And then they slowed down for the rest. Made sure they read every word.
I can’t tell you how much it means to me that I get to watch a nonbinary person on TV. On this week’s episode, Sai and Tanner were discussing your dish, and they kept saying “their dish” and “their skills” and I almost couldn’t believe it, these two famous people using your pronouns like it wasn’t a big deal. It’s made me picture a better world for myself. Thank you.
My child came out to me this week as nonbinary. We watch Chef’s Special together and I can’t help but make the connection. Thank you so much for being you.
Are you seeing anyone? Because I am available, all hours of the day. Just so you knooooowwwww
I know you’re from Nashville—do you have any advice for a trans kid living in a small town in Kentucky? It’s like we’re neighbors but we’re not . . . I’ve been daydreaming about moving to Nashville and hanging out with you and things being okay. But I’m just in high school and don’t have money and don’t want to leave my mom, but things don’t really feel okay.
My previously kind of transphobic sister totally has a crush on you and it is HILARIOUS. She keeps saying “They are just a really good cook!” but WE ALL KNOW and she says THEY!! She even makes us watch all the episodes LIVE, like in REAL TIME, and who even does that? I am obsessed with it. You are rocking worlds out here, London
Hey London, love watching you on Chef’s Special! Was just wondering if you could RT this thread? It’s full of assigned-male-at-birth nonbinary folx, and honestly it feels like a lot of people don’t even know we’re out here too. Thanks <3
I had never heard the term nonbinary before, but my grandson helped explain it to me. He is also helping me send this message. I just want to say I am so impressed with your generation. I know a lot of people probably give you a hard time, but you young people are always teaching me new interesting things, and I wonder about how many people of my generation could probably never be themselves, and how many of us are feeling better, even as old geezers, seeing you change the world. Thank you for teaching me. I hope you win.
London hadn’t been able to respond to all of the messages, often because they simply didn’t know what to say. But they boosted and retweeted all the ones from other trans people. They had sent a line to that Kentucky kid. Told them they could hang out with them in Nashville anytime they wanted.
They had been thinking about that kid in Kentucky a lot.
The messages were also a balm against London’s increasing anxiety about their family. They hadn’t heard from their father since that lonely Ok. And Julie hadn’t texted anything real since that night a week ago. The Parkers were still “just fine.”
London stopped to watch a group of kids running around the yard of a YMCA. Their screams had pierced through London’s headphones.
They watched them tumble down slides, hang like monkeys from a play structure. They chased each other in zigzags, tagging the backs of elbows, giggling furiously.
London continued walking after a minute. An idea was forming in their mind.
By the time another few blocks had passed, London almost felt . . . excited.
A summer camp for LGBTQ+ kids. A cooking camp, to be specific. London would find a place in the woods and teach queer and trans and gender-nonconforming kids of all ages how to cook.
Telling marginalized kids that they were loved, that it would get better, was all well and good, but it didn’t necessarily change their realities. Giving people a skill, on the other hand, making them feel like they were good at something, was useful and empowering.
This was what their nonprofit would be.
They could reach out to other LGBTQ+ nonprofits that already existed when they got home, other city programs that already ran for underprivileged children in the summer. Hopefully their name recognition from the show could encourage some type of partnership. It wouldn’t have to be all on their own.
London’s mind was racing through everything they should do first when their phone rang.
The noise made them stop, take stock of their surroundings. They had no idea where they were.
“Julie? Is everything okay?”
“Sure, other than the fact that you have been ignoring all of my texts so I just wanted to, you know, make sure you were alive.”
London rolled their eyes. Had they been ignoring her texts? They didn’t honestly know. Their memory was blurry these last few days.
“You didn’t even respond to the video I sent where I tried on Ben’s hiking backpack and promptly fell backward on my ass.”