It was subtle. Some insecure dude who tries really hard to fit in. He's a crappy skater, and not in a good way. I could throw down a bunch of skate lingo to explain why he sucks so much, but I think "tries really hard to fit in," says enough.
He half-recognized me as first. A lot of people are seeing me as a girl for the first time lately. "What, are you cross-dressing?"
"No. I'm switching over. No more boy."
I quoted that last line from an awesome comic strip about a transgender child. (
http://the-princess.funonthe.net/comics/48/)
I kept skating. I don't need to explain myself, especially to somebody who I don't respect. Later, I ran into him in another section of the park. I got a, "Hey man. What are you doing?" But it wasn't a conversation starter; there was an ulterior motive in his voice.
"I'm... skating."
Keep in mind, this is
while I'm skating, and pushing, and doing tricks. I had like a six-trick line going at that point. My wheels are still rolling!
"Alright, dude!" and he laughed, to which I replied, "Alright, miss!"
I'm not venting here. I'm not lamenting. I'm just sharing. The whole time, I could see an insecure little boy, cloaked in a man's clothes. I suppose I'm sharing this to give hope and support to anyone who does get heckled.
I've got the ovaries to be myself. This guy doesn't. You reading this, YOU have the ovaries to be yourself, too! Or if you're a trans dude, you DO have the balls to be yourself!
