I’m the keynote speaker at Atlanta Comfort Conference in September later this year. Tickets are currently on sale. Come watch me in action. I’d love to give you a big ol’ Gwen Hug!!!

HATERS GONNA HATE

“I used to let haters and trolls get to me but no more. My confidence in who I am is so strong that now I delete or play with them like my pets. They have zero power over me.”

I want to tell you something real about my life these days. I’m referring to my quote above.

I used to let haters and trolls mess with my head a lot. Every mean comment would stick in my brain and ruin my whole day. But not anymore. My confidence in who I am is so strong now that I just delete them or mess with them like they’re my little pets. They have zero power over me.

Let me explain how I got here. I’m a transgender woman, and right now the world can be pretty tough if you’re like me. I knew there would be negativity. When you make waves and speak up, people come at you. If you just sit still and stay quiet, hardly anyone bothers you. But I didn’t want to hide. I wanted to help people.

I’ve posted on social media thousands of times. A lot of them are long, heartfelt things I write. I spend real time thinking about every word. My only goal is this: “How can this post help just one, two, or three people who need it?” Maybe someone scrolling late at night feels less alone after they read it. That’s what keeps me going.
But yeah, the trolls show up anyway. They always do. It’s just part of putting yourself out there.

Back then, one nasty reply could cancel out all the good I was trying to do. It would steal my sleep, mess with my confidence, and make me question everything. I used to think, “Why even bother?”
Then something changed inside me. I realized those haters only have the power I give them. I stopped handing it over.

Now, if a troll pops up, I don’t argue or explain. I don’t waste my energy. I hit delete or block. Sometimes I play with them for a minute just for fun, like they’re silly little pets, then I move on. It’s not mean—it’s me protecting my peace.

This doesn’t mean I’m pretending everything is perfect. I still expect some negativity because I’m not hiding. I’m living out loud. But I also know that if I stay quiet, I help exactly zero people. So I keep writing those long posts. I keep aiming to reach that one or three people who really need the words.

The cool part? The people I’m writing for aren’t usually the ones yelling in the comments. They’re the quiet ones who send me a private message later saying, “Thank you—this made me feel seen.” Those messages don’t scream. They whisper. And they make every post worth it.

So here’s my story in a nutshell: Haters are going to come. That’s just how it is when you choose to be visible and real. But you get to decide what they take from you. I decided they get nothing. I delete, I block, I smile, and I keep going.

If you’re reading this and you’re going through the same thing—whether you’re trans or just anyone trying to live true—know this: Your confidence can get that strong too. The trolls will always be there, but they don’t have to live in your head. You’re bigger than their noise. Keep making your waves.

The right people will feel them.

Dr. Gwen Patrone

YOU DO YOU, LET ME BE ME

It’s your friendly neighborhood trans woman here with some honest thoughts. 😊

Can I be real and brutally honest?

I know I’m biologically male and always have been. No disrespect at all to my friends who say “trans women are women” — I appreciate where you’re coming from — but for me, that just doesn’t fit.

I’M A HYBRID UNICORN 🦄

I see myself as a hybrid: the best parts of my old male self blended with the woman I’m growing into. Kind of like a unicorn, if you want to get playful about it. 🦄

I put in real effort every day to look, sound, and feel as female as I can. My thoughts and feelings are fully female, but I also understand there are biological realities I can never change, no matter how much I wish I could.

❤️I have so much love and admiration for women — I truly envy them and see them as this beautiful goal I’m always striving toward, even if it stays just out of reach. Still, being this unique in-between person feels pretty special in its own way.

I know some people might not like hearing this, and that’s okay — you do you. I’m just hoping you’ll let me be me too, without any hard feelings.

I’m not here to argue or cause trouble; I’m simply sharing how this experience really feels for me.

Maybe I can even help a little as a bridge between the left and the right in this partisan world we live in these days. Like a bit of common sense mixed with some progressive thinking, without all the shouting. Wouldn’t that be nice?

All I’m asking is that you listen with an open heart. You don’t have to agree with me at all. Just know this comes from a place of complete honesty and a whole lot of respect.

Thanks for reading, everyone. 💕

Dr. Gwen Patrone

#gwenpatrone #transgenderlivesmatter #transbeauty #ibelieveinyou #LGBTQSupport

Editorial comment: For the near future, Gwen double posts will be the norm.