A lot of parents never speak to their transgender kids again that's not the case in my family.

I wanted to show America a different kind of man. If there was someone like me when I was growing up, my whole life would have been different.

It really bothers me when I see people doing my mother in drag. I mean, just imagine if you saw people doing that with your mother.

Obviously the transgender movement has not progressed in the way that the gay and lesbian movement has. But Im an activist - thats just the kind of person I am.

So when I was about 13 or 14, I realized I was attracted to women and then made the assumption that I was a lesbian, and didn't realize that that wasn't the case. It was the fact that I was a man and a heterosexual man. The issue wasn't my sexual orientation, but rather my gender identity.

I've been embraced by a new community. That's what happens when you're finally honest about who you are; you find others like you.

I came out around 25 publicly.