Shoppers at Oshawa mall embrace transgender teen with signatures of support

While the alt-right throws up chilling Nazi salutes in Washington, DC, and headlines around the world highlight a rash of hate crimes following the election of Donald Trump, look no further than Oshawa, Ontario, as a beacon of hope.

That’s where Blake Wells, a 19-year-old transgender man, was warmly embraced after sharing the very personal story of his gender transition following years of inner conflict and turmoil.

Wells and a friend conducted the social experiment at Oshawa Centre mall about two weeks ago, sharing the video on Facebook where it’s been viewed over 9,000 times.

“I wore a white shirt and carried a sign that said, ‘Hi, my name is Blake and I am a transgender man. This means I was born female and have since transitioned to male. In our society there is still so much hate. So, if you support transgender rights then please draw a heart on my shirt!’ ”

By the end of the day his previously white shirt was plastered with a barrage of hearts and snaky signatures from people of all ages and walks of life, and Wells’ face was plastered with an unshakable smile.

Wells says he only encountered two incidences that were negative, but he says they were “minor” in comparison to the “phenomenal” wave of acceptance.

“I didn’t think there was going to be as much support as there was,” the Durham College student admitted.

“There was so much support,” Wells, who attends Durham College, stressed. “I have the shirt to prove it. I have tons of hearts showing people are more accepting than they are hateful.”

On his Facebook page, Wells’ shared a powerful message for young people struggling to find their own identities.

“Being transgender in a society that tells you that you’re abnormal, wrong, worth less than others, and ultimately not human enough for basic respect, is hard and sometimes seeing the bright side isn’t always easy,” he wrote.

“To any trans person who may be struggling with their identity or with transphobia, please know that I am here for you and I support you 100%. The people in this video support you. You are loved, respected, valid, human, normal, special, and important to this world.”