“I am a person who takes many labels,” Bailee says with quiet confidence. “Bisexual, Latina, disabled, woman and more. I very much like to talk about intersectionality for Queer people. Covering all those bases is important so that everyone feels part of a community.” For Bailee, inclusion isn’t just a concept—it’s personal. It’s the thread woven through every chapter of her story.
Finding Her Voice
Growing up, Bailee knew she was bisexual. But understanding yourself and being free to express it are two different things. “I was always looking for people who understood how I felt. But at home, I had to keep it quiet,” she explains. That liminal space—out, but not fully free—affected her experience at University of California at Berkeley. “When we get pushed into new spaces, it adds so much stress,” she reflects. “Am I Queer enough?”
Bailee was also grappling with undiagnosed issues that would later be identified as autism, OCD, and a chronic heart condition. “We don’t have a lot of disabled representation in the Queer community,” she notes. “Accessibility is not a top priority.” When her health demanded attention, Bailee left college. This inflection point became a nine-year break from school and ultimately led to building something extraordinary.
Creating Space for Others
Bailee discovered Twitch, the gaming streaming platform. What started as a place to watch others play video games became the foundation for a profound community of connection. “I became a streamer myself and formed this massive community of people—different identities, POC, Queer, disabled, all coming together,” Bailee says. “We bonded over our love of role-playing video games and fantasy worlds. But it became so much more than that.”
Gaming was the entry point. But what emerged was a space where people could talk about what they struggled with as Queer people navigating spaces and intersecting identities.
Returning with Purpose
Bailee began volunteering at the local LGBTQ+ Center within the San Joaquin Valley—a rural, conservative area where resources are scarce and visibility can feel risky.
It was there that Bailee learned about National Rainbow College Fund. The scholarship gave her something she desperately needed: the ability to return to school and pursue her goals without sacrificing her survival.
Now at age 30, Bailee is in her second semester back at California State University, Fresno, majoring in communication. The scholarship doesn’t just cover tuition—it funds the materials she needs for her service learning course, where she’s at a nonprofit creating social media. The scholarship helps pay her internet and electrical bills. “I don’t make a lot of money,” Bailee says simply. “The scholarship helps me do my work in a more professional setting.”
Doing the Work Where It Matters Most
Being back in school after nine years brings perspective. “I want everyone to feel like they belong in these academic spaces,” she says. “That their voice matters. It is easy to feel like no one cares—to only survive.”
At Fresno State, classmates openly disagree when Bailee shares her perspectives. She gets looks. She hears comments. But she’s reached a point where she’s comfortable with who she is. “I can’t change everyone’s mind,” she acknowledges, “but I might be able to give someone a different perspective.”
And perspective is exactly what drives her forward. “People in the Central Valley need resources like National Rainbow College Fund. We may not be seen as often, but we are here. Some people leave for their safety, and some people can’t leave.”
The Ripple Effect
National Rainbow College Fund didn’t solely help Bailee afford college. The scholarship was an investment in a community builder, supporting someone who will use her communication degree to amplify voices. “It’s scary right now,” Bailee says. “But fear is less important than giving voice to people. We must keep going forward.”
With the support of National Rainbow College Fund, Bailee is building the future she wished existed when she first left home for Berkeley. A future where accessibility is prioritized, where all identities are celebrated, and where Queer people everywhere have resources and community.
Your donation to National Rainbow College Fund supports students like Bailee—overcoming barriers and building communities that change lives. Invest in the leaders who will shape a better tomorrow.
