Rosalynne Montoya identifies as a transgender Latina woman who has “a passion for advocating for my community and helping others feel valid, loved, and beautiful.” A writer, makeup artist, and model, Montoya has written a Valentine’s Day poem called “A Dozen Roses of Self-Love.” Photo: Rosalynne Montoya.
Editor’s note: Rosalynne Montoya identifies as a transgender Latina woman with “a passion for advocating for my community and helping others feel valid, loved, and beautiful.” A writer, makeup artist, and model, Montoya “grew up sheltered from the LGBT community without knowing any queer people or the language for my own identity.”
Montoya wants to be “the person I needed when I was growing up by sharing my story and living visibly.”
Here is her Valentine’s Day poem “A Dozen Roses of Self-Love.”
“A Dozen Roses of Self Love”
A love letter
For me, not you.
dysphoria may
Intrude my thoughts,
Still I thank my body
Survived, transformed, fought.
I have legs for days,
Support me to march and run.
These arms create, paint,
Raise fists as one.
My smile radiates,
Comforts, and spreads.
This face is beat —
Lips in warrior red.
My blind coal eyes
Seeking out diamonds of truth.
I embrace my femininity —
Failed to hide it in my youth.
As my hair grew it wrapped
Me in a cocoon of chocolate silk
Self-care isn’t vanity,
I’m shedding my guilt.
Obsessed with my curves,
My ass makes me proud.
This voice is power!
Shout it out loud:
Won’t be erased,
Can’t ban my existence!
I’ll join my siblings;
Expect my resistance!
dysphoria comes
dysphoria goes
I’m beautiful still,
Head to toes.
My love is your love.
I’ll remember you,
I’ll remember trans
Is beautiful too.
