Do not cave into the pressure from mainstream society to fit in. You do not, and will not ever fit in. One day you will realize you don’t even want to anymore, and that your difference is inherently tied to your beauty, and your bravery, and your giant, mystical, invisible brass balls. You will love these balls, and they will swing majestically between your ears, inside the head you will hold up proudly.

With a little time and a few people on my side, I became brave enough not to care about the people who didn’t like me. I even became brave enough not to hate them for being mean to me. My world did get better, but I got better too. […] When I make a friend now, I make sure they know that I don’t care if they are weird, or popular, or straight, or pretty, or black, or like me, or different. I just want them to know that I like them, that I am their friend, and I mean it.

You’ll discover that sexuality and gender do not stay still, but like clouds, shift and twist and open up in beautiful, new ways. […] You’ll have friends and lovers who support you, who love you for who you are. You need to let them in. Learn to be gentle with yourself, and forgiving—you have more strength and courage than you realize.

I love you because of the clothes. I love you because of what you Want. I love the broken mold you kicked away. I love you because you have Godzilla inside you.

It is okay to know who you are, and keep it private, if your own safety requires it. This does not mean you are any less queer or radical or cool than the guy with the purple hair and the rainbow stockings. It just means that he has different circumstances than you do.

Those who conformed to gender norms got to be multidimensional people with traits and flaws and the whole bit, but gay people were just gay, end of story. No need for further discussion. […] I can tell pretty easily when someone is judging me for being gay. And that is a quick and easy way for me to know that I am talking to an idiot, someone who is not worthy of my time or attention, someone who can’t come to my party. And it’s a good party, my party.

Actually, you’re exquisite. You really are. You’ve got everything you need to do the things you’re dreaming of in this world. […] I love you. I trust you. Read a lot. When in doubt, go for empathy. Talk and work. Try to do something. You’ll be fine.

You should never, ever, ever do anything to yourself that would punish yourself for things that other people do.