Ramblings of an Appalachian Transman

I've been thinking a lot lately about this term, Transtrenders. At first, I honestly didn't want to believe that some people think it's trendy to be trans. I've learned though that it's not really about being trendy. These people have major self-esteem issues, and probably a host of other psychological issues. Please, have compassion for them, but don't listen to their nonsensical bullshit.  I'm not going to call anyone out by name in this article. I refuse to do so because I don't want to risk giving these people views when you look them up on Youtube. If you're familiar with the trans part of the LGBT movement, then you're probably familiar with at least one or two trans trenders.  A little back story about me. I started transition at eighteen years of age. And the entire time I was in transition I did not seek out the rest of the trans community because I was attempting to just be myself.  I didn't really care to engage. My transit...

Dear High School Social Studies Teacher: I often think about my time spent in your class. One day in particular that you have probably long since forgotten. A day that in your mind was probably just a day like any other. You see, I struggled really hard as a teen, harder than most, because I had internal stuff going on that the other kids didn't, internal stuff that was being ignored and neglected by the adults around me.  I had your class first thing in the morning. It was a particularly rough morning, dealing with all the various things I was dealing with. So I took the time to finish listening to a song before coming to class. A song that was providing comfort for me, helping me get my emotional state together so that I could attend your class.  I walked into your class maybe 5 minutes late. I was struggling emotionally, and you yelled at me. You had an outburst of toddler proportions. All I can remember from your ranting and raving was the words "Some day music won...