1 Autobio Book
2 Documentaries
"My Valiant Journey"
"Sex,Testosterone, &Rock n' Roll"
3 Podcasts
Various Photos
A lot of Surprises!
About My Valiant Journey
My Valiant Journey
In 1999, I found out that I was XY AIS Intersex. I am writing my life story to educate and enlighten people about my Journey. See My Life Story and Photos. Lots more Photos, Videos, Documentaries, and Podcasts to be posted soon!
My Valiant Journey Life Story and Photos
Childhood Years (1974-1986)
Childhood Years (1974-1986)
Childhood Years (1974-1986)
I knew at a young age that I was "different".
I was born in Wausau, WIsconsin in 1974 in a small city Hospital.
I was assigned female at birth. Obviously, my chromosomes weren't tested and no pelvic ultrasound was done. It was acceptable that I was a "tomboy" which I was supposed to eventually outgrow. But obviously, this wasn't a phase.I was supposed to be named after my dad.
I was 7 and in the second grade in this photo. Many of my school photos were of me wearing either boy or gender neutral clothes. I was 12 when I discovered theater and played music (drums). This gave me a chance to express myself and have a positive outlet for self therapy.
Teenage Years (1987-1992)
Childhood Years (1974-1986)
Childhood Years (1974-1986)
Like a lot of people who had "big hair" 80s and 90s, I used plenty of Aquanet in High School. Guilty as charged! LOL! I was very "preppy" in my hair and clothes . I wore Oakley sunglasses, Guess Jeans, Doc Marten Boots, Black Leather Jacket, and later on my MHS Letterman's Jacket. I played piano or keyboards one year, drums for three years and lettered in band. This photo is of my Senior High School Photo for Class of 1992.
But I had a little bit of a rebellious streak by wearing Heavy Metal or Rock T-Shirts from my favorite store "Camelot Music" at the Wausau Center Mall. My favorite band was INXS. I wore band T Shirts like INXS, Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns N' Roses, Europe, Metallica, Foreigner, The Cult, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, and a lot more Music Influences.
College Years (1992-1996)
Childhood Years (1974-1986)
Being Discovered as Intersex (1999)
My College Years were very difficult for me. Early on, I was considered "different" and not in a good way by my peers. There were rumors of me being "Gay" and having "AIDS" which wasn't true. That definitely got me ostracized in the early 1990s. I didn't know what "gay" was till College. It wasn't till way later I learned about what Transgender and Intersex really meant.
I was ostracized on campus No one physically threatened my life. But I was emotional and psychologically abused by my peers. and even some Professors too. I really should have transferred to another College. But I was told that things would get better and people would get to really know me. But that never happened.
I survived by having friends off campus and being involved in Community Organizations. This was my MSC College Graduation Photo 1996. My mom was so proud of me and took this photo. I graduated with high honors with a BA in English Education and Theater. But my University teaching career was cut short for me.
Being Discovered as Intersex (1999)
Being Discovered as Intersex (1999)
Being Discovered as Intersex (1999)
After my Graduate Assistantship to get my Master's Degree paid for and teach University level English was taken away, I went through plenty of discrimination and financial hardships. I didn't feel safe to move back home and start all over again.
I had some friends along the way who helped me out. I heard more of what LGBT meant around this time. But then, I still knew this wasn't me either. Somehow along the way, I learned about the word "intersex". I met some transgender people and decided to look into "gender affirming care" through the UMN because I felt male but didn't know why. I thought maybe I am intersex since I didn't go through puberty normally like my female friends.
So I looked into "gender affirming care" and started to question if I might be "intersex". They didn't want me in their program. I got no referral out of there. I had to research on my own on the internet about "intersex" and figure out who could help me.
I found a Urologist and Endocrinologist who tested my chromosomes , had my hormone levels checked, and have a pelvic ultrasound done. The results finally proved that I was XY AIS. I was born Intersex. I was immediately put on testosterone replacement therapy. It took six months for my voice to change, grow a beard, and other important changes which made my life better. This photo was right before my legal name change and being on Testosterone in September 1999.
Adulthood 20s-30s
Being Discovered as Intersex (1999)
Adulthood 20s-30s
After realizing that I am not accepted by the LGBT Community, I made a decision to leave. in 2005, I moved from MN to CA. I did not get involved with the LGBT Community in Hillcrest San Diego or Los Angeles. However, I was involved in being a Medical Consultant for Intersex People. So I could help in that way.
Also, I became more involved in the Technology Profession and eventually did some teaching at various Tech Conventions in San Diego. I tried to salvage what I had left for a life in a new City.
I had LASIK eye surgery in 2006. I went from wearing glasses for 20 years with a vision of 20/400 to 20/20.
I could wear the really cool designer sunglasses now!
I enjoyed some fun times with playing music in bands and acting on TV and Theater between San Diego and Los Angeles. I felt like I was finally accomplishing something in life. I had some really cool new friends who never knew that I was intersex. I wasn't sure who was safe to talk to anymore.
Adulthood 40s-50s
Being Discovered as Intersex (1999)
Adulthood 20s-30s
I was already married for seven years when we moved to Los Angeles for Technology Consulting, Modeling, and Acting. My wife was taking care of her father in Hospice at his house. I got along very well with my mother in law and father in law till they passed in 2014. This was a very difficult time for both of us.
In 2017, we moved back to San Diego. The pollution was taking it's toll on my health. So we couldn't live in Los Angeles anymore. I needed time to take care of my health. But there was another pollution issue that I had to deal with as well in San Diego County too. I took some time off.
I was able to continue my technology consulting and music. I was back in studio making Contemporary Instrumental Music and playing Bass Guitar. I really met a lot of cool people who played music in studio alongside with me!
a lot of surprises in my valiant journey!
1974 - What's In a Name?
My parents had a male name chosen for me before I was born. I was supposed to be named after my Father "Matthew James". However, that wasn't meant to be because I was assigned female at birth. At this small city Hospital, my chromosomes and hormone levels were not tested. A pelvic ultrasound was not done either. Everyone in my family is either named after a family member or friend. I was not named after anyone. My parents did not name me. Someone else named me.
Find out who that person was. Who gave me my birth name in "My Valiant Journey"?
1992 & 2002 - Almost Voted WHAT?! & OMG?! My Ten Year Reunion?!
My Senior Year in High school, I was on Yearbook Committee. I was counting the votes for everyone in our class of 1992. The questions were Who was going to be the most successful? Who was most likely to get arrested? Who was going to be the most changed? Who was going to be the most traveled? Who was going to be the least changed? Who was going to be the richest? Well, I realized that I was very very close to being almost voted for WHAT?! Were my classmates wrong or right?
Fast Forward to 2002! I Found out that my Ten Year Class Reunion was going to happen! This was in a very red state very rural Wisconsin! So i contacted the reunion committee that I was definitely interested in going. We emailed back and forth. They told me that there was no "Michael Valiant"in their class of 1992.Oh Oh! I was so used to being my real self that I forgot to tell them that I wasn't "Angie" anymore. I told them about my changes. They told me that they got the shock of their lives. Of course, they talked it over. I was welcomed.
So who was going to be at the Class Reunion? Don't we ask ourselves this? I wondered if my ex boyfriend was going to be there. Yeah, the guy I dated for a year and went with to his Senior Prom! So was he there? Was it kisses or fisticuffs?!
WHOA?! WAIT?! Yes, I dated a guy when I was 16 years old and a Junior in High school.
Bet you are surprised now! So what happened next in "My Valiant Journey".
1998 - I was detained by the Minneapolis Police Department for WHAT?!
I was living in Minneapolis,MN and partied hard in my twenties at a LGBT+ "Gay90's nightclub on Hennepin Avenue with friends. On this particular evening, it was a cold mid west winter which doesn't stop me from having fun! Two of my friends Pam and Donna went with me to the "Gay90s" for Dinner and Drag Shows. I was being the gentleman tonight. I picked them up from their house in North Minneapolis. I owned a really nice sporty 1996 black Chev Beretta Car with dark purple tinted windows. So we had a great dinner then went upstairs to see the really awesome drag shows.
We left sometime in the wee hours of the morning. It was a lot of fun. It felt great to dress up and be who we felt we were. Pam and Donna wore evening gowns. I wore a tuxedo with a black fedora and long black trench coat. I was pre transition which means I still had my female name and voice, no facial hair, and wore men's clothes. So I walked with Pam and Donna to their house. My car was parked in the alley near their house. We were talking outside. I used my car remote to turn on my car so my it could warm up but my doors were locked. I told them goodnight and swaggered back to my car.
As I was reaching for my car keys out of my trench coat pocket, I heard a stern, authoritative voice yelling at me "Stop! Put your hands up, Sir"! I was appreciative being called "Sir" but not so happy seeing the Minneapolis Police Department with several guns drawn on me. They got closer with their guns drawn and said "Step away from the car, Sir". I was like WTF?! This is MY CAR! But I was too scared to respond. and had my gloved hands up in the air. Some of the officers looked at me kinda strange and said "No, now put your hands on the hood of the car. " They spread me as I put my hands on the car hood. I thought to myself "OMG! Do they think I stole my own car"?
Find out what the Police said to me next in "My Valiant Journey".
2000 -WTF?! OMG?! Guess who calls me when my voice really changed?
So one morning I woke up late in my apartment in downtown Minneapolis. I made myself some black coffee and was watching the news on TV. The phone rings. I don't have caller ID on my landline. I was thinking it was a male friend from upstairs calling me about what I was doing today. Maybe we would be hanging out downtown Minneapolis today.
I didn't realize that my voice already drastically changed to be much lower in range. I was already more than six months on testosterone replacement therapy. I answered the phone in a gruff baritone voice "Yeah, what do you want?" OMG! It was MY MOM! OH OH! She was not too happy with me.
ADVANCE WARNING: OHHHH! There were "F bombs" galore when she spoke to me! OMG!
Find out what she really said to me on the phone or was it to someone else? in "My Valiant Journey"!
2010 - WTF?! Are YOU pranking me? I can't get anyone PREGNANT!
*****TRIGGER WARNING*****
In 2010, I went through some seriously life changing events. Two of my friends passed away from cancer.
I also was in a serious situation where I was falsely accused by a woman.
My story will change how you view the #BelieveWomen and #Metoo Movements.
This was the most difficult chapter of my book.
I have been through a lot of therapy with this.
Not that anyone should care.
After all, I am male. Not that I am even human.
Just Believe ALL Women no matter what.
At this point in my book, you are going to say that there is no way that any woman could falsely accused me of anything. But in 2010, I was not open about myself being born intersex or anything else. The exceptions were my Doctors, Psychologist, other intersex people I was a medical consultant with and my future wife in 2007. I pass very well as a male.
I have female friends who are SA survivors. I take this subject matter of SA very very seriously. People jumping to conclusions and assuming the absolute worst of me without knowing the details will not be forgiven by me when they find out the truth.
In 2010, my wife and I both met a woman for a business situation. We did not like this woman's demeanor and decided not to do business with her.
A few weeks later this woman emailed me wanting to meet me alone to make up for what happened by giving me gift cards, etc.. I told my wife about this.
I chose not to meet her and not to respond to the emails. I thought this would go away.
But it didn't. When the third email was written in a threatening manner. I reported her to the local police. I filed a police report for threats and harassment. The police wanted to make sure it was really her email. So the IP address was checked. They contacted her to stop contacting me via email and phone.
The next day, she went to this local police dept in person and filed a false police report accusing me of everything under the sun. Over a short period of time, numerous false police reports were filed against me for some seriously heinous crimes that never ever happened to her. She was not happy that the police didn't come to kill me off as fast as she wanted. So there were three police depts who were wasting their time and resources with numerous false police reports from her.
A Male Police Detective contacted me by phone and bullied me about these crimes that never happened. He accused me of getting her pregnant in which she had an abortion. I seriously thought I was being pranked. I told him that I never had sex with her and can't get anyone pregnant. He threatened me with filing a case against me with the DA's office. Then, I realized the seriousness of the situation. I told him I am getting an attorney. He backed off and ended the call.
My false accuser had no idea about my past being assigned female at birth and my being born intersex. I called my Psychologist after that call and told her about what just had happened. She helped me with extra therapy sessions for years.
What was most important of all was a phone call from a Female DCA Investigator B. Luchaco. She told me that she was working on a case against my false accuser and saw her as "crafty". She wanted to talk to me in person. I didn't know what to think. Was this Investigator telling me the truth? Was she going to falsely arrest me?
I highly suggest never to do the following. Never invite Law Enforcement into your home without a signed warrant by a Judge and legal representation. I took a huge risk doing so. So I had this Investigator in my Apartment for an entire afternoon.
I was desperate, scared, and wasn't sure if I had a future at this point. I had to clear my good name.
That is what innocent people do.
I had no criminal record. I had nothing to hide.
I decided to show DCA Investigator B. Luchaco my medical file and explain my situation.
This being forced to "out" myself was incredibly uncomfortable. No one LGBTQI should ever be forced to do so. But I knew it had to be done.
I was incredible fortunate and grateful that this DCA Investigator B. Luchaco was on my side. She asked me to identify my false accuser via photo copy of a DMV CA Driver's License. I said that was her but with glasses and hair styled different.
Then, I was asked several questions that lead to an unsettling reality. My false accuser also was under investigation for harming animals and something else so sinister that I could only talk about with this Investigator and my Psychologist. It really messed with my head. I never told my wife or anyone else about this. I don't plan to discuss "this" ever in my book. So please don't ask.
I also told DCA Investigator B. Luchaco about that Male Detective threatening to submit a case about me to the DA's office. She called the DA's office to see if there was any warrants on my name. There was a warrant for my arrest. With what evidence?
She helped clear my good name. There was no longer a warrant for my arrest. She said that my false accuser avoided a meeting at her office in person.
A few months later, I had a conversation on the phone with my sister who is in Law Enforcement. I told her about this. She couldn't believe her ears. She said "obviously that woman didn't know your past" and that her life was over". My sister obviously sided with me. Of course, she would. But I just didn't care, felt nothing inside, and told her that I don't care if she was on my side or not. She didn't even accept that I was literally born intersex. Why should she even give a shit about me anyway now for any reason? We haven't talked ever since.
Overtime, I felt nothing anyway for my biological family. After my false accuser contacted people on my Facebook, my wife's family, others in the community, why bother proving my innocence when I am male anyway? We are a "Believe Women" no matter what society. It made plenty of people angry that I was never arrested, etc.
Eventually, my false accuser was arrested for numerous charges. Too many to list here. I never felt the same after this. My Psychologist noticed a considerable mental decline in me. It took years of therapy just to get through some of this. I still don't feel like myself even 15 years later.
At this point in my life, I don't give a fuck who believes me. What matters most is that a Female Investigator believed me and cleared my good name.
In 2025, I still have no criminal record.
But I know as a male I will always be demonized due to the court of public opinion anyway.
Yes, there is more to this story.
Find out what else happened in "My Valiant Journey".
Inquiries
Questions or Comments?
You can send me a message or ask me a general question using this form. But please refrain from anything negative. Any threats will be traced via IP address and handled by Law Enforcement.
We will do our best to get back to you soon!
