Every time I see an obviously-queer middle schooler wearing a walmart Nirvana shirt try and discreetly stare at me, i remember why I dress like this. Every time I see some 7th grader with a pixie cut and a 'how to pass pre-t trans men' outfit trying to glance at me without seeming too obvious, or every time some 9th grader sees me in goodwill looking through the men's black T shirts for band tees, with a leather jacket or a pair of ripped jeans over my arm, and they come up and say they like my outfit. Every time I see a kid I could have easily been, who will easily grow up to be me.
It's not just for me. It's showing people who I used to be so similar to, that they can be themselves too. The same way 17 year olds showed me when I was 14, acting the same way they act, trying to be slick about watching what the cool goth girl in the thrift store was getting, so I could dress just like her when I grew up.
I got there. Now it's my turn to turn around and help others get here.
