My name is James & I’m an 18 year old transgender man. I’ve known for years but had to hide it because of my conservative parents. Last year I got married & moved away with my partner where I was still walking on eggshells because my partner is in the military. Once when I came home, I sat my parents down & came out to them. They did not accept it. My mother sends me emails from the Bible every day & I face the scrutinizing denizens of Utah as they struggle to fit me into their black & white photo of society. I haven’t spoken to many of my family in months. On the other side of the spectrum, my in laws have accepted me with open arms. They don’t care if I’m black, white, male, female, fat, or skinny. I met them for the first time a week before I married into their family & they have already shown more love & support for me than my blood family ever did.
I couldn’t ask for more than family. They’re what keeps me going, knowing that one day I will be the mirror image of my soul, no matter where I started out.
