-NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY- In the Spring semester of 2015 Auntie Heroine was born... But that's also when I was auditing a Queer Theory class at ISU. In that class I learned so much about gender and culture and I came to a realization... For so long I thought I "wasn't TRANS enough" to identify as trans even though I hadn't felt comfortable in my identity as a 'boy' for years. That's when I learned about the colonial history of "The Binary" and how you don't have to fit in the box they force us in when we're born. It's interesting how I've come out so many times about sexuality and identity over the years, but when I learned about Non-binary, it all just fit. I've been identifying as Non-binary and using THEY/THEM pronouns for about 8 years now. I felt very alone in that identity back then living in Bloomington where'd I'd make giant public art signs around campus drawing attention to pronouns. And I didn't know a single person that identified like me when I lived in Rockford 7 years ago. But when I moved back here 2 years ago, I kept running across Non-binary, they/them, and trans people. Things have changed in such a short time. And I am a part of that. Even when it was hard, I corrected people on my pronouns. When I felt alone, I still confidently proclaimed my Non-binary identity. When we live out and proud, we empower others. They might not say anything, but they see you. Just like you saw those queer and trans people before you came out. I haven't talked about national coming out day in years because it's exhausting at times. But this year I want to send you all a message: Live your authentic lives. In any small way that you can whether it's wearing nails, makeup, your beautiful queer voice, or a small rainbow button. Be who you are and be a role model, because someone who needs it WILL see it.... And you will most likely never know. So live proud! . . Shoutout to @ztmofficial for the cute boomerang video of me 💚