Sometimes, I get called a she
And I mildly cringe.
Sometimes, it slips out of a friend’s mouth,
And what should be a quick “I’m sorry”
Ends up being an excuse
That I feel guilty for.
Sometimes,
I try to explain this
To people who don’t understand
How I can identify as something
They were never aware of
Or educated on.
My friends ask
If this changes my sexuality.
If I can still call myself
A lesbian
Without being a woman.
Suddenly,
My coming out
Turns into
A history lesson
That no one seems to be listening to.
But my life
Is not
A puzzle
And I do not owe you
An explanation
For my existence.