Hello Henry

From considering becoming a transman to declaring myself genderqueer to becoming an activist for gender diversity, it's a journey. Lately, I've wanted a name to express my gender journey. The kingly Henry has caught my attention. I posted it on Facebook. The responses inspired me to write a poem. ​

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Hello Henry

Today, I posted a new
name.
"Hello Henry," was
the first response. So good
to be known, dear friend.

“Whatever brings you joy
my friend,” was the second.
You missed the point, my friend.
This isn’t a pleasure trip
this isn't a haircut.
This is my identity
my authenticity.
This is about
saying out loud
who I am

Someone wrote,
"What’s in a name?"
I'm sending up
a flare. I'm building a fire in the shape
of a prayer

Even though we’re slow,
we’re learning. Someday,
it’ll feel like we always
knew and understood that gender
isn't definable as a pair of opposites.
Someday we won’t think twice
before we ask, "What's your pronoun?"
Someday auto-spell check will know
I dictated, “Ask my pronoun,”
not, “Ask my problem.”