Dear Mom and Dad,

 

Let go of the daughter you thought you had

Let go of the idea that a vagina defines my gender

Let go of what those doctors told you

 

Because I have always felt different

Because I don’t think my vagina defines me

Because I am not a woman

 

Getting used to this will take time

Getting used to the new me

Getting used to my new pronouns

 

Though I haven’t changed

Though I am still the same person I’ve always been

Though I am still your child

 

Queer is what I am

Queer means something to me

Queer defines me

 

I am your child, and you are my family

I don’t want you to act differently

I am not a girl

 

And I will always be here

And I will always love you

And I’m not a different person

 

I am not hiding myself anymore

Even though you will probably never see this

I am not a woman

 

I am queer