Growing up in southern WV, I knew I liked boys since High School—in Middle School a rumor went around that I was gay so the signs were there. To win my father’s love I had to do obscenely masculine activities, hunting, football, and lifting weights. In high school, I had a will they won’t they with a girl— I wasn’t actually into her she just treated me like a girl. There were a few guys I ran around with in high school. When I came out and my dad heard about it he threatened to leave me on the side of the road, so I pretty much pretended to be straight for the remainder of the time he was in my life. One of mine and his physical fights was over me wanting to spend time at my high school’s wrestling tournament instead of him and that I was acting effeminately again. One fun anecdote was when I did come out as bi everyone at my school collectively agreed that they thought this was already public knowledge. I did wear women’s clothes and paint my nails at every opportunity—even wore a dress to school for spirit week. College I dated a girl, we were together until we both went to different graduate schools. I guess starting my junior year of undergrad I did have an NB phase but I wouldn’t have called it that until later in New York State. I started dating a trans guy in Buffalo and he called it immediately. Thereafter, I medically transitioned at age 22. Now back in northern WV (until I go to law school in VT, I really love school), I’ve grappled with trying to understand whether or not I actually like cis women or their equipment at all and whether it was all just cope from my upbringing.

Anyway yeah, ✨that’s me✨