Page 44 - BEQ Magazine Iss 19

FROM PAGE 21

because we’re living it 24/7, 365 days a year. bright smile on her face. I remember how little I saw
that smile before she came out last summer. Years of
We talk about Karen’s experiences transitioning anxiety and depression stole the joy from her face
while serving in the military, how she’s building and we could never figure out why.
platforms for trans women through her advocacy Karen suggested wearing something with the
work. Through her service in the trans flag or trans flag colors as a
military. subtle signal to people that I’m a
Karen asks me more about I show my daughter safe person. After the kids went
Ashley, how she’s doing at school, the bracelet the day to bed, I ordered myself a bracelet
how her friends have handled her it arrives and watch from an LGBTQ seller on Etsy and
transition so far. We’ve been lucky it arrived about a week later. I’ve
so far, I tell her. Ashley’s friends her pretty blue eyes, been wearing it every day. The
overwhelmingly supported her the same blue as seller included a trans flag pin
right off the bat without a second mine, light up. I know with my purchase which I happily
thought. placed on my purse.
Kids are better than adults, I it means the world I show my daughter the bracelet

muse, but Karen reminds me that to her that I support the day it arrives and watch her
it won’t always be “peaches and her. That I’m not pretty blue eyes, the same blue
cream.” as mine, light up. I know it means
I agree. ashamed to show my the world to her that I support her.
We agree to keep in touch, support for her to That I’m not ashamed to show my
with Karen offering an ear for the world. support for her to the world.
questions or a late night shoulder Just a couple of weeks later,
to cry on. we are out together. Someone
She reminds me that I’ll make misgenders her. My daughter looks
mistakes along the way and that it’s OK. It’s a up.
learning process. I guess the important thing is that “I prefer she/her pronouns,” she says firmly.
I am willing to learn from my mistakes. Decisively.
I left my conversation with Karen feeling I smile, locking eyes with a bewildered good old
empowered and slightly overwhelmed, armed with boy who smartly decides not to argue.
more information but also with more questions. But Like mother like daughter. 
then my daughter came bounding into the kitchen,
excited about something she saw on the internet, a

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