This Pride, I am exhausted. It is exhausting to exist as a non-binary/trans person in a society that just wasn’t made for us. The past 6+ months, I have owned my pronouns and my identity more than ever before. Because of this, I think it is so much harder when I am misgendered by friends, coworkers, strangers, clothing stores. I legally changed my name to Stef last year - What a win! But every time I start a new project (which can be quite frequently in this industry) my former name comes up on at least one, if not all, pieces of paperwork. No one gives them this name, it is just assumed. Clothing stores. Oh boy, I’m not even going to start on trying to buy clothes that fit, match my identity or gender expression, and are in my budget. I’m not sharing any of this to complain. I’m not ashamed of who I am. I know that I am the only trans/non-binary person that many people in my circles know. I just ask that you consider how those around you encounter the world. You never know who identifies differently than you may think they do. A friend gave me the kindest compliment recently - they said I make every room I walk into trans friendly. As warm and fuzzy as that genuinely made me feel, maybe you can help make the room trans friendly before I (or any other non-cis human) walk into it💜 Don’t assume gender. Be kind to people. Happy Pride🌈