incisiondecision

My Story: I guess my story is the same as any other transgender persons. I have always known that something was “different” about me. Growing up with this difference was tough for me, especially within the Hispanic-Catholic culture that has very strict gender definitions – I was always being told to “man-up and stop being a sissy” by my family – and I eventually gave in and pretended to be something I wasn’t – a man. The urges to explore my gender identity never went away – as hard as I tried to push them down – they would come back stronger. I found myself desperate to go somewhere – anywhere that I didn’t know someone so I could explore this side of me. After I graduated from high school, I chose to go to a small state college in a place where I would not know a single person – hoping that I would stumble across people with more open minds than those from my past. Sadly this wasn’t the case. My college roommates found a stash of women’s clothes in my dresser while searching for money – and I was outed as being a “faggot”. I would come home to their semen stains on my bedding – pubic hairs on my tooth brush – and “FAG” scribbled across my door. They went through my address book – and outed me to my family and friends – and anytime they would see me on campus they would yell “there goes that panty wearing faggot” humiliating me and destroying my life. Later that year – I contemplated suicide. I hated my life. Hated who I was. And felt there was no way I could ever be happy. Thankfully – I had a friend reach out to me and she gave me the courage I needed to get into therapy. It was through therapy – and lots of it – that I discovered what it meant to be transgender – and I began taking the steps necessary to start my transition. I started having my facial hair removed – had my letter for hormones – and started the process to change my name. That was around 10 years ago – I now have been living full time as the woman I was meant to be for over 7 years and just need one more step for my transition to be complete. Over the years I have learned the value of sharing my story of my life- and have been an active member of the GLBT community center here in Fort Collins – serving on the Board of Directors for four years – and now I am the facilitator for the Transgender support group. In the time of my leading that group I have been able to grow attendance – and provide greater outreach and assistance to the local transgender community. Providing links to mental health professionals as well as helping to educate local doctors about the specific needs of the transgender community. I was honored this past year for my work by the City of Fort Collins as a nominee for the Human Relations Committee Award. This award is to recognize those in our community who promote acceptance and respect for diversity in the City of Fort Collins – and I was one of 6 nominees. I take great pride in my being able to give back to the community – and am finding new ways to reach out. I do work with a local rape crisis center volunteering my time and talents as a photographer to take portraits of survivors of sexual assault for an annual exhibition called “the FACES project”. And was recently asked by the United Way of Larimer County to serve on a committee to help address the issue of poverty in our county. About the Logo: Special thanks to Denver Designer Chris Gregori who donated this artwork to me to help raise funds for my surgery. Check out more of his work - at http://www.etsy.com/shop/cgregori