I wrestled with what to do, say and share these last few weeks as I’m conscious of how easy it is to be performative with words and actions. I’m hyper aware of virtue signaling, and I want to share only where I feel I can add value rather than create more noise, especially given my whiteness.

I kissed my best friend. And he was a man.

I knew this day would come. A part of me hoped it never would. It was the spring semester of freshman year in college, and he lived directly across the hall.

As I sat there looking at him, sensing that he had a crush on me, something terrifying happened.