I was scared that I would be too much of a burden on other people

My femininity is something that people don’t typically get. People often see that as a stereotype of a gay person. People would say to me that they were so glad that I wasn’t flamboyant or “one of those” gay people. As a man*, there is a huge stigma about revealing that part of me. People easily dismiss my femininity as weakness.

I have such privilege to paint my nails and I feel an obligation, yes an obligation to push the boundaries of what it means to be a man*. To experiment with typically feminine things, to make it more normative for those who do not feel as accepted for who they are.

I was scared that I would be too much of a burden on other people, but who else would call out professors or classmates for their outdated language. It’s really hard for me to get the courage to speak because I would be the stereotypical gay person. My voice shakes and my palms get sweaty, but until I get to a point where I don't have to look around to see how people are looking at my attire, until I can gracefully address someone who says the word ‘homosexual,’ and until my voice stops shaking I need to continue to push myself.

*At the time of the interview, Nathan identified as a cis-gay man. However, they now identify as non-binary, meaning they do not identify as a man or a woman.