Trans people are dreading Caitlyn Jenner’s run for governor

It was late June 2015 when I asked my mom a question that carried much more weight than she perhaps realized at the time. Struggling with the duel burdens of gender dysphoria and the closet, I asked her what she thought of Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover, which had been revealed just days earlier.

I had been struggling with whether I should transition, which would undoubtedly blow up my relatively comfortable life. I had no idea how my family would react to my coming out — growing up, LGBTQ issues weren’t discussed at the dinner table. I was pretty sure my mom would be supportive, but I wasn’t certain. Countless trans people had been unexpectedly let down by their parents before me.

I held my breath as I waited for her response.