In this week’s parsha, Va’era, the second plague sends swarms of frogs hopping into every corner of Egypt—homes, ovens, even Pharaoh’s palace—refusing to be ignored.

Frogs are creatures of duality, living in both water and land. Some might see them as halfway part of one world and halfway part of the other, but the truth is, that’s exactly where they belong—thriving in all their spaces. 

For those of us in the bi+ and trans+ communities, it’s a powerful metaphor. Like the frogs, we can sometimes feel “too much”—too gay, too straight, too masc, too femme, or somewhere in between. But, like the frogs, we don’t need to “pick a side” to be valid. Our ability to navigate and embrace multiple spaces and identities is a feature, not a bug.

Too often, bi+ people face erasure from both queer and cis/straight communities. And in the news, we are being told that trans+ individuals don’t exist. That intersex, trans, and nonbinary people are not real because gender and sex are binary — much like the frogs were dismissed until they made their presence undeniable.

But Va’era reminds us that even the smallest creatures can make a big statement. Our presence matters, even when it’s unexpected or inconvenient for others.

Take a page from the frogs: own your space, embrace your duality, and remind the world that you’re here, vibrant and valid. 🌈🐸🏳️‍⚧️