When I first started my journey several years ago to becoming a trans woman, one goal was very important to me. I made it very clear to all my health providers and my therapist that if I could not pass and live my life in stealth mode, I was not interested in even starting. They all assured me that my goals were realistic. I had the resources to do all I needed done and that was a lot. I am now a 100% passable postop woman. No one pays much attention to me wherever I go, and guys hit on me all the time. No one ever clocks me. I am actually quite flattered by the attention, even if I know that they have one thing on their mind.

When I first started my journey, I told all my therapists that I had no interest in getting involved in the gender wars. I just wanted to live out my life being viewed as a woman like any other. I wanted to stay out of the political chaos. A strange thing happened along the way, I found myself discussing my transgender status with everyone I met who was interested. I would even share pictures of my surgeries if they were particularly intrigued. I found that I enjoyed educating them. I also found myself becoming more politically active and often commenting on particularly transphobic views and policies.

I am now on a bit of a mission. I didn’t start out to do this, but I am proud of my transgender status. I believe education is the key to overcoming the hysteria too prevalent in the country at the moment. This has made my life quite a bit more difficult than I originally envisioned, but it is the right thing to do. There are too many others who need our help. There are too many others who don’t have the benefits that I had, who need protection and encouragement. It is my duty to the community that I am a proud member of.