D. Smith Says He Will Live and Present as a Man After 12 Years as a Transgender Woman

# What happened

D. Smith posted an Instagram statement saying he will now live and present as a man and use he/him pronouns. He said the decision follows several months of personal change and reflection. He made clear that the twelve years he spent publicly living as a transgender woman were real and meaningful, not something he intends to erase.

# What he said in brief

Smith wrote that following his heart has guided him through complicated choices. He described his 12 years living as a woman as authentic experiences that introduced him to important people and lessons. He also said living as a woman showed him the man he wanted to become. He affirmed that his respect and love for the transgender community remain unchanged and called for dignity, safety, and compassion for everyone.

# Context and career background

Smith became widely known after joining Season 5 of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta in 2016 as the franchise's first transgender cast member. His creative career predates reality TV: he earned a Grammy for production work on Lil Wayne's 2008 album Tha Carter III. He directed Kokomo City, a documentary that premiered at Sundance in 2023 and centers on four Black transgender sex workers.

# What changes now and what comes next

Smith said he will present as a man and adopt he/him pronouns going forward. He thanked people who supported him during different stages of his life and said there is more to his journey than fits in the Instagram statement, indicating he plans to share a fuller account when the time is right.

# Why this matters for readers

# Immediate public details

• Temporal note: Smith said the decision follows "the past several months" of change and reflection and referenced the prior 12 years living publicly as a transgender woman.
• Next steps: Smith indicated he will share more of his story later but provided no specific timing or additional details in the post.

# Takeaway

D. Smith's announcement is a personal update about how he will live and present publicly. He framed the decision as part of an ongoing journey that acknowledges past experiences as meaningful while signaling a new chapter he intends to explain more fully in time.