Hello, Moth Family. Have you listened to our new podcast, Grown Yet? Grown, that's GROWN,

is a podcast filled with true stories all about the joys and pains of growing up.

Listen with a young person in your life, or by yourself to hear Moth Stories,

storyteller interviews, and audio diaries from young voices that tackle family dynamics,

heartbreak, culture, mental health, and so much more. If you love listening to Moth Stories,

then share Grown with a young person in your life. Find it by searching GROWN on all major podcast

platforms. Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm Travis Coxon, Chief of Staff at the Moth and your host

for this episode. In the gifts of imperfection, my personal hero, Brane Brown writes,

owning our story and loving ourselves through the process is the bravest thing we'll ever do.

This can feel particularly true for those of us in the queer community. So in honor of Pride Month,

this week, we're featuring two stories all about the courage to be your authentic self.

First up is Tomas DeVilla, who told this story at our annual gala, The Moth Ball.

I was lucky enough to be there that night, and you could feel the room hanging on his every word.

Here's Tomas, blive with the Moth.

So clearly I was in the Navy.

But one day I'm on my ship and I'm floating around in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

And I hear ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding. Now for me, that means that it's lunchtime.

So I immediately dropped everything that I'm doing, and I run to the galley as fast as I can

because today is pizza day. And anybody who's been in the Navy can tell you that pizza day is the best day.

So I sit down, I take my first bite, and I'm sitting there, and all of a sudden that's when it happens.

But I have to talk, Villa. Chief wants to see you in his office right now.

Shit. See, no one goes to see the chief unless you're in trouble.

...