Welcome

Welcome to Climbing Out: Breaking a 41-Year Silence

For 41 years, I lived inside a cage.

It wasn't made of iron or steel, but of something much heavier: 

FEAR. 

It was a cage of expectations, of hiding my true self, and of being terrified of what would happen if I ever picked the lock. 

For over four decades, I looked out through the bars and watched life happen, knowing deep down that I wasn't truly living mine.

But cages are only as strong as the fear that builds them. And recently, I finally found the bravery to break the lock, push open the door, and climb out.

My name is Serenity, and I am proud to finally introduce myself to the world as a gay trans woman.

Taking that first breath of free air has been the most terrifying and beautiful experience of my life. And the best part? I’m not making this climb alone. In a twist of fate that is just as wonderful as it is surreal, I am beginning a relationship with someone I have known for 35 years. She is walking this exact same path as a gay trans woman… so, YES, I guess we are lesbians now! 😁😂😘😋 Navigating this massive life shift alongside someone who truly understands me, who has known me for decades, and who loves me for exactly who I am, is a gift I can hardly put into words.

This blog, Climbing Out, is going to be the raw, honest documentation of my transformation journey.

The next huge milestone is right around the corner. On the 31st of this month, I have my appointment with the endocrinologist to officially begin hormone therapy and testosterone blockers. It is the first tangible, medical step toward bringing my outside into alignment with who I have always been on the inside. I plan to share the highs, the lows, the physical changes, and the emotional shifts right here.

But I’m not just writing this for me. I am writing this for you.

If you are reading this from inside your own fear-ridden cage, I want this blog to be a crack of light in the dark. I know how heavy the door is. I know the paralyzing anxiety of wondering if you will ever get to be yourself. I want my journey, the beautiful, the messy, and the triumphant, to be a support system for other trans folks who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, what I went through.

You are not alone. There is a whole world waiting for you when you are ready to climb out.

Welcome to the journey. I can't wait to share it with you.