Day of Silence

[hooloovoo]

So it's Day of Silence today. I'm not really doing anything, but I like the remembrance posts so I thought I'd do that. It's a bit longer than I really intended.



I remember being 9 or 10 and deciding that I wasn't going to be gay because I'd already read too much about homophobia and how hard gay people's lives can be.

I remember my dad and his girlfriend trying to convince me I'd be more comfortable if I started shaving my armpits.

I remember refusing to wear a bra because that would involve admitting I was growing breasts.

I remember being called a lesbian because I read a magazine with an article about gay rights in it at school.

I remember calling my aunt's girlfriend 'Uncle Trish'.

I remember my friend coming out to me as bi with really convoluted sign language, because we were in line at the cafeteria and someone might hear.

I remember joining the gay club without even thinking about it, months before I realized I was bi.

I remember that the only thing less surprising for my friends than when my friend came out was when I did.

I remember spending my first year of college kind of totally in love with my roommate.

I remember how amazing it was to meet people who completely understood when I started going to the trans group.

I remember the first time I said, "I think I'd kinda like to be a guy."

I remember that my boyfriend responded, "That'd be cool, because then I could give you blowjobs, and blowjobs are awesome."

I remember telling my dad I'm bi, and after a really long pause he said, "But how will you get a job?"

I remember all of the conversations I've had with my parents about trans stuff, particularly the ones that ended in yelling.

I remember my dad and I debating if Keira Knightley could beat Jessica Alba at Jello wrestling. (She totally could.)

I remember playing baseball with my baby brother and his friend who thought I was crazy because I thought his black nail polish was really surprising and awesome.

I remember every time my eight year old brother has said, "Duh," when I said something about how it's wrong to judge people because of their sexuality or gender identity.

I remember how far we have to go.

I celebrate how far we've come.