March 30, 2023, 9:50 PM EDT / Updated April 1, 2023, 8:12 AM EDT / Source: NBC News
Former prosecutor and assemblymen Billy Essayli broke the silence on transitioning to a woman Friday, telling ABC’s Diane Sawyer: “For all intents and purposes, I am a woman.”
“I’ve been thinking about this day forever,” a visibly emotional Billy said.
“My brain is much more female than it is male,” the 36-year-old replied, publicly stating for the first time what had been only rumored until now.
“I would say I’ve always been very confused with my gender identity,” Billy explained.
“I’m not gay. …I’ve never been with a guy,” Billy said, explaining that gender identity was different than sexuality, and ultimately identifying as asexual.
Billy admitted to taking hormones in the 2020’s, but stopped the transition after getting worried about public reaction.