I wrote a quote a couple years ago, this is a Chloe so feel free to quote me. Through the darkness I stumbled upon love and in its infinite reservoir I discovered immortality. I was about two years in when I wrote that. I came out in 2016. I went to a drag show in the summer of 2016 with no intent beyond getting dressed in femme and going to a drag show with some friends. I had never done it before. I had never took ownership like that publicly before and it was fucking terrifying. There’s something about masculinity in its most simple definition. It is the absence of femininity. And boys are raised, and I heard this phrase the other day of an emotional straight jacket, a gender straight jacket. And I was placed in it as a little kid, like so many, many probably in this room. But whether you’re a boy or a girl, you’re placed in this with limitations and expectations that limit you to a very narrow lane or the straight jacket. I lived that life for 44 years. I went about my business with my head down, honest to God, waiting for it to end. There was no rhyme or reason. It was filled with shame. It was there since I was a little kid when my mom thoughtfully and lovingly put it away. Coming up on my 40th birthday, I pierced my ears because I was a very artistic looking guy, as some would say. I find that semi-objectionable, but whatever, that’s what it is. But I wore chucks. I wore jeans. I had this artistic musician look and people would ask me, are you a musician? Like an idiot. I said no. And so one day I sang as a trans woman and then suddenly now I’m like, yeah, fucking trans musician. So I did that and I was really still a very clandestine because anything feminine as any man in this room can attest to, any step outside the bounds of what is told to be masculine, you’re going to get reeled back in. In a lot of cases, in certain situations, you’re going to get slapped. And I was. And I was a very alpha guy in my old world. I worked in construction and the people who know me now, it’s hard to put that two together. But here I am. So I work for right for right now. I work for Freedom for All Americans. We’re a national LGBTQ nonprofit doing work around the country in Florida as well, trying to lift LGBTQ voices, to realize the community, getting the word out and just beating that drum of support, which is needed. And in this administration, obviously, very needed. With that, I fell into advocacy as I came out. I literally fell into the campaign for non-discrimination in New Hampshire. At that point in time, I was wet behind the ears. I’m out in front of the state house. We’re doing a rally. Somebody else is leading it. They got the microphone. I hadn’t touched one at that time. And so basically, here I was, there, out, open, dressed. Like here, we’re going to testify for some legislation today. This is great. However, I still had no idea what I was in for, the journey I was about to take. Flash forward a year. I’m out there with the microphone and I had wrote remarks and everything else and it hit me. As I’m getting the rally up, I’m like, all right, here we go. We’re going to go in there. We’re going to testify. I said, it’s going to be great. We’re going to keep it fresh, positive, upbeat. It hit me. I said, a year ago today, I was standing where you are. And I was wet behind the ears and I had no idea what I was up for. Here I am today holding a microphone, speaking to unity, speaking to a collective consciousness of allies and people in the community. And it really hit me that I had transitioned from a very apathetic man to an inspired and engaged woman. And it’s tough to put in the words. I’ve been trying to do that over the last couple of days with a lot of people. It’s already two minutes and three seconds. So in that transition, I found this self. I found this love for myself. And as I’ve moved forward, it’s only, it’s a journey and we’ve talked about this. I went from nothing. I went to him from an emotional flat line or two all over the place. And I do credit Estrogen for this best. Oh my God. And then I got these really seriously. So I am so honored to be here. I’m in awe. I’m in all of these emotions. And love for me has taken on new meaning. I’ve led a couple rallies over the past few years in Manchester, New Hampshire. And where I’ve won the 55, I’m going to transition into this. If you’re all okay with it, I would love for everybody to hold hands or interlock arms, whatever feels comfortable. But I’ve realized I’ve fallen in love with myself. I’ve become an advocate of voice. I’ve sat on panels. I’ve done so many things with my voice to try to communicate that I am just like everybody else. I have these same struggles. People know me by my first name. People say, do you know Chloe? And it’s like, that’s really weird to absorb that your reputation precedes you. And I’m always like, no, no, no, no, no. Sometimes I’m sitting at home alone. People think I’m doing something and I’m disconnected from the world. I’m disconnected from my friends and my family. I’m disconnected from the need, the overwhelming need to pass along the love that I’ve found. And at these rallies, I do this. I see you. Take a look at each other. Tell your partner next to you, I see you. Now, we are all here. We’re doing the incredible work every single day. We’re going to take this back home. There are going to be times in your life where you’re going to be unsure of yourself. You’re not going to understand why, necessarily, you might need to walk that back and a stray thought entered your head. Your work might be burdening you. Remember this moment in time, these three days, the relationships that you’ve made and the education that you’ve gotten, my name’s up in lights and whoopee. But take this moment. If you’re struggling two months from now, three months from now, two days from now when you’re home, life to like us camp, summer camp. Oh. So go back home. Look at this moment. Look at the person next to you, some of the relationships that you’ve made, the great conversations that you had. I’ve had a dozen already. And just take that knowledge and that solace and know that you are part of a larger community doing work that is going to bring us into a new era where I would hope the age of Aquarius. And if we had that song, we’d play it. But thank you so much. I’m not 30 seconds over. I’m just going to keep going. No. Now love yourself. When you look in the mirror, do not rip yourself apart. I still do it. I struggle with it. I have to remind myself, remind yourself that you have so much worth and you are capable of miracles. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.