It was only supposed to be a night out with work colleagues to celebrate a birthday at Anchorage’s hottest LGBTQ+ night club, The Gilded Butterfly. But then I met the most beautiful person and, yes, fell in love at first sight. Fell in love with someone awesome and unapproachable, someone who would never even notice me.

Yet life can be unexpected, and wonderful moments can be wrapped up in terrible encounters. My beautiful Crimson Lady was harassed for being who she is, and unlikely me found the courage inside myself to stand tall in the face of Hate. Love is Love is Love. And bodies are only bodies.

Note: This short story was originally published in the charity collection, Love Is Proud.