Drawing from Dian Dian's personal experiences and academic research, their talk will explore the intersectionality of gender, sexuality, and cultural identity. They aim to illuminate the challenges and triumphs of navigating multiple identities in a cross-cultural context and the transformative power of embracing one's authenticity in a world of diverse cultures and perspectives. Dian Dian, a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ and feminist movements, has navigated a life journey from different Chinese cities to the United States. Raised by a single mother who is a feminist, Dian grew up moving across several cities in China, from the southeastern coast to the capital, Beijing. From a young age, Dian began to reflect on what gender means for people, especially those born as females in China, contemplating their/her own gender non-conforming experiences and lesbian sexuality within a broader social framework. Dian has been involved in LGBTQ+ and feminist movements in China since 2009 and was featured as one of the key figures in the 2012 queer documentary Mama Rainbow. From 2013 to 2016, Dian worked as the editor-in-chief of an independent media called Queer Lala Times, focusing on integrating issues of sexuality and gender into the construction of civil society in the Chinese-speaking world. Dian also obtained a Ph.D. in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Emory University between 2016 and 2023. Their/her dissertation was titled 'Translingual, Transgressive, Transnational: Queer Lala Feminism in the Sinophone World.' During/her Ph.D. years in the United States, Dian continued to participate in gender-sexuality movements in the Chinese-speaking regions, as well as local movements in the U.S. opposing discrimination against AAPI and supporting women's rights. Dian is currently working on community building among overseas Chinese women from a queer feminist perspective. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx