In Eric Peterson's review we can read: "I know Donna, and consider her to be a friend. AND, this book is incredible. When I started it, I was under the impression that I knew a fair amount about the transgender experience. To be fair, I knew more than most cis-gender people know, and what I knew was more or less correct. But there was SO much that I DIDN'T know, and I'm incredibly grateful to Donna for being so forthcoming, so brave, so insightful, so willing to share her story".
In 2014, I had the pleasure of talking to Donna, and this is what she said when asked about some advice for transgender women: "Transition, and often beyond, is very difficult if you’re obsessed with who might know about your history. You’ve got to grow some thick skin before you can move forward. I could say some flowery things like, “it’s what on the inside that counts” or “it doesn’t matter what anyone else things” but those things are of little comfort when confronted by someone who is challenging your gender. It took me quite a while to get past the stares and the snickers but it was something I needed to do to be me.
So, when it comes to advice, I think the best thing I could say is that a key element in all of this is time. It’s easy to dwell in the difficulty of the moment, but time helps overcome discomfort. Be creative finding support, be open to thinking about things in new ways, but most of all – be patient."
"I go back to that quotation about Fear. The day any of us gives in to what others would have us be rather than who we dare to be is the day we surrender. My dad used to say, “For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice.” The peace that comes with daring to rebirth yourself is partly a by-product of the difficulty of the journey. Those things you mention are real. They exist, and there’s no getting around that. Be smart. Be aware. Be careful. But, don’t be afraid."
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