On the weekend I (20 MtF), my best friend (19 gender fluid she/they/he), and another one of our friends (20F); all went to the bar because a band they both liked was playing. The night went well even without any of us drinking. But the other day I found out that the singer of the band, who my best friend knew on a personal basis, was texting them getting upset because he wasn’t introduced to me or our other friend. Turns out after being told our names he started making transphobic remarks about me saying that I should just be a “gay man” and that he doesn’t see trans women as trans or women until they have surgery. Thankfully my best friend started calling him out on his BS and defending me and the trans community as a whole.

A note to my best friend: I doubt that you are reading this, but if you are I love you and I don’t think I’d ever be this happy with who I am without you and your support. You mean the world to me and I’m extremely grateful to be able to call you my best friend.