by August Vuono – Head of Personal Training at Moore Than Fitness
September brings dreams of fall. This is a favorite time of year for me – the crisp, autumnal air feels perfect for wearing a flannel overtop a band T and presumably drinking a rich, spiced latte. I’ve always had a closeness to Halloween because my birthday falls in October (not August, like you might be misled to believe).
My 28th birthday is coming up in about a month. Usually my birthdays are pretty low-key and small. I’ve rarely been someone who enjoys bringing attention to myself. For a good part of my life, I’ve had a very “do it yourself and do it alone” type of attitude. I’m reserved because sharing things with others has often felt uncomfortable. It’s hard to be in community when you haven’t felt part of one to begin with.
Since I’ve started at Moore Than Fitness, I quickly learned that the community aspect of our gym is what makes us so special. I’ve had to lean into something that felt unnatural, being so used to feeling alone.
I used to feel that navigating tough situations by myself was an asset. I felt like it made me resilient. I’d hold onto this sense of pride while also feeling deeply removed from the people around me.
I also forgot how to ask for help.
My job revolves around helping people, but I feel uncomfortable when the roles are reversed.
Coming out as transgender whilst a teen was very awkward and lonely. There was a lot of help that I needed, but I didn’t always receive. The images and narratives surrounding transition are often bleak and lonely, so it made a lot of sense to me that my transition should be sad too. I felt like I was being punished and that I should have thought about that before I decided to come out.
I’m older and time has passed, so I think I’m removed from that period of my life…
Then I see all the attention around trans people in the news, the unprecedented amount of anti-trans legislation being proposed, and the targeting of the rights of trans youth in particular. All of a sudden, I feel all of that fear, uncertainty, and loneliness all over again.
I was a trans teen before I was a trans adult. I knew other trans kids that weren’t getting the support that they needed, either. In learning their stories, I was shocked by how ugly people can be to each other, to a child no less, until I stopped being shocked.
I’ve had to grow into community because it felt unnatural. Now I’ve built relationships with folks that I can say really do care about me. I’m in a different place, where I can and do help others.
For my birthday, I want to continue to lean in some more. I want to get more comfortable asking for help. We have a beautiful community here at Moore Than Fitness – can I ask you for help?
From now until October 4th, Moore Than Fitness will be raising money in support of Equality Virginia, an organization that advocates and protects the rights of LGBTQ+ Virginians, like myself.
We can’t take our rights for granted. We are seeing an unprecedented amount of attacks on our rights that might have seemed unthinkable to lose at some other point in time. As of right now, Virginia is the only state in the South with access to gender-affirming care for young people and abortion care.
I hope that through the relationships that I have built at Moore Than Fitness that I have helped some cisgender people become closer to at least one more transgender person (me). I hope that you take it personally when my rights are threatened because you love me and don’t want me or people like me to be hurt.
The best gift you can give me this year is your donation to keep my rights and the rights of many other Virginians safe. Please consider donating by visiting our donation page at:
www.givebutter.com/AugustBirthday
Any little bit counts towards our larger goal and your support is so appreciated.
There is no place I’d rather be this year for my birthday than to be around the community that I love. And so, to wrap up our fundraiser, we’ll be hosting a little birthday party from 10 am – 11:30 am on October 4th, after our 9 am class. All are welcome to come celebrate, eat cake, and help us raise money for a good cause. All money from the 9 am class will be additionally donated in support of Equality Virginia.
We hope that you come out and join us on October 4th. Even if you can’t make it, we’d appreciate your consideration in donating. There will be prizes given to the top 3 donors, courtesy of Equality Virginia and Moore Than Fitness.
Thank you so much for reading and I’m so happy to be in community with you.