10 Comments
User's avatar
Amber (she/her)'s avatar

I still have a bit of my old masculine face and sometimes I get clocked and there was yesterday: Sitting on the bus heading home from work and I moved my backpack so a woman could sit down and she said, "thanks ma'am." I felt warm and fuzzy. I am in St. Louis and sometimes people can be hateful, but that is far and few between.

Cassie Autumn's avatar

I'm so happy for you, Samantha!

Maybe one day I'll have a similar story, where merely being allowed to exist and live normally without hostility will happen to me. But I'm not optimistic.

However, stories like yours make me SO happy for you and others who can, at least on occasion, just live as your authentic selves without drama. Here's to you having so many that they become the default rather than the exception...

JjMc's avatar

Very sweet! Warms my heart. Thanks for sharing.

Antoinette Accampo's avatar

I liked your story and it made me feel good that things went normally at the end of the day. I could identify. The little things matter, the yes ma'am at the fast food counter makes me smile. I've been stared at, insulted, talked about, and photographed while working out at the gym. I don't think they knew I knew what they were doing. It's so nice when things just go normal.

Samantha Paige (she/they)'s avatar

It’s not just nice, it’s “normal.” ☺️

We deserve normal too. 💕

Antoinette Accampo's avatar

I 100% agree but I'll take nice. It's nice when things just go normally.

Alicia Brown's avatar

Thank you for sharing this story. The tension I felt while reading it, not quite trusting that things would be okay, gave me a tiny taste of what you must experience every day, and I appreciate that very much.

Samantha Paige (she/they)'s avatar

Thank you for noticing that ☺️

Bec Keegan's avatar

I truly hope that one day this is normal, everyday interaction for everyone.

Bríanne's avatar

Lovely story, thanks for sharing!