Matthew

Matthew, age 4

Klamath Falls, OR (1986)

I first felt different around age 11 or 12. I started to develop crushes on boys in my class, and not the girls.

I remember being an incredibly happy and outgoing kid in my strict conservative military family.

Even within our military family,
I was able to express my wishes to play with both GI Joe and Barbie.

I think this dichotomy is evident here, where I'm posing in my grandmother's multi animal-print high heels and wearing Mr. T pajamas.

I remember loving those shoes, and a particular red dress of my Grandmother's.
I would idolize her as my own Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan).

That same dichotomy exists today in my life; I like to go camping and change my oil - and like to build things with my hands while lip-synching to Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.

I absolutely adore this picture, because it really illustrates for me how comfortable I have always been in my own skin. And, how supportive my family has been my entire life, in letting me express who I am.

Matthew's first, famous-person same sex crush:

Johnathan Taylor Thomas (on "Home Improvement")

I loved his hair! I was so jealous of how flat and straight it was.