Hi Folks 👋 Gabriel here. If you’re enrolled in Sunburst’s group programs, you likely see me in your inbox pretty often since I manage the school’s programming and events. I also teach drum set lessons, and in the past, taught Explore and Emerging Artist groups. 

Okay, now on to the point of this blog post. I want to take a moment to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and abundantly joyful Pride month!

This Pride feels particularly special to me as it’s the first one that I’ll be celebrating in a body that feels familiar to me. Some of you may know that in late 2021, I came out as trans at work. I’m grateful for that experience - that it was smooth and overwhelmingly positive. 

I recently heard someone say that we become the person our younger selves needed. I imagine that is true for most people- it certainly is for me. Believe it or not, I didn’t know what being trans was until I was 24. I rarely saw anyone who was queer, let alone trans, growing up and could not have imagined that transitioning would ever be an option for me. In the spirit of being the visibility that I needed, I made a playlist as a gift to my younger self that I would also like to share with you. It contains music by trans, nonbinary, and gender fluid artists. You’re welcome to listen here. 

This month, I will be reminding myself that transness is magical and therefore I am. That transness is beautiful and therefore I am. That visibility is essential. That trans joy is revolutionary. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It, and your support, mean a lot to me. Happy Pride :) 

-Gabriel