So! Doing this in the time of covid was… something. I dunno what your pandemic project of choice was, but maybe not like mine. I’m still married to @susanlbridges. But as you won’t recognize the handle change, you knew me as Jeffrey. Hi! I’m transgender, and my name is Tilly. :)

There’s so much I want to say. So much I HAVE to say. Rejecting the white male society saw me as, and told me I was, means giving up so much of my privilege. Believe me, I know. But I’m still white. I’m 6’2”. I’m not ripped, but I have obvious musculature.

And I live in a safe neighborhood, in the most liberal and accepting state in the country. The amazing friends in my life I’ve already told have been nothing but kind, compassionate, and supportive of me. Every single one of them!

I still have so much more privilege than many trans people, especially trans women of color, especially Black trans women. No trans person, no trans woman, owes the world any more information than they want to provide.

They’re hesitant to be open about things, and for good goddamned reason. But I’m going to USE my privilege. I’m going to be as open and honest as I can. I’ll be making weekly posts with #TransTuesday to talk about transitioning…

To talk about things in society you might not notice if you’re not transitioning yourself. I don’t claim to speak for all trans people, and certainly not even all white trans women. All I can offer are my own thoughts and experiences.

But I hope I can increase understanding, at least a little bit. If it helps one other trans person in any way, or if it helps one other person understand someone in their life who’s transitioning, it’ll be worth it. I want to help. If I can.

And I’d like to take a second to mention some people who’ve helped ME, many who maybe didn’t even realize it. I’m terrified I’m going to forget people, but there are people I absolutely have to thank.

To the trans ladies who inspired me with their courage and heart, you made me feel as though I could be me. @LilahSturges @MagsVisaggs @MsJamieClayton @NicoleAMaines @DanaALevinson @Lavernecox @12thKnight and Lana and @lilly_wachowski.

To the writers/producers who made me feel that my being trans would never exclude @susanlbridges and me from working in the industry we love, your visible support of trans people made me feel like this wasn’t career suicide:

@jonrog1 @JenniferCourt12 @GeoffThorne @thetzechun @bergopolis @extspace @OKBJGM @JeffLieber @slack2thefuture @JoseMolinaTV

To animation writer/producers, and comics editor publishers, whose visible support made me feel like being trans would never exclude us from being hired: @MairghreadScott @ETphoneh @GoodAaron @DafnaDOOM @HeatherAntos @whatthe_shea @barbrajdillon @ComicBookSlayer @DamianWassel

There were so, so many things that went into me figuring this out, which I’ll go into over time with #TransTuesday, but one very real corollary fear was if discrimination would prevent @susanlbridges from being writers. It’s what we want most (and are pretty fucking good at tbh).

Your support MATTERS. All of my friends and their private support, and all the people mentioned in this thread helped me believe it was okay to be me in this world. Please keep supporting LGBTQ+ folks. You have no idea of the lives you’re changing. It honestly means the world.

Look how long this thread is. See? I’m still me. :) Anyway, right, yeah, okay, I think I’m done? Who knows. IT’S ALL A PROCESS OKAY? Come along on the journey with me. Maybe we’ll all learn something.

Oh, and if you’re looking writers of kickass hopeful sci-fi with blue sky imagination, from what might be the only married cis woman/trans woman writing team around (are there others? Tell us! I want to know them!!), @susanlibridges and I would love to talk to you.

Tilly Bridges, end transmission.

It me!