When I came out, I knew I’d need help. I knew I’d need love. It was waiting for me all along.
Turns out, my cis lady friends, 99% of them anyway, were waiting for me. This is what I’ve received since coming out:
-Salon Mia Bella and the women there lifting me up every time. When Kate, Kristine, or Kachina and I talk, it’s just us girls. When I asked the owner if they’d still support me after coming out, the answer was a resounding yes. And so I continue to drive to Muskegon every few weeks for a wax, a mani/pedi, or a cut and color.
-Mary Leslie at the Leslie Studio loves me to death. She’s been “mothering” me and teaching me the finer points of being a woman. She’s taught me to sit up straight (“tits out,” she says), and she says my fashion sense is good.
-Women at my job are helping. My supervisor loves me, Donna Cano (another supervisor), and the HR manager are making sure I don’t get harassed or bullied at work. And with Donna and Alicia, talking to them is easy. Donna has been checking on me Monday through Friday.
-Rev. Jen loves me too. She’s not sure where my spiritual path will take me, but she gets it.
-Plus I have the love of my trans sisters and they have been there since the process started.
Adventures With Amber Marie 