skylark

in case you were wondering, i’d like to end racism, transphobia, classism and homophobia among many other things. im trans and have anxiety and like playing guitar. also, i love cats. this is Rocky and he supports me 😍 who supports you? what do you want to see dissolve? 📷: @reedleviw . . . . #catsofinstagram #trans #transandhappy #femaletomale #femaletocat #queer #lgbtq

san francisco has my heart ❤️ so happy to be here again! heading up the shore tomorrow to my favorite place in the world and stoked to share it with @reedleviw 😌 . . . #ftm #transandhappy #sanfrancisco #goldengatebridge #sunset #ocean #beach #cliffs #love

when your partner is cute and softer than rocks and makes you happier than anyone in the world. thanks for spending these handfuls of months by my side, love 😍❤️. . . no, but really, it is radical to feel so loved and cared for by someone, especially as a trans person myself who has been taught by society i’m undesirable. she makes me feel so proud and important and meaningful in this big old world, even when she calls me a booger. . . #transandhappy #marblehead #exploringwithfriends #partner #queer #outdoor #love #kisses #trans #transman

on January 21, 2009, i had my first endocrinology appointment at Boston Children’s Hospital with Dr. Norman Spack. that day, at 17 years old with my mom beside me, i received my first dose of testosterone. i was home by noon, and begged my mom to take me back to school for the final two class periods so i could share my joy with my closest friends. i often regarded that day as one of rebirth - joking that i was an Obama baby as it was just after his inauguration, as some may remember from my very first YouTube video :) . . today is February 23, 2018 and i am over 9 years into my physical transition from female to male. this hasn’t always been joy and smiles and hope and optimism - there were days i didn’t know i would make it through the pain, dysphoria, barriers to mental and physical health, amongst just being a teenager navigating life. however, in the end - i wouldn’t trade anything. . . my smile is genuine when it reaches my lips. my laughter comes from my belly. i can cry whether i’m overwhelmed with joy or overcome with sadness. i feel whole and infinite. my physical journey has definitely contributed to a lot of this wholeness, and i want to thank Boston Children’s Hospital, especially Dr Spack, Dr Pilcher, the whole GEMS clinic (which started right when i got there - one day a month - and now is over two full days a week to help young trans kids !!!) and Francie who has helped inspire my career as well ❤️💕 . . today, i “graduated” from Boston Children’s Hospital, aka i’m 26 now and usually they move folks out after 24 😂 it was a warm and loving goodbye as they drew my blood underneath Dr Seuss drawings. . . today, i gifted all my doctors a copy of my book - letting them know that many of my dreams had come true thanks to their facility and kindness. i teared up as my doctor told me about the many kids who come in to see her now who mention they had seen my videos and were inspired by me. for those of you whom that’s the case - YOU inspire me too. . . what a blessed life to feel better and better in my skin, from my first shot on T (left pic) and until now and beyond (right pic, ignore my stache i’m trying out lol) . . #trans #transgender #ftm

once upon a time, i met a beautiful, smart, adventurous, kind, wise and incredibly strong woman. these days, i am grateful to call her my partner 😍 thank you for loving me and going on evening hikes, watching sunsets by many oceans, and dancing in the kitchen while cooking dinner (or rolling sushi ;)) . you challenge and accept me - i couldn’t wish for a better partner. ❤️ . . . #love #transandhappy #queerlove #lgbtq #trans

so stoked to have a show at @aeronautbrewing for the month of february! it was super fun to hang and present this today 🙏 thanks so much for the opportunity! this is my first show of 2018 and im so happy with how it turned out 😊 thank you to all who have supported and encouraged me, it truly means the world. . . . i’ve been less online lately due to offline projects, but i appreciate all of y’all nonetheless! stoked to keep you posted of upcoming events and grateful for your presence each and every day. i love you all so much. all the love and light 💕. . . #art #paintings #gallery #artshow #painting #transandhappy #trans #lgbtqia #artist #ocean #acrylic #aeronaut #aeronautbrewery (at Aeronaut Brewing Company)

my memoir comes out in a month (9/5/17!) and i am so incredibly excited to share it with y'all. i'll be going to philly trans health with my mom, best friends and the book and can't wait for the plethora of hugs and community events and ah. i feel so very ready. also, september 19th at Brookline Booksmith is my official launch! come meet me there, more info to come ;) . . in other news, my hair is getting long. i usually cut it short because i can't be bothered with it - this is the longest it's been since 2015. to say the past two years were difficult would be an understatement - i fully lost myself and had to find again who i am. the past three months have brought me to the ER twice for a concussion, had my camera stolen in a robbery (that's why i haven't been on youtube sigh,) while crashing in beds of friends and couches cause i had to leave my old apartment, and many things ended while many things began. recovering from TBIs take a long time and i haven't had attention or focus like i am used to. just these past two weeks, i've been able to speak and not say the wrong word every other sentence. i'm excited to share with y'all again. . . so yep. my hairs long because i've been growing. i finally feel i am back to myself and literally JUST in time. please reach out to me, friends. i apologize i haven't done my usual reaching out to others as i often love to do, and please don't take my recovering as any excuse - i knew recovery would take a while and i hope we can all feel free to take the space we need when we need it, without necessarily having to explain or disclose what's going on, especially if it is hard or harmful to our progress to constantly disclose things. . . will have plenty of videos soon about anxiety, anxiety attacks, and the progress i've been making which i hope will invite y'all to share with me the progress YOU have been making too ❤️❤️ we are all in this together, my friends. #mentalhealth #transandhappy #awareness #trans #transgender #lgbt #healing

isn't penny just the cutest?! life update video is up now ✨link in bio ✨ and i love you all so much. thank you for existing. tomorrow i'll be another year older and y'all have already made my birthday so special. this will be the year 💕💕💕🌻🌻🌻🌻 #trans #transandhappy #skylarkergil #lgbt #ftm #cat #penny #video #birthday

my mom is my best friend in the world. she's always learning, compassionate, kind, helpful, wise, and overall just a fun person to be around! i'm so fortunate to have a mom who is still in my life and plays a positive role in my own journey. when i came out as trans, she didn't kick me out even when she didn't know what to do. a few years later, her support saved my life as i needed to get a surgery i wasn't ready for that was caused by my own transition timeline (hormone therapy caused issues for me early on). she never once asked me if i regretted it - she could see how whole i had become. and since then, she has mentored parents of trans youth as well as provided support right to youth themselves. i'm so thankful for and amazed by how incredible this woman is. over ten years ago, she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer. doctors didn't predict she would see many more years, stats showed survival past a certain point was practically impossible, and during that time, i started living as if my mom was always going to die. it could come at any moment, and to cherish every single day became my force. i even quit skidmore to try out mass art, closer to home, just because i needed to be near her during a hard time. thankfully, by some magical power, or maybe just my moms endless optimism (to adopt another gigantic bernese mountain dog 6 years into her cancer? wowow) that has kept her here today. she is doing okay. she is not dying. she is living. sure, she used to be 4 inches taller than me, but now i'm a few inches taller than her due to how the cancer affects her bones. it hasn't affected our ability to hug, adventure cross country, and make amazing farm fresh meals from her local farms. it hasn't affected how much i love and admire this woman. it hasn't affected her bucket list and all she wants to do in this life. mom, i'm so thankful to be one of your two sons. we are so lucky to have you. thank you for raising us. i wouldn't be here without you 💕💕❤️❤️

this is the first time in my entire life that this has read "m" 😭 . . . . . it's strange, yet beautiful. i used to hang onto the "f" as a testament from where i've come from... but now, it has been so long since i have switched my social security and other ID information - records don't show my past. i am default "m" because of the work i did when i was 17, 18, 19 years old just now paying off. i'll be 26 this may, and luckily, i have the words to talk about my past. not just the words to "explain" the xx chromosomes i carry, not just the words to tell a story of how i transitioned - i have the words to celebrate the journey. from when i was born until now, i have been on an adventure, and i will forever rejoice in that. #transandhappy #ftm #fthappy #queer #lgbt #journey #trans #transgender #growing

boston 2017. . . . . . one of the nicest parts about being one of the earliest folks in the building? i could take a moment to appreciate the views as i set up spaces for the day. my team is incredibly helpful, friendly, smart, funny and cool and i can hardly wait to learn more about them and truly be on board and functioning fully. like, i hung a hook on a cubicle because a client asked for one and she was so happy when i came over to install it. it's the lil things 🤗🤗 #ifyouaretrans #knowthatyoucanfollowyourdreams #knowthatiloveyou #knowthatyouareloved

Verse: F, Dm, Bb, F, C (blackest of rooms part is Dm, Bb)

"mood: crashing ashore" 6x12 acrylic on canvas. i'm really soaking up the beginning of october, the slow roll into fall and savoring the sunlight and warmth while i push paint around on the back porch. in between writing a memoir, working at a bank, recording an EP, and upcoming gigs to speak at schools - it's been incredibly calming to carve out the time to just create. a sweet, sweet solitude. only sad part is i've covered most of our walls so it's time to send out and share hehe. i'll have a website soon to show and sell some paintings ☺️ again, many thanks to @laila.ireland for giving me a wonderful spark to keep sharing and creating more! i'm so happy you received my first piece ❤️ now i'm heading outside to paint some more and feeling blessed for the space and time to do so! ❤️❤️ #transgender #transandhappy #acrylicpainting #ocean