my life, that, as I came into myself, I already felt it was my home.”
Who of us in the LGBTQ+ community hasn’t felt that tug-of-war between staying true to ourselves and conforming to what everyone else expects? It’s comforting to know that, regardless of success and fame, people from all backgrounds experience this push-and-pull to be yourself and conform to what we think we should be. Luckily, Sophia is a reminder that living the lives we want and deserve is entirely possible.
One quote that really hit home for us was when Sophia said, “I can have my body be whatever I want it to be. And now, it’s in this very feminine state.” It’s like she’s giving us all permission to embrace who we are and how we want to look, regardless of what anyone else thinks. As lesbians and folks in the LGBTQ+ community, we are often told that our identities are somehow less valid because they don’t fit the mainstream narrative. But Sophia reminds us that there’s power in owning who we are, unapologetically.
Learning to navigate WLW relationships
Let’s talk about love. Sophia’s story not only explores her struggle to find her identity and presentation but also, how she has learned to navigate her desire for WLW relationships. Haven’t we all been there at some point, too?
From the ups and downs of dating in a world that doesn’t always support our kind of love, to the happiness of discovering love on our own terms, Sophia shares a reminder that love has no limits and that it’s okay to let yourself be vulnerable.
One thing we absolutely adore about Sophia’s journey is how she celebrates the little victories, too — the moments of her self-discovery, the triumphs of her new relationship with retired soccer player Ashlyn Harris, and the quiet courage it takes to be your authentic self.
“I finally feel like I can breathe. I don’t think I can explain how profound that is. I feel like I was wearing a weighted vest for who knows how long,” Sophia wrote, “I hadn’t realized how heavy it was until I finally just put it down. This might sound crazy — but I think other people in trauma recovery will get it — I am taking deep breaths again. I can feel my legs and feet. I can feel my feet in my shoes right now. It makes me want to cry and laugh at the same time.”
And at some point, in our self-discovery or coming-out journey, we’ve all felt it, too.
So, to all of our fellow LGBTQ+ folks, we say this: Sophia’s Glamour article isn’t just a story; it’s a love letter to all that makes us human — a testament that our voices matter, our stories deserve to be heard, and the validity of our love. It’s a celebration of those who dare to live out loud no matter what. Honestly, what could be more beautiful than that?