There is a dualism inherent in democracy--opposing forces pushing against each other, always. Culture clashes. Different belief systems. All coming together to create this country. But this balance takes a great deal of energy.

Petra turned to her. "Everybody lies about who they are. Name one person here who isn't doing that and I will drop out right now!" Shanti felt that snake of truth coil around her legs, threatening to squeeze. "I didn't mean..." "No one ever does." Petra said, shoving the baton back at Shanti.

Please, I'm a transgender former boy-bander. You think I don't know how to defend myself?

True affection and love have a purity which shall always prevail over bigotry.

I thought research would be more glamorous, somehow. I'd give the librarian a secret code word and he'd give me the one book I needed and whisper the necessary page numbers. Like a speakeasy. With books.

There's a lot about discovering who you are and how difficult that is. And it never stops.

I'm an oddity of one, my strangeness too complicated to explain or share.