Chapter Text
Uncle Donald says that he never wanted to address me as a girl when I was young because "something didn't feel right". I mean thank god for that uncle intuition. After I had learned that there are apparently things "For girls" and "for boys" I immediately went to the boys. I mean you could say it was just cause I have two brothers and their masculinity rubbing off on me, but it's more then that. I knew that. Every time teachers would call my legal name I'd flinch. Then I got super moody. Anytime anyone even said the word pink or something stupid society deemed appropriate only for girls I would scream at them.
I think I was about five when I told uncle Donald, Huey and Dewey to call me Louie.
"But you're a girl!" was all Dewey said. I glared at him until he surrendered.
"Ok, ok fine!"
I don't blame him of course we were young in a world that drilled these ideals into our heads until we believed they were our own thoughts.
The next few years were the worst of my life. I didn't know what was wrong with me and neither did anyone else. I hated that I was constantly sad and angry but i was a kid and didn't know how to deal with it. I would look in the mirror and despise every inch of what was supposed to be me. It's when I started to wear hoodies as a comfort. A habit that I still have today. Uncle Donald even made me go to therapy for a while. I got better but not completely.
When I got my phone I was on it constantly and that was when I came across the LGBTQ community.
Huey was always the smart one who knew everything so I went to him. He would obviously know what this was. We were still on the boat at that point so I just called up to him on the top bunk when Dewey wasn't there.
"Well it says in my Jr. Woodchuck guidebook" I rolled my eyes, here we go again. "That LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning. But that doesn't even cover half of the identities that fit in there!" I cocked my head to the side.
"Ok now I need you to speak english that I actually understand" He frowned.
"Gay is when a guy likes another guy romantically and lesbian is the same but with women. You following?" I nodded. "The B is for bisexual which is liking girls and boys. I can go into a bunch more things like that for example pan and.." When he saw my impatient expression he went on. "Ok another time then. The T is for transgender and that is when you're born in the wrong body, for example you have the body parts of a female but know that you are actually male or a different gender identity." My eyes widened.
"wait, tell me more about that" He looked at me odd but we sat down and spent the rest of the afternoon going over it's meaning. After about an hour or two I stopped him.
"I think- " I took a breath. "I think that one's me" He smiled encouragingly.
"Transgender?" I nodded. "Ok then what pronouns would you like to be called by?" We had gone over pronouns near the beginning of the lecture.
"um, He?" Huey smiled and nodded.
"And you like the name Louie?" I nodded.
"Yeah the name's good"
"I'll try to address you as a boy, would you like that?" I nodded once again. His smile wilted a bit.
"Now's the hard part, are you going to come out to everyone?" I stood up and nodded.
"Yeah, is Uncle Donald home?"
"Yeah" I ran out of the room. hearing only "Wait, what are you doing?" Being called after me. I ran past everyone to the kitchen and grabbed two pans clashing them together.
"FAMILY MEETING!" Donald ran in with his hands over his ears and grabbed the pans out of my hands.
"Ok, ok!"
Once I had everyone sitting and the table I stood up on my seat and opened my mouth. Uncle Donald stooped me.
"No, sit back down! You could fall and get hurt!" I sighed but complied.
"I have an announcement!" I looked at each of them and their patient faces. Suddenly the confidence seemed to drain out of me. "I - uh"
"It's ok Louie" Huey said. I looked at him and smiled.
"I have an announcement." I said again, calmer this time. "I'm trans. I'd like to be called by He/him pronouns and my name's Louie and I'm a boy!" It kinda rushed out of me and I shut my eyes as if I were expecting an impact of some kind. Like the world would explode because I said some words. The world stayed in one piece.
"Alright Louie" Uncle Donald was smiling. "I'm very proud of you, would you like to go shopping for new clothes or anything?" I smiled.
"Yeah, that'd be awesome." During all of this Dewey was silent.
"Wait I'm confused, what's trans?"
"I have the answer to that!" Huey took out his Jr. Woodchuck guide book from under his hat.
I facepalmed.
Well, at least this super embarrassing family is supportive!