I'm the youngest of four siblings and the baby of the family. My family just treated me like anyone else growing up. They taught me that everyone has a special and unique trait about them, and that mine is that I have a girl brain and a boy body.

I've always known exactly who I am, but growing up has always been a struggle. I've even been called an 'it.'

I wish everything was gender neutral. I wish we weren't separated by boundaries like pink and blue and little things like that. I wish we could choose how we express ourselves without hate.

Being transgender isn't a medical transition. It's a process of learning to love yourself for who you are.

I've never been invited to do 'Stars on Ice' before, which is the only figure skating tour in the U.S., and it's disappointing that I can't perform for my American fans... all because I'm not 'family friendly' enough.

Yet there are thousands of Indigenous people searching for family members.

Don't forget I'm from a military family. I was in special training in the army. I am tall, sporty and - how do you say - you can always protect yourself... I have very strong security.

I loved my parents... but that can never change the fact that my father's violence ruined my childhood.