In my home, surrounded by my loved ones, I live my life “as a woman” for all intents and purposes.

When I step outside I join a community of diverse experiences and perspectives. It’s not a safe space. It’s not meant to be affirming. I am not a woman, and it matters. (Thread)

Though my family, my boyfriend and I make little reference to my being male, we are all aware of that fact. There is no deception, no games.

To make an effort to convince the world I am female is not the same thing. It is coercion. It is delusion. It is fundamentally wrong.

Stepping out and meeting the world as I am, a gender-nonconforming male, is brave. It’s scary. I know that what people think of me is what they think of ME.

Pretending to be a woman is not brave. Pretending there is no difference between men and women is not a victimless crime.

I love my brothers and sisters who struggle with gender dysphoria, however they choose to deal with it. It’s out of that love that I speak the truth, and ask them to do the same. We are beautiful and worthy as trans people not because we “change sex” but because we persevere.

The legacy we should leave future generations is that however you choose to live your life should be celebrated so long as it doesn’t harm anyone else. Not that we must feign becoming the opposite sex to be good enough, no matter who we hurt in the process.