Comments on: Trans Day of Remembrance: A Letter of Blessings to My 16-Year-Old Self

By: Brian M

Brian M — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 03:02:24 +0000

Janet Mock – you are wonderful. You are a trans woman of color and you are an inspiration to every boy and girl – black, white, Asian, latin. You are a woman role model, a trans woman role model, a woman of color role mode, and a HUMAN BEING role model. My life is better for knowing you (thru your book and story).

Its an honor and privilege to be let into your life thru your book/story.

Brian M
Birmingham AL

By: Leslie Lagerstrom

Leslie Lagerstrom — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 13:03:08 +0000

Thank you for sharing this beautiful and personal story. As a mom, I worry about everything you have just described for my son Sam, who just turned 16 – the thought of him being subject to the threat of violence and emotionally scarring rejection is hard to bear. I, along with so many other parents, am deeply appreciative to you for shedding light on the subject…the awareness you are helping to spread is saving lives. Sending big hugs to you Janet!

By: Ohsotrue

Ohsotrue — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:40:20 +0000

Janet,
I was reading a gossip blog and your name came up, nothing about you being a transgender. Whatever was said it made me want to Google you. After reading your background and seeing earlier pictures of you, I have to agree you have always been a girl. Although living in Los Angeles, I don’t have any close friends that have gone thru the change but have had acquaintance who had some type of change going on in their lives. I never questioned their lifestyle because I figured they got that all the time and just accepted them as they were. Reading your story (I love your play with words) gave me a new understanding. I once had a short friendship in Jr. HS with a boy/girl. Angel was the cutest thing, at first I wasn’t sure what he was but that didn’t matter because he was so fun and so different from any of my friends at the time. One day while walking from school kids began to make fun of him and I totally didn’t get it. Then one day poof he stopped coming to school. I often hope he has been able to find his happiness. I didn’t think about all he had endured just trying to be brave enough to be himself. I congratulate you for being you; that takes strength from deep within. Often we don’t think of another person’s pain. Thank you for sharing your story for those who too feel trapped within themselves. That has to be the most frustrating thing for anyone to live with. Self-discovery is one amazing thing.

By: Maleah

Maleah — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:26:39 +0000

Hey Janet, I just wanted to say you are my role model and an inspiration! Not just as another transgender, but as a woman first and foremost! Your story was really touching to me and I can’t wait til the day I have my srs. I also transitioned early, i’m 21 years old now, and believe as long as we embrace who we are as transwomen, then society will shift along as well.. there’s nothing wrong with us, and no reason for us to have to hide! God Bless!! XoxO

-Maleah

By: sarah t.

sarah t. — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:18:56 +0000

As a human being, not having walked in your shoes, your story is very touching. And I feel that if more people were of an open mind, it could help people relate to many different situations that we as people go thru on our journeys through life. Thank you for finding your inner strength and sharing your story, and finding your happy place.

By: Peaches

Peaches — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:33:02 +0000

THANK YOU!

By: Tyffani

Tyffani — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:42:10 +0000

I am a woman, born a female, nor am I homosexual. I am married with a daughter. HoweverI found your story on AOL and was intrigued to read it. I am happy for you that you found the love of your life and for someone to accept you for who you are. You did not ask to be born this way. Thank you for sharing your struggles and your fairy tale come true :) :) My heart goes out to those who have lost their lives to the cruelty in this world, I never new of these situations and it saddens me. Once again thank you for sharing. People need to learn to be who they are and others need to learn to accept people for who they are. Please continue to share and continue to open up the eyes of others. KUDDOS TO YOU JANET :)

By: JJ

JJ — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:16:54 +0000

HI Janet,

I saw your article recently on Huffington Post blog. I was so happy to read about how you told your boyfriend about your past and he accepted you and didn’t freak out. I can tell you that I just recently had a guy freak out on me, when I told him about my personal history. I live in the midwest, and I always end up having to tell guys, I never know when the right time is to tell them though. I want them to get to know me 1st as a person and not define me by my past.

Oh and I’m a man that happens to be trans. Thank you for writing your article and keep posting

-JJ

By: Paris

Paris — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:15:52 +0000

I read your article on xojane (IHTM) and was intrigued with your story. Her website has the most interesting articles that one usually doesn’t see on other sites. I really commend you for telling your story and having a place where others can read and be able to understand themselves. It also allows others to be more tolerant of people that are “different” from them. It hurts to hear how cruel people can be to harm another person because of who he or she chooses to be. Please continue because articles and book(s) such as yours will greatly help.

By: Anissa

Anissa — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:11:44 +0000

Thank you for this beautifully written article. I am the mother of a 4 yo affirmed (trans) girl. My husband and I support and love our child unconditionally, but with it there will always be a level of fear for her, and her 6 yo brother (in case he has to stand up for her). Hearing your story made me a little sad thinking about what the future holds for my little girl. However, you made a good point that there will always be something…. I am glad that I happened upon your website. Hearing success stories such as yours gives me hope! Thank you for your courage!

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:51:46 +0000

In reply to Will Jones. What a heartbreaking story. Thank you for sharing this with me. It's great to hear another perspective on a similar story of dating as a young person in transition. I hope you know now that your date's inability to handle this situation in a respectful manner and not resort to violence says nothing about you as a person. it doesn't make you deserving of such treatment. You were young, you were a child, you were learning the world, and now know better. I'm sorry that you feel you've been living a fraudulent life. I see it differently: You dealt with something so tragic and scary and were forced to retreat, and in that retreat you ended up wiser with beautiful children. I hope that one day you're able to find the strength, support and resources to live your truth. Thank you again for sharing your story with me.

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:46:23 +0000

In reply to Michelle Helen. Thanks Michelle. I feel there are many things I've been blessed with in my life (a supportive family, great friends, an education, resources to be able to medically transition), but there are also many shortcomings I must face. It is what it is and we can only tell our truth if we embrace the good and the bad. I'm happy you liked the piece and wrote to me. Thank you!

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:45:04 +0000

In reply to Angelica Ross.

“The talk” is always a difficult thing to deal with, but I feel every woman and every person has their version of “the talk” unpacking the secrets and things that make them unique. I’ve had “the talk” many times in my young life and eventually I found a man who was secure enough in himself to grab my hand and walk through this life with me. I wish this kind of love for you and many of my sisters. It’s out there, it exists and YOU deserve it. xx

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:43:14 +0000

In reply to Renee James.

A lot of people assume because I transitioned young and have the ability to pass and fit in our society’s female ideal, I didn’t have to go through the challenge late-in-life transitioning women must go through. I think many of our issues overlap and we face similar hate/ignorance/intolerance, but all our issues are unique – just like us.

By: Will Jones

Will Jones — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:21:43 +0000

I just read your article and was deeply moved by it. When I was in my early twenties, I so much wanted to feel what a woman feels, live as a woman, and simply just live my live. After a few months of living full time as a woman, i finally got up the nerve to go out on a date with a guy who had asked me out on a couple different occasions, though I had made excuses why i could not go out. I finally did. It felt so right, so good, until he took me home. He got upset when I would not let him come inside. He grabbed me “down there” and i was petrified! He paused for a few seconds, and while i tried to begin to explain, he punched me repeatedly. Totally beat me up while screaming all kinds of obscenities at me. I survived the attack and, after awhile, recuperated, but i never resumed my life’s desire to live my life as a woman. Basically, I quit. I became and alcoholic and a drug addict for many years until one day I decided I could no longer do this. I am now in my 50s, drug and alcohol free, but never fulfilled my life’s desires. I got married and have a couple kids, but my heart still aches badly. I wish there were others I could have turned to back then for help and encouragement, but information was just not as available as it is today. My dying wish is that i wish that i had the strength to live my TRUE life, instead of giving in to society and live a fraudulent life. I praise you and others like you for following your heart!

By: Michelle Helen

Michelle Helen — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:31:47 +0000

I’m so glad you choose to bring up what could have happened instead of gushing how awesome it was to be treated the way you feel. the words you didn’t say to him instead of sorry….is completely understood.

thank you for the story, hugs.

By: Jenisha

Jenisha — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:28:04 +0000

Beautiful piece, Janet. Thanks you for sharing.

By: Angelica Ross

Angelica Ross — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:15:56 +0000

I can totally relate. I am lucky to have walked out of the situations I did, but like you, sometimes I just wanted to feel like I was just a normal girl. I would savor in the way he looked at me throughout the night, or grab for me around my waist, the small things that men only do towards a woman. And it felt amazing, but how heart breaking it has been to attract every type of guy I could see myself falling in love with, and then having to have “the talk” and watching it all fade away. I wish you and Aaron all the love and blessings in the world. You guys give me hope that I can find love again.

Love you Janet.

Angelica Ross a.k.a. “Miss Ross”

By: Renee James

Renee James — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:05:15 +0000

What a truly touching story, Janet. I had imagined that trans life was so much different for you because of your beauty, and because you transitioned early. Like Gilda Radner said, it’s always something.

By: Juston Smith

Juston Smith — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:08:15 +0000

Beautifully written piece, Janet. Thank you for sharing!