I'll never forget the first time I saw her reflected in the mirror.
It was Valentine's Day, 2002. I decided to go to the mall after school. I began socially transitioning, albeit discreetly, as a sophomore in high school. I would wear headwraps instead of wigs but never dared to wear makeup, due more to my lack of skills than fear of getting caught.
After a bit of retail therapy, I stopped by a small salon, where a friendly stylist doted on me like a big sister and made makeup recommendations. I eagerly bustled to the nearby makeup counter at Macy's with her notes and, 15 minutes later, was back in the salon seat as she painted my face.
I like to believe she had friends like me, who also discovered their true selves, with a fabulous cisgender ally walking alongside us in our journeys. When she was done, she turned me around in the salon chair to see the results.
For the first time, I saw my true self in the mirror and felt visible.
For me, Trans Day of Visibility is more than just a date on the calendar. It is a solemn promise to live boldly in my truth and help others do the same. Each time I speak my truth, I pay tribute to those who fight so we can stand taller and prouder of our identities. Each time I offer a hand or words of encouragement to another trans soul, I spark a light that casts away the shadows of despair.
Trans Day of Visibility reminds us that although the journey is long and, at times, challenging, it is also filled with love, hope, and hard-won joy.
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