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What is your name and pronouns?

My name is Danny Reinan, and I use the pronouns they/them/theirs.

How do you identify yourself?

I identify as non-binary, meaning that I am neither male nor female, and I generally feel very neutral in terms of my gender. I remember having experienced these feelings of neutrality and experiencing an intense disconnect from any sort of binary alignment from as young of an age as 5 years old. I came out a few years later, at age 12, after stumbling upon the term "non-binary" online, and feeling an immediate connection with it. I didn't go through a period of questioning or grappling with this part of my identity, it was more like I had a realization of "Oh, so that's what's been going on with me for all of those years!" 6 years later, I still identify this way, and have only grown more secure and happy with my identity over time.

How does your identity impact your life?

I think that being trans has helped me to be an even kinder person. When you are a part of a marginalized group, you naturally become more aware of your actions, your impact, and the way that you are perceived as you go through the world. Examining these things constantly is pretty much a necessity when you hold an identity that can put you in danger if you reveal it. However, it can also make you more aware of what the little things are that brighten your day and keep you going through a life fraught with fear and anxiety, and it can inspire within you the drive to go out of your way to help create those small bright spots for others around you who are struggling. It is because of this that I try to go out of my way to be kind to those who are struggling. I have been silenced, I have feared for my life, and I have been abandoned by those close to me because of my trans identity, and because of this, I have a deeper level of gratitude for those who help to amplify my voice, keep me safe, and continue to stand by my side.

How does being trans affect your creative process?

I consider myself a storyteller, and have had an immense passion for creating worlds and characters for as long as I can remember. But after I came out as trans, there was a definite shift in the way that I perceive storytelling. Before I came out, the creative projects I worked on were largely very distant from myself, and I thought of them as having an inherent disconnect from my identity and struggles. After all, I thought, they were "just" stories, with no bearing on reality. After I came out as trans, though, I discovered that I found comfort in using creative projects as a means of exploring my own experiences, and that I gravitated towards works that explored gender. Works like this even sometimes helped me gain a better understanding of my own experiences with gender. This helped me realize that no story is truly disconnected from its creator. Artists always put pieces of themselves into their works, whether they are aware that they are doing it or not, and the act of using art to enhance your life and the lives of those around you is something to be admired. I now often look for ways that I can use my stories to blend fantasy and reality, by creating fantastical settings and characters who still grapple with issues that people in our world face. This idea of exploring real experiences and emotions through art went on to become a vital part of my philosophy, and has set me on the path of becoming an art therapist so that I can create a space for others to understand themselves more deeply through art.

How does being trans affect the way you view the world?

I think that there are two important values that have become strengthened within me after I began viewing the world through the lens of a trans person. One of these values is the importance of understanding. I think that, when learning about those who are different from us, our goal should not be mere tolerance, but a deeper level of understanding. Understanding more about the world and the people in it is never a bad thing, and allows us to act with compassion and thoughtfulness. As a trans person, I am always incredibly appreciative of those who go the extra mile to try and understand my identity by asking thoughtful questions, treating me with respect, and speaking to me earnestly. This is especially important because understanding can promote unity, which is the other value of mine that has been strengthened by my coming out as trans. I have learned firsthand just how empowering it can feel to stand in solidarity with those who you share experiences with. The first time I met other trans people as a young pre-teen, I instantly felt validated, and the experience fostered the first seeds of confidence within me, as I was finally aware that I wasn't isolated and alone, but rather, a part of an entire community that wanted to lend me support and a voice. When I take to the stage as a public speaker and speak about my experiences as a trans person, it is with the goal of fostering understanding in those who don't come from the same place as I do, and fostering unity in those who share my experiences.