For most of my life, I lived in the shadow of shame. I was afraid that if anyone discovered my confusion about my gender there would be terrible consequences. Who would want to be my friend? How would I have a career? Who would love me? With the help of my spouse Susanne, the past two decades have been a process of coming out of hiding, letting myself be known and leaving shame behind. That process has led me to write this book. I’ve been blessed with many odd experiences, stunning misadventures and the acquaintance of wonderfully quirky people. And whatever I have to say about it, or whatever you may think of it, I’m grateful I can finally tell my story without shame.
The changes for transgender people over the past few years have been stunning. We finally exist in the public imagination, although there is still much more work to be done. While this monumental shift has been underway, I’ve been honored to do education and outreach for SpeakOUT Boston and to lobby Congress with the National Center for Transgender Equality. I’ve taught, I’ve published and I’ve run programs on transgender awareness at colleges and universities. I’ve tried to be a conscious transgender presence as a member of the Independent Book Publishers of America, a board member of the Independent Book Publishers of New England and a volunteer at The Players Theater in Providence. Without Shame is part of all that. As a friend of mine told me recently, “Every day is outreach day. Welcome it.”