Validation 414 (Patreon)

You do find out who your true friends are after you come out. I had a really rough go of it back in 2011 when I first started telling people. Fortunately I had a few ardent supporters who treated me like a human being rather than a freakshow. Over the past decade plus many of those who shunned me have come around. They are forgiven, but it is hard to forget what was done and said. And with all of that said, was it worth it to be me? 1000%!!!

I'll find ways in the future to tell the story of those early days. I feel a lot of it is in the pages of Validation thematically, but Ally is sort of an idealized version of what I wish happened. Not to say she didn't have (or continue to have) challenges. My journey was, for lack of more words, arduous. I am not alone in that respect and that is disheartening on an empathetic and societal level. I do count myself fortunate in many ways, however. For one: I am still here.

It's hard to explain in just a couple of paragraphs. It's taken all this time to have an outside view looking in. I will find a way to convey as the future arrives and of course let you know! Thank you ❤️