When I came across this photo in a family album, the first thing that came to my mind was, “Oh, the crazy ’80s!” Check out the mohair sofa and wood paneling. (Obviously this was a truly dark time for interior design.) That said, it’s time the world knows that I would’ve kept that handbag if I’d realized how truly fierce I looked with it. And the storage inside was amazing! I mean, that bag carried all my necessities: sunglasses, ChapStick, breath mints, and, of course, My Little Pony. You can’t see it in the photo, but I totally had my nails painted pink pearl. I thank my grandmother for that—I wanted them painted, and she did them for me. Many gay people say, “Growing up I always knew.” As a kid, it wasn’t just me who knew. Everyone knew I was different. I was lucky enough to have a family who supported me right from the start and never once tried to hold me back.
