I will not erase myself on behalf of those who want me gone. I will not cede an inch of ground in my life; it will have to be taken from me. I will not borrow fear from a future that can still be prevented. I will not go another day wearing another person's face. (8/8)

I won't pretend it isn't scary. This administration is worse. I know there are people in this country who want to scapegoat me, make others afraid of me, and curb my right to public life.

When I go out, I don't know who agrees with that. But I remember the promise I made myself in 2016. (7/8)

I also get stared at. Sometimes, people look startled when I walk into the women's restroom. I don't really mind. I know I look different, and I like that. I wanted this! (6/8)

I'd never known until that moment that it looked wrong.I was 30 years old the first time I looked in the mirror and saw myself.

After growing a beard, I get "sir" more from strangers, which I love. I get treated as a guy more often, and I like that, too. But... (5/8)

Since then, I've transformed in ways that I couldn't have imagined. It wasn't until about 2022 that I let my beard grow and one day I looked in the mirror and my face looked right for the first time. (4/8)

I decided not to. I promised myself that I would only be MORE true to myself in the new administration. I had waited ten years to understand who I was, to find language for it, and to live it. (3/8)

I came out as trans in a process over six months, ending with my public coming out in October 2016. Trump was elected for the first time a month later, and I woke up the next day asking myself, "What have I done? Can I undo it? Should I undo it?" (2/8)

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