Over the years, I've worked really hard to create friendships with people who hold views that are jarringly different than mine. I still believe that this is a good thing for people to do, if you can do it. It creates much needed dialogue for an ever more divided society. I, however, am done with that. Too many times I've been betrayed, insulted, and silenced. It happened that every time I wanted to build on these friendships, they somehow end in me being vilified for believing what I believe, usually with the use of straw man arguments. They use those arguments to claim that people like me are supposedly the culprits for the issues in society, or even implying that I am causing harm to my own community whether it be trans people or Native people or something else; and they blame me for being the one causing division. It's impossible to talk to people like this because I can never be anything but wrong to them. I can't talk to people who won't listen. The simple version is, I don't have the patience for it, but the thing is, I can't deal with these things because of trauma it brings up again sometimes. I'm not built to debate because I'll get triggered easily. Either way, most of the time I find that people don't want a fair debate anyway. Look, I tried. It's not for me.

Despite what people might say about me, I always make the greatest attempt to give people the respect they deserve, not only the respect but the love they deserve. Those of you who know me know I love you guys, I want to give that love. As a good friend of mine said to me, “When you know struggle, when your life is struggle, inherently you love hard.” If you want friendship, I will give you all I can give. I'll be there for you when you are down and will always be open to hear you. I can still be friends with you if our perspectives differ don't get me wrong. Just know that conversations are going to be difficult, because I don't want to go back and forth trying to shut each other out. As for my friendships, my communities, and my families. I'll be here to love, even if I dont' get the love in return.