The autobiography of a Monterey transgender pioneer is a difficult story well told.

In recent years, the tolerant world learned a lot about the lives and dilemmas of trans people – especially representatives of the younger generation, who are less apologetic when it comes to their identity and are out in the open. But today’s semi-acceptance of gender fluidity also inspires older people to come out and tell about their experience.

That’s the goal of a just-released memoir A Letter to Pawtone: From Barrio to Transgender Pioneer by Monterey-based Arlina A., a former military service member with a difficult past and lots of stories to tell.

“Trump says there are two sexes,” she says. “I disagree. There is only one sex. God has no sex or race. We are all the same.”

Arlina spent 38 years of her life working for the U.S. Postal Service, first in Los Angeles and later in Monterey. The book is volume one of a detailed story of Arlina’s relationships with her parents, lovers and dear friends, such as the titular Pawtone, who encouraged Alina to make decisions about identity.

“This is my life,” she says, sitting on a couch in her living room with the first copy of the book in her hands. “I have a right to live it the way I want to.”

Arlina – whose given name was Arnold – decided to start writing about her life in the late 1980s. “I wanted to remember,” she says. “I wanted to have everything written down.” Childhood journals proved to be useful. She writes about a youth in which she was always interested in dolls and dresses.

But her story is not an easy one. She was raped by a stranger when she was 7 years old – a classic “Come to my car and I’ll give you candy” scenario. She promised her mom, who cried when she found out, to never tell anybody about it.

Then came adult life. Arlina was almost sent to Vietnam. Following her time in the service, she took a job with the post office. Arlina started to explore cross-dressing and was delighted when men would buy her drinks.

After her mother died, Arlina decided to sell their L.A. house and picked Monterey, a location she remembered for its beauty. Her father decided to follow her – to her surprise – and one of Arlina’s most treasured memories is of the time when her father saw her as a woman and told her she was pretty.

When a local editor, Betty Withrow, showed up in Arlina’s life in 2024, the book project got serious.

A Letter to Pawtone: From Barrio to Transgender Pioneer by Arlina A. is available online.