This essay was originally written and published in 2019. I've made slight edits in 2025 for clarity. My understanding of privilege, race, gender, and sexuality has evolved since this original post at age 24, but I stand by the lessons I learned at the time of writing. Perhaps the perspective in this essay will help someone else. Peter Fenton, a boy who is both very white and very male Before I really get started, let’s call out the elephant in the room that, as a white man, I