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Masque Trans + Ancien + Fier

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I've always had a really low voice, baritone. Long before I did drag, I did community theater. One play, they needed another male part and chose me because they didn't have any available men to perform. I bound my chest, glued on a mustache along with my usual stage make up and left for the play. I had to stop at Walmart to pick something up and the lady at the cash register said, "Thank you sir." It felt so good to hear that word, "sir." I could actually see myself someday, making it there.

I was always called a tomboy, then less nice descriptive words. I'm a teacher and "that moment" for me was when a rising middle school student (entering 6th grade) stopped me and asked my pronouns that I felt seen. This kid saw me as what I was, a human that exists outside of the role that society expected me to play.

At 10 years old (1980) I identified with male characters and actors.

I didn't wake up one morning and realize I was trans, but I did wake up one morning and realize I couldn't wear the costume anymore. I looked over at my partner and they assured me that they had my back regardless and that the chosen family we had built would do the same. Knowing that I had support and not just allies, but folks who would love me and protect me (physically and emotionally) helped me be brave enough to drop the mask.

(il/lui, iel/iels)

My first major opportunity transgender artist was at LA Pride and surpassed anything I had experienced before. Previously, I had only performed at small clubs, so playing to such a massive crowd was a completely new and exhilarating experience. As I stood on stage, I witnessed people genuinely connecting with the music I had crafted in my bedroom and the dance routine we had practiced in a parking lot. In that transformative moment, I realized that I wanted to aspire for more, not just for myself but for all trans masculine individuals. I understood the importance of breaking free from limiting beliefs and recognizing that we are capable of achieving remarkable things.

When I saw the logo I had created displayed on a gigantic 20 ft screen, memories of my childhood flooded my mind. I recalled the pain and struggles I endured during that period of my life. Reflecting on those challenging moments, I wished I could have shared with my younger self the incredible progress that has been made since then. In the past, we walked in darkness without any representation in the mainstream. But now, there are opportunities and visibility for individuals like us that we could only dream of back then.

I was always corrected by my family for being too masculine. If I were born a boy I would have been the family's pride and joy. I left home at 16 (in the 1990s) and was able to live as my true self. It wasn't until the past decade that I even understood that there was a term for who I am. As I have immersed myself in the community I have become more comfortable with the label. There was no one "Aha! Moment" only a gradual growing into myself that enabled me to put aside my fears of gatekeepers and embrace who I am.

His name was Steve Dain. It was 1976. He was on television being interviewed about fighting to keep his teaching job because he had transitioned from female to male. The year prior he had been named California's Teacher of the Year. But he was calm self-confident articulate and so clear about who he was as a man. And at that moment I knew it was possible: I too could become the man I knew I was.

(Pas de pronoms)

It was following an interaction with a stranger on an elevator my second year on testosterone. We rode up 26 floors in silence. As I was exiting the elevator he said take it easy, brother. It struck me in that moment that I was for all intents and purposes just a dude which felt exceedingly validating.

I had a buddy of mine over dinner casually say "yeah I think you're trans". I had never even thought that was a possibility. I knew I didn't feel female. But I didn't know I could be a male.

(il/lui, iel/iels)

As someone who transitioned in my 40s I only saw a future for myself when I was mentoring younger Transmasculine folk. When I was their age I didn't know Transmen even existed so how could I see a future for myself? It was in their mentoring-up to me that I was able to start living my own truth.

I've always had a really low voice, baritone. Long before I did drag, I did community theater. One play, they needed another male part and chose me because they didn't have any available men to perform. I bound my chest, glued on a mustache along with my usual stage make up and left for the play. I had to stop at Walmart to pick something up and the lady at the cash register said, "Thank you sir." It felt so good to hear that word, "sir." I could actually see myself someday, making it there.

I was always called a tomboy, then less nice descriptive words. I'm a teacher and "that moment" for me was when a rising middle school student (entering 6th grade) stopped me and asked my pronouns that I felt seen. This kid saw me as what I was, a human that exists outside of the role that society expected me to play.

At 10 years old (1980) I identified with male characters and actors.

I didn't wake up one morning and realize I was trans, but I did wake up one morning and realize I couldn't wear the costume anymore. I looked over at my partner and they assured me that they had my back regardless and that the chosen family we had built would do the same. Knowing that I had support and not just allies, but folks who would love me and protect me (physically and emotionally) helped me be brave enough to drop the mask.

(il/lui, iel/iels)

My first major opportunity transgender artist was at LA Pride and surpassed anything I had experienced before. Previously, I had only performed at small clubs, so playing to such a massive crowd was a completely new and exhilarating experience. As I stood on stage, I witnessed people genuinely connecting with the music I had crafted in my bedroom and the dance routine we had practiced in a parking lot. In that transformative moment, I realized that I wanted to aspire for more, not just for myself but for all trans masculine individuals. I understood the importance of breaking free from limiting beliefs and recognizing that we are capable of achieving remarkable things.

When I saw the logo I had created displayed on a gigantic 20 ft screen, memories of my childhood flooded my mind. I recalled the pain and struggles I endured during that period of my life. Reflecting on those challenging moments, I wished I could have shared with my younger self the incredible progress that has been made since then. In the past, we walked in darkness without any representation in the mainstream. But now, there are opportunities and visibility for individuals like us that we could only dream of back then.

I was always corrected by my family for being too masculine. If I were born a boy I would have been the family's pride and joy. I left home at 16 (in the 1990s) and was able to live as my true self. It wasn't until the past decade that I even understood that there was a term for who I am. As I have immersed myself in the community I have become more comfortable with the label. There was no one "Aha! Moment" only a gradual growing into myself that enabled me to put aside my fears of gatekeepers and embrace who I am.

His name was Steve Dain. It was 1976. He was on television being interviewed about fighting to keep his teaching job because he had transitioned from female to male. The year prior he had been named California's Teacher of the Year. But he was calm self-confident articulate and so clear about who he was as a man. And at that moment I knew it was possible: I too could become the man I knew I was.

(Pas de pronoms)

It was following an interaction with a stranger on an elevator my second year on testosterone. We rode up 26 floors in silence. As I was exiting the elevator he said take it easy, brother. It struck me in that moment that I was for all intents and purposes just a dude which felt exceedingly validating.

I had a buddy of mine over dinner casually say "yeah I think you're trans". I had never even thought that was a possibility. I knew I didn't feel female. But I didn't know I could be a male.

(il/lui, iel/iels)

As someone who transitioned in my 40s I only saw a future for myself when I was mentoring younger Transmasculine folk. When I was their age I didn't know Transmen even existed so how could I see a future for myself? It was in their mentoring-up to me that I was able to start living my own truth.

Dessin de personnage par Joey Borrelli.