Billings grew up in a decade in which being herself was illegal. When she started transitioning in 1980, the word "transgender" was not commonly used. With no trans role models and no path to follow, she did what her family, teachers, and even friends said was impossible: forge ahead. Spanning five decades, from profound lows to exhilarating highs, her memoir captures the events of a pioneering life. An award-winning actor, singer, and history-making LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS activist, Billings shares not only her own ever-evolving story but also the parallel ways in which queer identity has dramatically changed since the Stonewall riots of 1969--Adapted from book jacket.