It’s time for the BIG announcement. I have a lot to say and I only ask that as you read, you keep your hearts and minds open. Through the love and support of my wife, my parents, my friends and an overwhelming majority of my family, I’m finally ready to say openly and proudly that I am a transgender woman. One year ago tonight, after an intense 3-month-long depression, I came out to my wife. Soon, my profile picture will show me as I prefer to be seen, which is how the world (outside of karaoke) sees me every day. My name will be changed to Natalie Grace Martin. Chandra and I have taken every step of this road together, and we firmly agree that my transition has no effect on my ability to love and raise our children, or our ability to love each other. It really sucks to wake up one morning and realize that your soul and mind don’t match your identity, but once you have a realization on that grand of a scale, to continue living without acknowledgement is simply lying. I chose the name Natalie for, among other things, its striking resemblance to “Not a lie”. I’m not a good liar…never have been. Being open about my female identity is really my only option. Chandra and I are exhausted from keeping this filtered out of our statuses and pictures, and the only solution is to stop hiding from our digital world. If you don’t think you can handle seeing me as I choose to present myself, I’m sorry to say that you’re welcome to unfriend me, but I do wish that you’ll give me a chance. One thing we’ve found to be true is that there’s no better way to understand my situation than to see for yourself how much happier I’ve become, how much my children still love me, how my skill as a musician is still improving, and how I’m still a good spouse, parent and friend. Today Chandra and I both give thanks for everybody at the Fairlawn School of Music, the Medina Seventh-Day Adventist Church, every member of our extended families, and every friend we’ve made in (or out of) karaoke. The acceptance and love we feel from all corners of our life together is truly heart-warming and inspiring. Please know that if you want to talk, particularly about the more personal aspects of my transition, feel free to message me or call me any time. Please know that my family and I are healthy, happy and whole. I have pride in my quest for spiritual wholeness and enlightenment. This is simply the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I’d like to welcome you to it. My name is Natalie Grace Martin, and it’s a joy to finally meet you.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 00:57:09 +0000
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