Cis guy here. Is it important I say that? Other people are so I didn’t know. Anyway, my almost certainly misogynistic thoughts:

The whole “cis men should shut up and listen” thing is rooted in insecurity. They don’t have the courage of their convictions so they have to shut down all dissent or even slightly different view points. The truth is we ALL need to be listening to each other and stop being hostile to those with different viewpoints, even those we passionately disagree with. However we identify, vote, want to dress, whatever, all of us have had struggles(some much more than others obviously) and different life experiences that shape us in different ways and they are all valid.

A boy growing up with a single mother, and seeing her discriminated against for a)having a kid and b) not being legally bound to a penis, has valid experiences about feminism and equality that are worth sharing. It doesn’t mean he understands what it is to be a woman, but he has a point of view that should be heard.

Jennifer, I hope you can find your place in the world and the peace you seek. And I hope more people read this and get exposed to this world view they have shunned for so long.

Thanks for writing this.

PS: This line “Because I didn’t get to decide what I am. I will be damned if anyone else does.” That’s great right there. I love that. Only you get to define you.