Like most LGBTQ people that graduated in the ’90s, I wasn’t out in high school. I had never heard the term “transgender,” and outside of many hateful jokes about men in dresses or trans people “tricking” straight men into some romantic encounter (I’m looking at you, Ace Ventura), we were absent in media, especially most teen shows.
I was confused in high school, trying different clothing styles and friend groups to figure out where I fit in. My suburban Oklahoma school had your typical assortment of athletes, goth kids, popular people, and of course, band nerds (my people).
I was also frequently angry and confused — struggling with anxiety, undiagnosed ADHD and gender/sexual orientation-related depression.