If you're a woman who has only dated men until your mid-30s, you are assumed to be straight. And, you experience the privilege that comes with participating in relationships that society deems most acceptable.

So, what happens when a woman starts dating another woman later in life? That privilege she experienced for 35+ years is eliminated, and the effects of that experience can ripple throughout a community.

The stunning, unfortunate truth (especially in the South) is that — members of the LGBTQ+ community are still discriminated against in ways that are invisible to most people who experience heterosexual privilege.

The experience of one bisexual woman — who came out and then felt compelled to help make her community more queer-friendly — illustrates how even allies can misunderstand queer existence, and how any person can better support the local LGBTQ+ community. Chloé Morrison is a veteran communications professional, who spent 14 years as a journalist, reporting on all things Chattanooga. She's a proud bi-sexual woman who experienced "straight privilege" most of her life. She's the co-founder of a local business, called Soft Animal, which brings marginalized humans — specifically members of the LGBTQ community — to the center through events and classes.

She loves to play guitar, sing, dance and crochet — all for the simple joy of the activities. The graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and former adjunct professor at her alma-mater, wears her heart on her sleeve as she aims to learn and share about queer culture. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx