Why I Changed My Name to Poopy Lickles
One night during the summer of 1990, my friend and I were on our way to a house party....
Personal EssayA collection of 144 posts
Moving from Texas to San Francisco
I’m conservative in the most liberal city....
My Love/Hate Relationship with Living in Hollywood
I took my first trip to Los Angeles as an adult in the middle of January. I was living in Chicago at the time, where a “mild” winter meant that the average high was seven degrees....
Tech’s Wakeup Call From Your Trans Coworker
Two things you probably need to know about me: I am a trans woman and I work at a tech startup as a QA engineer....
What It’s Like Being Lonely in SF
I’ve been living in San Francisco for almost two years now and I’ve made almost no friends. I’ve found that I can trick myself into feeling like I’m talking with a friend while I listen to a podcast....
I Came Out to My Homophobic Parents
Faced with the choice of having to accept my sexual orientation or disown me, my parents made the harder choice. They’re certainly never going to wave flags at the Pride parade, but they’ll also stand up for me if one of their friends or family members says something disparaging....
The Big Stigma of Being Depressed and Sober
Robin Williams’s death has instigated numerous conversations around sobriety, but the biggest issue for me is the idea that we still don’t know how to talk about crippling depression....
A Closet Agoraphobe Comes Out(side)
From the time I was old enough to prostrate myself across the threshold of our house, barring my parents’ exit out the front door, my sister and I never went anywhere without them that we weren’t required by law to go, that is, school....
This is What It’s Like Being Pregnant in San Francisco
My husband and I got pregnant a little sooner than expected. Actually, a lot sooner....
I Got Paid to Be an OKCupid Ghostwriter
If you’re a straight woman who messaged a mustachioed software engineer from Mexico, or a straight guy who flirted online with a smiley elementary school teacher within the last year, there’s a chance you were really aiming your digital pursuits at me....
Don’t Let Gentrification Push You Out of SF
What worries me more is when I hear natives and longtime residents talking about moving somewhere else because they feel the city has somehow changed irreparably....
San Francisco Is My Wife, New York Is My Mistress
I’m in a long-term relationship with San Francisco. She’s my childhood sweetheart, the one I’ve loved the longest. My wife, if you will. It’s not like I’ve never experienced any other city....