BETARAT.net

Sometimes, the hardest part of becoming yourself is accepting that not everyone can come along with you. Back in July, I made the difficult decision to step away from my spouse’s family. At the time, it was a decision accompanied by a tremendous amount of sadness, frustration, and uncertainty. These were people I had known and loved for years with whom I had shared holidays, celebrations, laughter, and countless memories. They weren’t simply my spouse’s immediate relatives -

Sometimes I offer myself the same compassion I so readily extend to others, and then in the next moment I’m my own harshest critic.

One of the hardest parts of transition has not simply been changing how I look but changing how I see myself. Dysphoria has a way of turning the mirror into a microscope. Features that another person might barely notice can become enormous in my own mind. A shadow on my face. The shape of my jaw. My body. My hair. My voice. The way clothing fits. Tiny details can suddenly feel like evidence that I am somehow falling short. And then society adds another layer. Women are alread

(Initially I posted a video shortly after this incident, and I don’t think I was in the best frame of mind to really communicate about what had then just transpired.) I walked into a convenience store like anyone else. I was visibly tattooed, and someone struck up a conversation with me about them. It seemed friendly. Normal. Just two people talking for a moment about something that caught their attention. A few minutes later, that same person threw stale, cold coffee on me i

Outer strength is easy to see. It’s confidence. Presence. The way someone carries themselves. The ability to stand tall, speak clearly, push forward, and look like they have everything under control. Inner strength is different. It’s what happens when nobody is watching. It’s getting out of bed when your mind is exhausted. It’s choosing patience when anger would be easier. It’s holding onto your identity when other people question it. It’s allowing yourself to be vulnerable w

Respect is not obligation. And my existence is not a negotiation. I don’t expect everyone to understand my transgender experience. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. I don’t even expect everyone to be comfortable with me. But I do expect basic human respect. You don’t have to believe exactly what I believe about gender to call me by my name. You don’t have to share my worldview to use my pronouns. And you certainly don’t have to understand my journey to recognize that