When I was a kid I was picked on because I liked “boy things”. I didn’t like sitting in the grass with a doll during recess. I watched awesome cartoons with my brother like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”. I hated everything my mother dressed me in since she was determined to raise a feminine lady. But most of all, I LOVED comic books.

I didn’t understand why the things I loved seemed to cause concern, disappointment or ridicule in everyone else. Especially since the often-repeated “because you’re a girl” didn’t seem to explain anything at all.

Fast forward to the moment that changed everything for me: My father returned home from a business trip and as usual, had gifts for me and my brother. Now as most parents with kids that are close in age will tell you, gifts will either be the exact same thing for both children (so that way they don’t fight) or it’ll be one thing that they can share. So my Dad pulled something out of his bag and gave it to my brother, I really don’t remember what it was, but it was something gender neutral and I assumed it was for the both of us. So when my Dad put Giant Size X-Men #1 in my hands, I was thrilled but it wasn’t until he said, “I had to get it for you since you love the X-Men so much” that I really understood what was happening.

“Is this for me?”

“Yes.”

“Just for me? Me?”

“Yes. I know how much you love the X-Men cartoon…” It was true. Even my own mother understood that we couldn’t go grocery shopping on Saturdays until the show was done at 11:30AM. She learned to plan accordingly.

That book is everything to me. It reminds me of the first time someone not only accepted what I loved but encouraged it. Up until that point (hell, even now) most people treated my “boy interests” as something they hoped I would one day grow out of or as the unfortunate but tolerable result of having a brother so close in age.

Fast forward again to October 1, 2014. A little girl, 5-year-old Leanna, is picked on by classmates for wearing clothes with superheroes because superheroes are “for boys”. Her 7-year-old sister then decides October 1st is “Wear Your Superheroes Day”. Their parents then spread the word via social media and hundreds of people respond with photos of them wearing their superhero gear to support.

On the same day, Thor #1 debuts. Announced weeks prior as the issue that would reveal that the new Thor, the one deemed worthy enough to wield Mjolnir, would be a woman.

Today is a terribly happy day for me. Leanna and Adalina’s parents and the good folks at MARVEL have not only said it’s okay for girls to love superheroes but they’ve placed everyone who ever has and will say otherwise firmly in the wrong. Today has reminded Leanna, Adalina and myself that not everyone is gonna try to talk you out of what you love. Even if you are a girl.