Listen to Your Mother 2026 is TOMORROW! We've got a talented cast bringing a lot of heartfelt stories to the event, and I still can't believe I'm one of them. It's from 7:30pm to 9:30pm tomorrow, May 9th, and I highly encourage everyone to attend.
Tickets are here. The show will be streamed on YouTube if you can't be there in person, and available after the show if you can't afford $15 for a livestream ticket (which I understand, I'm unemployed). All proceeds go to the Teen Empowerment Center in Rochester, NY.
I'm so honored to be a part of this cast. I cannot overstate how powerful and emotional every story is. We each have a different experience, no two of us are alike. It's wild to think that I auditioned for this with no dream that I'd be chosen, then yesterday I was rehearsing with the rest of the cast at Hochstein.
If you are trans, visibility is not a responsibility. If you need to be stealth or closeted because you can't handle being visible, that's okay.
For those of you brave or safe enough to be visible: remind the world that we exist.
Because we do exist.
We have a right to live our lives the way we want to, regardless of what this generation's expectations of us may be. We have been around longer than this society, and will still exist after it has crumbled into dust. Which society? All of them.
We are not a fad. We are not a mental illness. We are not trying to corrupt children. We are trying to exist as ourselves.
They can try to erase us, but we are written in ink and will never fade.
Happy Trans Day of Visibility, everyone. You will be okay.
And remember, in the whole world, there is only of you, and you are beautiful just the way you are. So please, take care of yourself, friend.
Shortly after posting this, I will be going to an audition for Listen to Your Mother, a literary event in May where a select group will each share poems or stories about motherhood, either being a mother or their experience with their mother.
I will be reading a story about my son, struggling as a young parent, coming out as trans, and ultimately letting him go. If I get it, I will give y'all the details so everyone here can attend the show (unless they happen to be traveling to another country at the time). If I don't, I'll record my piece and post the recording here.
Thanks, friends! Take care!
Update: I think it went well. They were all very nice, and seemed to really like my piece. They will announce the cast list on March 28th, so stay tuned.
🩵 Take your meds
🩵 You are enough
🩵 You are a good in this world
🩵 You are worth it
🩵 Treat yourself
🩵 You matter
🩵 It's gonna be okay
🩵 Your feelings are valid
🩵 There is so much to love about you
🩵 Get some rest
Some of my happiest memories from growing up were people sitting with me, or even just saying hi, simply because I looked lonely. Most of the time, it was people I didn't know.
This journey has been so long
It's thrown twists and turns at me
I thought I was near the end
but when I got through the weeds
I found another path stretching ahead of me
I chose this path
I didn't know it'd be this long
but I can't turn around now
so all I can do is take it
one step at a time
Step by step
Day by day
I'll reach the end of this path
The sky seems dark now
but soon, it'll clear up
And the best part
is that I'm not walking alone
there are so many people
walking alongside me
holding my hand
so I don't need to be scared
So step by step
day by day
and hand in hand
I'll keep walking this path
until it opens up
to bright, blue skies
Photo by IMMAGINÉ PHOTOGRAPHY
