Finally chose the girl character when I was away in college and figured it was less likely people would know. Of course next time I see my best friend, he wants to trade pokemon and teased me for using a girl character with a feminized version of my name. Was almost a decade later when I considered I might not be cis.
One of the things about the trans masc experience. Nobody fucking questioned me playing as boy... ever. They were also still surprised Pikachu face when I came out as trans despite me dressing like a male poke-protagonist since the moment I got to choose my own clothes and not wear hand-me-downs.
I wholeheartedly wish to take a bat to the patriarchy so that our AMABs can finally be free and girl option is not looked at as some kind of innately less cool failure state. I hope future gens of humans will never need hesitate about what poke-protagonist they wanna be the very best like no one ever was with ...for any reason other than debating the preference of outfits.
My issue was always the 'bag'. Boys always got some lame backpack. Girls got a cool fanny pack or messenger bag. It's a fantasy game, I don't want to wear the same thing I carry my books to school in, I want cool gear!
Wish I had this in Red/Blue although I most likely wouldn't have chosen the girl out of fear of my dad or school kids finding out.
Still got made fun of enjoying playing Keori in SSX Tricky
It made me realize how extremely rare it is for a game to not only have a female protagonist but also a first person perspective where you can actually see your own body if you look down.