A snippet of my story for #DayForGNC

Before accepting myself I tried to conform, I'd fight my mannerisms, my own natural movements so I appeared more "masculine", I'd spent my entire teens doing this to try "fit in" to be a "man" (1)

But then at 21 I came out as gay officially to everyone, after living a double life for 5 years, with only family and close friends knowing until then.

I lost a lot, people and even my role within a community.

But in doing so it opened a door and I met (2)

@FionneOrlander who back then wasn't transitioning, but instead was a nonconformist and one of the influential people who came in to my life and opened a door for me to rid myself of the toxic masculinity I had spent my teens ingesting.

Amazing memories were made (3)

Meeting Fionne and the many other characters during this period of self discovery did lead me to maybe a little too much fun, but we live and learn, sometimes the hard way

I myself went down a rocky road of addiction unfortunately and turned my life upside down.

At 26 after a period of "rehab" I decided to head to University and seek an education rather than spend my time dressing up and getting drunk, but I couldn't help myself when the occasion arrived for me to get out the "glad rags"

And now at the tender age of 32, I still like to be different, stand out, it garners negative and positive attention, I don't care anymore though, when I hit 30 I really did stop caring what others think of me, I felt even more unhindered and free.

#DayForGNC #SexNotGender