OF course, to me, the title of this blog leads to hearing music, and a repetition of the above line, "who am I?", from the musical Les Miserables, a song done in solo by none other than the protagonist, Jean Valjean. He admits who he is to the authorities and to everyone, for not to admit such is to put the burden of his reality upon someone else.

In a sense, I see that as my situation. I COULD hide that I am trans, allowing my children and spouse to bear the burden of this dirty little secret. I COULD hide, and not bother to help other trans men (or trans women). I COULD hide, and not worry about other people's rights, so long as no one knew that I really was one of those "other people."

How could I ever look myself in the mirror if I hid? How could I face myself if I put such a horrificly huge burden on my chidren and my mate? How could anyone stand to watch others, like them, struggle and founder as they try to make their way along this marathon they call life with another marathon contained within it, transition?? How can anyone watch others be discriminated against, unjustly, and remain silent, no matter if they are one of those other people or not?

So I don't hide, I'm far from stealth. As much as Jean Valjean screamed Who am I? 2-4-6-0-1! I am obviously out there. I speak in colleges, churches, at universities, at businesses, anywhere that I can find a semi-receptive audience, and I educate them. I educate them on why it IS important to treat a trans person with basic respect of using the proper pronouns. (think of a huge bulls eye on the back of that trans person if you call them the wrong pronoun in a public area - you COULD cost that person their LIFE if you out them!) I educate them on the realities of what trans persons MUST go through if following the harry benjamin guidelines for transitioning. I educate them on the realities of the discrimination we face, in the workplace, in retail environments, in health care settings, and social environments. I hopefully open at least a few eyes to understand...

Who am I? I was never a girl, no matter what body I was born with. I was always a boy, but I had to tear off the facade, the same as Jean Valjean had to rip open his shirt to reveal the mark of the prisoner. I have to reveal the REAL me.

Who is the real me? He is...

A Papa
A Husband
A Friend
A Brother
A Furre
An Activist
A Transexual
A Fighter
A Lover
A Homosexual
A Handyman
A Sadist
A Teacher

The list goes on and on...but I am far more than JUST a man who was born as a boy with girl parts.

Do you dare to learn, really learn...

Who am I?