He lived one life for fifty-nine years. Then he finally became himself.
From an Italian Catholic childhood in New Jersey, full of loud family dinners, frilly dresses he never wanted to wear, and grandparents who negotiated baby names like business deals, to a courtroom in 2023 where he was finally reborn, this is the unforgettable journey of Micky Angelo Petrillo.
Growing up as Michele in a world that never truly saw him, Micky spent decades carrying a truth he could not yet name. At fifty-nine, he finally stepped into the life he was meant to live. With humor, vulnerability, and unshakeable resilience, he shares the story of living twice: first in silence, then in authenticity.
Walking the Earth is a memoir about identity, family, survival, and the courage to become the man he was born to be.
"Before you judge a trans person, get to know one."
About the Author
Micky Angelo Petrillo is an entrepreneur and proud New Jerseyan whose life has been defined by resilience, reinvention, and a refusal to give up on himself. After decades of living a life that didn't fit, he embraced his truth at fifty-nine and has been inspiring others with his honesty, humor, and heart ever since. He owns Baskets-n-Beyond and continues to create, write, and live boldly as his authentic self.