Maria knows that she may never have the chance to have biological children once she progresses with her transition; while the timing for this pregnancy in the middle of her surgical residency could not be less ideal, it could be her last chance. In the "Seahorse" aria, Sebastian (a gay man who has been able to perceive Maria's struggles with gender) comforts her in non-gendered language, comparing her current role carrying a child to that of a seahorse, which in nature is carried by the father until birth. The anthemic strength of the "Seahorse" aria gives Maria the confidence she needs, and staging/costuming can show her personal style slowly change to reflect this in the scenes after the aria.  The arias for this role have been workshopped mainly by treble-voiced mezzo-sopranos, but for those whose transitions have moved their tessitura to the bass clef register, transpositions and modifications are available; this is a very important part of our goal as creators dedicated to inclusivity.