Say My Name, Mey’s My Name

feature image via Shutterstock
It’s time for another edition of SE(N)O, an essay series on A+ for personal stories we wish we could tell on the accessible-to-our-employers-and-everyone-we've-ever-known mainsite, but can’t for personal and professional reasons.

For most of the first 25 years of my 28 years on earth, everybody treated me like a man. Well, like a gay man, because a lot of people thought I was gay, but still — like a man. It’s hard to shake that. When I write about my life before I came out, I’m afraid people will read that writing and imagine me as a guy, like how I imagine someone doing the things they’re describing when I’m reading about their past. So I want to talk to you about my name, but doing so summons a lot of fear ...

Join a crew of extraordinary humans who keep Autostraddle here for everyone!  Already a member? Sign In

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!

Mey

Mey Rude is a fat, trans, Latina lesbian living in LA. She's a writer, journalist, and a trans consultant and sensitivity reader. You can follow her on twitter, or go to her website if you want to hire her.

Mey has written 572 articles for us.