A woman stuck by her boyfriend when he came out as a transgender man eight months into their relationship and says they are "happier than ever". Sierra Kai and Mitch James, both 19, met through TikTok in October 2021, while Mitch was presenting as a lesbian woman.
After hitting it off, the couple moved in together in Roswell, New Mexico, US, in March 2022. Four months later, in July 2022, Mitch came out to Sierra as a transgender man and the pair have since gone from strength to strength.
He came out after Sierra prompted him to think about his gender identity as he had "never thought about it before". Mitch, a retail worker, from Roswell, New Mexico, US, said: "I was still trying to find myself and Sierra has always been so supportive of me.
"One day we were lying in bed and I just had a feeling like I've got to tell her. I told her I think I'm a guy and that was that.
"I wasn't really scared, I was just nervous. I didn't ever think she wouldn't support me, I just really wanted to make sure I was making the right choice."
Sierra, a model, said: "When he came out it took a little bit of time for me to get the pronouns right, but I just exaggerated 'him' and 'his' in my sentences and I got used to it soon enough. I think our relationship is mostly the same.
"Nothing's really changed - it's almost connected us more because he had the courage to tell me and come out. He's more himself now as well and we never ever argue."
The young couple have been infatuated from their initial meeting over FaceTime in October 2022 - after following each other on TikTok. In November 2022, Sierra drove nine hours from her home in Show Low, Arizona, US, to visit Mitch as his home in Roswell, New Mexico, US.
The pair immediately made their relationship official and have been inseparable ever since. Since Mitch began transitioning, Sierra has been supporting him however she can - telling him he is handsome and reinforcing his gender identity when he feels 'low'.
She said: "Before Mitch came out to me, I had asked him questions like 'do you know who you are?' and 'have you ever thought about gender before?' It was interesting because when I first met his family they told me that Mitch would always cut his hair and dress like a boy, but Mitch wasn't ready to transition.
"He told me he'd never really thought about gender before because he's just always been told he was a girl." Although the couple are completely secure and happy within their relationship, they get their share of transphobic comments online.
Sierra said these people are "trying to get their 10 seconds of validation" online and she makes sure to defend Mitch from hateful comments. Some of their followers were confused when Mitch began transitioning, however the couple set out to explain the situation and educate people on how transitioning works.
Despite nasty comments online, the couple focus on the "positive" remarks and rely on each other for support. Mitch said: "Sierra's support means everything to me. If I have a low day she knows my love language is physical touch, so she holds me or hugs me to help.
"She reminds me of good things about myself and that I'm handsome - it makes me love her 10 times more."
