By the time I was 10, I'd stand in front of mirrors for hours, scrutinizing my face as I saw myself slip away. "Who's that boy?" I'd wonder. 

At 12, I confided to my best friend that I felt like a girl.

"That's... crazy," she responded, as she let out a laugh and walked away, forever.

At 14, I donned a spandex bodysuit for the first time, a costume piece for a high school production.

I felt amazing in it, until a castmate cut me down.

"You have the most feminine body and the most masculine face I've ever seen combined."

My dysphoria spiked.

Again, deflated.

Discouraged.

Derailed.

At 15, in drama club, I overheard the upperclassmen rehearsing a scene. In it, a high school reunion unravels when an alumni turns out to be transgender. “Stephanie” was crudely revealed as “Steven.” Chaos and laughter ensue. "That's me, isn't it? Just comedic relief."

At 16, I caught a glimpse of hope. A good friend of mine invited me over and dressed me in drag. She did herself up, and we created a funny video for YouTube. Her character's name was Mia.

Mine was June.

I recognized myself again.

Night came, and we packed June away. My parents would be by for me shortly.

At 23, after many years of anguish and a suicide attempt, I took my first dose of hormones, and I have never looked back.

Allyship, community and medical care save the lives of LGBTQ people every day. Across the country, organizations like Callen Lorde and Mayfaire Medical are fighting to ensure that our care is protected and here to stay.

Let it be known that we are queer Americans, the likes of which ignited the global movement for gay rights, and the time has come to make history again.

June Raven Romero is an actor, performing artist, writer and transgender community advocate born and raised in Miami, FL. A first generation citizen of the U.S., she is of Cuban and Nicaraguan descent. Her work and passions span a wide range of skills and fields, including facilitating TLGBQ+ Cultural Sensitivity Trainings with TransSOCIAL.