I was on the cusp of coming out as a woman while querying agents. For a while I thought I might stay in the closet and then come out after I'd found rep. It seemed like it'd be too hard to explain that all of my pubs were under an old name and frankly I was scared.

I ended up getting connected with @accommodatingly and she was super helpful in working through the rationale that if I was upfront about my gender identity then I could ensure my agent was on my side.

I made a website under my new name so I'd still be google-able and my first query under my new name was sent to @cassmannes and a few other agents.

I'd had a couple full ms requests before then but no bites. @cassmannes was the first to offer representation but boy am I glad she did. All this is to say that there are tons of agents and editors who want to rep trans writers.

It is so discouraging to read about an agent who is so outwardly transphobic because when we are starting out as writers, it can feel like the industry is small and a few people make all of the decisions. One agent being outed as gen-crit feels like the whole industry is rotten

We are in need of so much more re: trans representation in publishing, especially in regards to bipoc trans folks, but things are changing and there are people who are trying to do the work.

And when I say we need representation I mean FULL REPRESENTATION. Let us tell the stories we want to tell. Let us write magic and realism and sci-fi and romance. the "trans experience" stories are important but we are so much more than our transitions.

I have to give a shoutout to my editor @msmelread and @AtriaBooks who I am just starting to work with but who have been super helpful thus far