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.

When I realised I was transgender I was so afraid of what my transition would do to everyone else in my life and how they would react to it and would I be rejected?

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.

Gender is between your ears and not between your legs.

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.

Around 2001, I started analyzing lesbians. I started to realize that even really butch-acting or -dressing women still had a strong female identity that I never had.

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.