Love this!
Trans role models are extremely important in this world. Sometimes I feel badly that I have gone stealth, but I did my time immediately after I transitioned. I used to speak publicly and attend all Trans and Pride events. During one particular Transgender Visibility event after I had done a somewhat comical talk on my early experiences trying to locate others like me, a tall attractive young man approached me and the small group I was with. ‘Thank You so much for that talk and sharing your experiences.’ He said. ‘I’m a closet Trans woman, but listening to you and hearing you speak has given me hope that I can someday transition too.’ He was practically in tears. I shook his hand but pulled him in for a hug. It was a really special moment. My adult daughter who was with me at the time said, ‘I saw him earlier and wondered what such a tall, good looking guy was doing here? I thought he was going to make fun of our event.’ What’s funny,’ she went on, ‘is he looks like you used to.’ Remarkably, she was right. The young man could have been me 25 years earlier.
It was a profound moment. Almost like I had reached back in time and been a role model for my fledgling transgender self. You just never know where and who being a positive role model will touch.