My sister spent over a decade participating inpageants.
People always ask me, When did you know you were a girl?
I just always knew, but I thought I was the only person who felt this way.
The author during competition weekend. Courtesy of Anita Green
It wasnt until I was about 12 that I finally put a label on myself astransgender.
At 15, I started working summer jobs to save up for my transition.
At 17, I came out as a girl to my high school best friend.
By 18, I’d started hormone replacement therapy.
And by 19, I’d started living full time as my true self: a woman.
I finished third out of four people, but I kept at it.
When I was 25, I was elected as Montanas first openly transgender national delegate to a nominating convention.
From there, I headed to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
So, how did I make the leap from politics to pageants?
It’s actually not as much of a stretch as many people think.
More specifically, I want to address issues with which the transgender community is currently grappling.
Members of thetransgender communityface discrimination on a daily basis.
Transgender people, especially transgender women of color, are subject toshocking rates of violence.
We aredenied access to jobs and housingsimply because of who we are.
It took years to work up the courage to make my teenage dream a reality.
I felt a rush of adrenaline, knowing that I was able to spread even a bit of awareness.
Coming from the rural, conservative state of Montana, I was surprised that they were kind and welcoming.
At one point during rehearsals, we each needed to present and interesting fact about ourselves.
I talked about the 2016 DNC and how I’d been elected as Montana’s first openly transgender delegate.
Everyone in both the Miss and Miss Teen categories clapped for me.
Everyone was so supportive.
As it turns out, I wasnt selected as a Miss Montana USA finalist.
Hell, I didnt even make it into the top 10.
Anita works with adults with disabilities.
