Like most FTMs, I've become aware of the standards we are held to. "You're a man born with the wrong anatomy? Well, you sure as hell better be the manliest man out there!" is the unspoken mantra it seems with many ignorant cisgendered people, as well as some in our own community, a sad fact that I've slowly come to disregard as rubbish. Given, there are moments when even I, an effeminate male (as most in alternative subcultures are) who has become an outspoken advocate for freedom of expression, will defeated give in and wipe off my eye shadow in the car or change my clothing at the last minute because I feel too exasperated on certain days to deal with any extra gender issues, but I believe that I've come to terms with a few life lessons that some seem unable to fathom well into adulthood. My slogan, "Gender is overrated," is one of them. (Perhaps a more accurate amendment to that claim would be 'Gender binaries are overrated,' but the point is clear.) It is with that statement that I will go on to announce that, without Sailor Moon, an anime typically associated with girls but widely viewed by boys who are often too embarrassed to admit it, I highly doubt I would have come to be the person I am so smoothly and at a such a young age.
Sailor Moon really provided the foundations that later led me to become a stronger person. As a transboy, the emphasis on the ambiguity of gender and gender roles really helped me to overcome difficulties coping with my situation well past adolescence, and with characters like Haruka (a reference of whom made by Michiru, claiming she was both male and female, made my heart race as soon as I read it), Seiya (whose circumstance in the anime of being a male who was forced to transform into a female in battle), and Fish Eye (who, though often referred to as male, often showed transgender qualities and never failed to be, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful girls in the anime, despite the rejection she often faced) really put a spin on what I was dealing with and helped me to feel less isolated.
Though Uranus was always my favorite, each character helped me identify with another part of myself that I refused to acknowledge, and allowed me to sympathize and build admiration for aspects of myself through their character that I would never have otherwise. Had I not been so tenderly handed the values of believing in oneself, staying strong, and speaking out for what was right embedded in my guts by this beloved series, a series offering a collection of strong, brave mentors and role models, I doubt my growth would have come so easily. Hotaru, who, though abused, mistreated, and abandoned by so many for her differences, continued to strive to be the better person and to never let her experiences hinder her ability to love. Minako, the leader who struggled to live up to the pedestal she had been placed on by her duty, as transpeople often are to their community and to those who expect them to be models of familiar stereotypes. Rei, whose fierce personality played a large role in allowing me to recognize that it was alright to actually speak up for yourself. Makoto, who was often misjudged and seen as a trouble maker due to rumors and misunderstandings, and yet never fell into the persona others had attached to her. Ami, whose quiet demeanor often left her to toil with her emotions and insecurities alone, and yet made her mature beyond her years. Setsuna, who saw the possibility of doom ever-present on the horizon, and yet continued onward with hope for a better tomorrow. Michiru, who, through her love and dedication to Haruka, showed me that true love for another human being, no matter the oppression it may be met with,will overcome all obstacles, as many saw through the American's dub attempted cousin facade, Chibiusa, whose innocence never faltered, and whose love was unconditional and everlasting, even when bittersweet. The Amazon Quartet, whose wish to hold on to their childhood and fear for what dangers becoming an adult held for them led them into darkness. At last, we've come to Usagi, whose love was never severed by hatred or indignation, whose fight was selfless and focused on building a brighter, better future for those besides herself, even if it meant her own suffering or even death, whose experiences made her compassionate rather than bitter, who held no bias in her heart even for those who had wronged her, and who taught me that being mature was not the equivalent of collecting memories of the injuries done unto a person, nor was it letting go of the child they once were, but rather, taking that child and all of it's wonder and prospect and potential by the hand and leading it with us into the journey of growing up. After all, as long as we are alive, we are each filled with endless potential and an unfathomable amount of possibilities, something that we too often forget. The meaning of life isn't to write a tragedy or a list of enemies, but rather, to live in such a way that you can honestly look back and be content with what you remember. As Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance (my boyfriend's favorite band) once said, "One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching"
And that, my dear readers, is what Sailor Moon, along with countless other sources of inspiration and motivation, taught me. Thank you for allowing me to ramble so long on my first post, and feel free to speak about your connection to Sailor Moon and what this series has meant to you, if you'd like.
