Shannon Mason 2025 Simply SEEN Participant
Shannon didn’t come out until she was 40 - not because she was hiding, but because it took time for everything to click into place. Once it did, the realization felt like finally hearing the right station after years of static. She was nervous to tell people but also irritated by the whole “announcement” expectation. Straight people don’t do press releases, after all.
Her friends and family responded with warmth, humor, and the kind of support that softens fear. A few even laughed, “We knew. We were just waiting for you to catch up.” Her mom needed a moment to take in the news, mostly out of love and protectiveness, but quickly wrapped Shannon in full support - something she continues to give wholeheartedly.
Shannon describes herself as a tomboy with a bright-pink streak - literally. She adores bold colors, outdoor adventures, animals of every variety, and she’s a proud graduate of the neon-loving 80s. Her big, loyal circle of friends love her exactly as she is, and their support remains one of her greatest treasures.
She’s still discovering how she wants to express herself on the outside. Sporty feels natural, but she’s drawn to a style that’s a little funky, a little unexpected, and unmistakably her. She refuses to fade into the background or dress like she’s following someone else’s script.
Lately, she’s felt a rising fire - frustration with how LGBTQ and trans people are treated, spoken about, and targeted. She can't understand why people invest so much energy into hating a community that has zero impact on their lives. Love, marriage, adoption, holding hands, existing - none of it harms anyone. Yet the noise persists.
Her portrait in Simply SEEN is built around one giant question: WHY?
Why the hate?
Why the fear?
Why the obsession with controlling other people’s joy?
Shannon may not have every piece of self-expression figured out yet, but she knows this: she’s here, she’s proud, and she’s done asking permission to be happy.