some type of adult girl

amazighfenris:

light—chaser:

My name is Ashley, I identify as a woman of transgender experience, and I love cardigans.It is so hard to put into words what this day means to me. One year ago I was very deep in my denial of my transgender identity. So deep, in fact, that I wouldn’t post anything related to the trans community on my blog. Yes…I had to work through some of my own internalized transphobia to get where I am today, to fully realize my own identity, to post this picture and happily, oh so happily - identify myself as a trans woman. This tumblr community, my amazing followers, trans friends - you have all held me up, from the day that an anon sent me an ask saying, “I didn’t know you were trans. You’re safe here,” to a few days ago when I announced that I would be starting hormones very, very soon (yes, it is still happening and the countdown is still on)! Through it all, you all have made me feel so loved, and just…so…beautiful. My path has not been straight. It has not been easy. But being able to fully realize who I am has brought me happiness and a peace beyond anything I’ve known before. I know now: There is no greater way to love yourself than to be yourself. Unapologetically. There have been (and will continue to be, I am sure), people who will try to dim the light of this day. People who will try to invalidate our identities, our expressions, our humanity, the very fabric of who we are - but I truly believe that we cannot be completely silenced. I see the absolute strength of this community. I see that every single time we are brought down, we rise stronger. Every. Single. Time. And I just want to say that I am so damn proud of all of you. My trans friends who are out, my trans friends who can’t be out for any reason at all, my trans friends who are still discovering their identity, my disabled trans friends, my trans friends of every beautiful shape and size, my trans friends on every point of the sexual spectrum, my trans friends who have supportive families, my trans friends who are struggling to find support, my trans friends who feel fully comfortable in their expression, my trans friends who are still in that process - I am so damn proud of all of you. Just in existing, in being who you are, you shine a light so bright it could never go out. Today, and every day: Shine brightly, friends. Shine brightly.

(via moonry)