March 31st was International Transgender Visibility Day. It was by some degree of mistake that last year I came out as non-binary. I hadn’t thought about how races group by gender and when I ran a local 5K, I selected non-binary. I had been doing this on forms for years depending on the scope, so this was the first time I publicly gave any indication; I decided not to walk it back. I think I bring a unique perspective to these conversations, and at some other point in time I’m happy to say more detail, but not too much here and now.

I understand that these aren’t conversations that everyone wants to have, or some people really want to have them, and it makes others uncomfortable; I generally don’t have them randomly or this openly. I recognize the discomfort people experience both from the internal perspective, and the one of an observer. But here’s the main point, I had to stand in a public school for 180 days a year for 13 years and start my day with “Liberty and Justice for all.” But you can’t tell me transgender people are getting liberty and justice right now.

That’s why I’m being more open about what I think is a private matter, even if briefly. This campaign is about liberty and justice for ALL. If you want me to say it for a flag, then I want to know my fellow Pennsylvanians believe it for each other. I don’t want to live in a state or country where people are so obsessed with gender segregation and pronouns to the degree that saying “they” causes controversy or confusion. Everyone deserves the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Despite the time it might take to create equitable solutions for the more delicate conversations, I would hope we can all agree no one should be driven to harm themselves, and for this and many other issues, it is important we fund mental health care and mental health crisis services like 988. These are things all people can benefit from, especially in a world where some people feel so lonely.

P.S. Get ready for my announcement of who my running mate is soon. Make sure you’re following my social media and reaching out to my campaign team if you want to keep in the loop or get involved.

Tony Dastra for Governor of Pennsylvania
www.dastraforpa.org