This is Reagan's story. Reagan identifies as trans masculine.

 I have been conscious of my gender from a young age. I never quite fit in with girls and I was discouraged from spending time with boys. I learned to enjoy solitary activities. Playing the Pokemon Gameboy games as a kid allowed me to exist in a world where I could be male and to escape from an uncomfortable reality. 

 I now identify as trans* masculine but while I was in the initial stages of exploring my gender identity, I started to perform as a drag king. Putting on this persona shocked me into realizing how much more at home I felt in my body when I was performing as male. 

 One of the things that I enjoy about video gaming is that I can craft the kind of person I want to be. For a brief few hours a day I have the opportunity to live and be perceived as male without question.

 I often forget that my period is coming. It’s hard enough as it is but to make matters worse, menstrual products are hyper feminized. This picture is a reflection of how raw and vulnerable I feel when menstruating.

 My hair is a massive part of my gender identity and expression. By cutting my own hair I have control over how I present myself to the world.

 My birth name had always caused me dysphoria. In January 2012 I started a new job where I went by my chosen name. It felt strange at first but every time someone said my new name I got excited and felt empowered to live more and more authentically.

 This is a picture of me riding the GO Bus to the city where my family lives. My family has been a huge barrier in my acceptance and expression of my gender. Bus rides to see my family are always anxiety inducing but over the years I’ve learned to assert my needs and express myself authentically despite their lack of understanding.