A candid look at the gap between intending to be an ally and doing the everyday work that actually supports trans people.

There's a lot in that list. And even the word "transgender" — it's a label I have to carry, a constant reminder that my journey to womanhood wasn't the same as everyone else's.

First time out as your true self: heart-pounding courage at the door → hypervigilant streets → small victories → quiet triumph of ordinary existence.