I first noticed american republicans pushing transphobic rhetoric around ten ish years ago or so. I want to be informed on issues that may arise during an election, so I had to research trans issues. All this was a direct result of that hateful rhetoric.

I learned a lot about gender, and trans people, and it prompted me to consider my own gender which I really hadn't done before. It took time after that to accept myself as trans, and even longer to be ready to do anything about it.

If politicians had just left trans people alone I doubt I would have figured myself out by now.