Published in Prism & Pen·PinnedMember-onlyWhy I can’t ‘just be a feminine man’A not-serious answer to a not-serious question. After a lifelong struggle with my gender, I gave up. I threw in the towel and did the unthinkable. I admitted I was a woman. It is that simple: I just wanted to connect my body with my soul. I tried my damnedest…LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·PinnedTransgender Dreams“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” — Robert F. Kennedy. One way or the other, it all started with a dream, lying in your bed, praying every night you would awaken in the correct body. That this terrible mistake would be rectified in the morning…Transgender4 min readTransgender4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·3 days agoMember-onlyDoes Writing for Medium Make Any Difference in Trans Lives?How do we counteract a legislative war? — As a transgender woman writer on Medium, I tell myself that maybe, just maybe, I can make a difference. Perhaps I can soften one heart, open one mind, and plead the case for transgender equality. Maybe not. …Transgender4 min readTransgender4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Jan 15Member-onlyBreaking the Wall of Transgender VisibilitySpeaking of connections — Before I transitioned, my touch points with other trans women were rare, fleeting glances out in the wild. I worked in downtown Seattle in the early 2000s, and one of my co-workers had a transgender sister. She came by several times, but I never dared to say anything. …Transgender4 min readTransgender4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Dec 19, 2022Member-onlyA Year of TransitionThe year in review, part one: Building friendships — So often, we think of gender transition as something confined to the body. We take a regime of medications, and voila, magic happens. For me, this has been a year of transition — a year of magic, filled with alchemy and lightning. But my life is filled with richness and…LGBTQ3 min readLGBTQ3 min read
Published in Crow’s Feet·Dec 3, 2022Member-onlyI Finally Know What I Want to be When I Grow UpA new job, a new life, a new adventure. — “life is what happens when you are making other plans” — John Lennon I never really understood this. I always felt that life was what happened when you were not interested in making plans. When you were afraid of making other plans. When there were no other plans. …Aging3 min readAging3 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Nov 14, 2022Member-onlyI am a Non-binary Trans TomboyMy gender-bending life — In the early days of the Internet, you could take a test on gender identity called COGATI (Combined Gender Identity And Transsexuality Inventory). The results were presented on a sliding scale from Definite Male (-650) to Classic TransSexual (+650). The idea was to help you ‘figure out’ your gender identity…LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Nov 4, 2022Member-onlyI am a Transgender WidowTell me your trans widow story, and I will tell you mine. — Trans widow: A cis woman who feels her marriage ended or is at risk of ending due to her spouse coming out as a trans woman I didn’t choose this Transgender life. I never wanted this. I hated it all my life. I resisted it. …LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
Published in 100 Stories by 100 Writers·Oct 28, 2022Member-only#51 — Welcome to being a womanMuch to my delight and irony — I recently had a follow-up colonoscopy, and things went much smoother (LOL) than the first time. But I experienced awful cramps. The two days leading up to and the two days after were double over, curl up, festivals of intestinal distress. …Gender4 min readGender4 min read
Published in Prism & Pen·Oct 21, 2022Member-onlyToxic masculinity, crossdressing, and acceptanceBeyond the closet — Years ago, I was an extra in Verdi’s opera, Aida. It is set in Egypt, and the male and female extras were required to line their eyes with black eyeliner. So I am doing my eyes next to a man about my age, and he turns to me and says…LGBTQ4 min readLGBTQ4 min read
