Up to this day, Alanna has lived her whole life in Kentucky, with limited resources and connections to the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, she did not know she was a part of the community until about 2006; which is when she experienced puberty. She always had a natural discomfort and sadness to her personality, but could never pin-point the source until puberty. Her puberty experience felt like her body was betraying her by changing her body in all of the wrong ways. Even though this was a miserable experience, it at least helped identify the root cause of the negative emotions. Alanna overcame … [Read more...]
2018 Grant Recipient Mac
My name is Mac, and I am a statistical anomaly. Within the first week of my freshman year of college, I realized I was transgender. For a brief period, the sense of liberation that came with using a different name and different pronouns overshadowed the looming threat of social rejection. Not long after I bought my very first binder, the reality of my situation set in. The rejection I faced for being trans, combined with my own pre-existing mental health issues, caused my overall health to plummet. I lost my family’s financial support and was instantly thrown into debt. I saw no point in … [Read more...]
2018 Grant Recipient Hope
Born in Miami, Florida, Hope Giselle (founder of the HopeDisguised Project and #Allowme movement) began her journey into the world of theater at an early age. Attending the first and only magnet elementary and middle schools Miami had to offer (Charles R. Drew magnet school for the performing arts). Hope heavily involved herself in the arts of Dance and Theatre. Then attending Miami Senior High School not only to continue her studies in theatre but seek to master it! She won superior rankings in Florida regional and state competition her senior year and graduated top 10% of her … [Read more...]
2018 Grant Recipient Cole
As far back as I can remember, I refused to wear girl clothes. When I hit puberty I really felt that I was ‘different’. In school, especially high school, I was bullied because of my appearance. I never knew much about transitioning or that it was even a possibility. In 2005, I started to understand more about transgender issues after listening to a guest speaker and viewing photos of different stages of transitioning. In 2007, I knew for certain I needed to transition. My first step was getting a binder since my top has always been my biggest source of dysphoria. I struggled being honest with … [Read more...]
2018 Grant Recipient Theophilus
I had decided that being a girl was just what I was going to have to do. I never thought that I would be able to live my truth. I never thought that life would make sense and I would see a light at the end of the tunnel of not feeling comfortable in a body that I’ve been born in. I’ve always said that I was grateful for being and experiencing womanhood, it made me appreciate the woman that much more, however it just wasn’t for me. I’ll forever be thankful to those who came before me for simply showing me another way, something I knew deep down was possible. After 20 years, I’d decided to … [Read more...]
2018 Hembrough Private Grantee
Anonymous, Chest Reconstruction (JCF does not require any grant recipient to share their story as we are sensitive to privacy and safety of all members of our community). We would like to extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Kathy Rumer for generously offering pro-bono services for this procedure. … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Angie Torres
Angie is a passionate and driven LGBTQ activist hailing from New York City. Angie is a proud alumni of the nation's first accredited LGBTQ high school, Harvey Milk High School. She's appeared on several television shows and networks, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, MSNBC and America's Next Top Model, in an effort to further educate the world on the issues that plague the LGBTQ community. Angie feels extraordinarily blessed and thankful to have been awarded the Jim Collins Foundation grant out of hundreds of applicants. After feeling so disconnected with her body her entire life, she now knows … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Cael Neary
It is commonly said that the end goal in life is to be happy. However, when my parents told me in my adolescent years, “We just want you to be happy,” their definition of daily and ultimate “happiness” did not include queerness or gender transition. When I finally made it out of the house and moved to college in Wisconsin, I could live as Cael 24 hours a day for the first time in my life. Every now and then, when I nearly forget how far I’ve come, I recall those first weeks, where it dawned on me that each day, I could simply get dressed. I am ready for the next step. I am ready for my body to … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Christyna
I wish I could tell you that I knew I was transgender all of my life. I have had bishops from church tell me I was going to hell for having such thoughts and wanting to be this way. I had family who later came around to this ideal of Christyna, instead of Christopher. At the JCF they believe in me, they believe in us, as people. I’m thankful for the hardships I have gone through on this journey because it shows me, as well as everyone else, anything is possible if you need or want it enough. If god hands you lemons make a merengue pie. It just tastes better! “At the JCF they believe in me, … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient Bayne
I wish I could say I always knew I was a boy or at least point to a moment of epiphany when it all made sense, but it wasn't like that for me. I just always knew I was "wrong" in some very deep but inconceivable way. I started down a path of slow self-destruction around age 10. I cut, burned, starved, refused to speak, punched walls, pushed people away, drank, etc. I finally sorted it out in my mid to late 20s. That was over a decade ago. Being trans in the deep South is a daily struggle – from the narrow-minded perspective that is so common to the physical torment that is the reality of … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient Katrina Dawn Stewart
Since I transitioned in 2001, I have given back to the GLBT community at the local, state, and national level through leadership, advocacy and education. This work was in response to my own need to build the safety nets of support I needed as I began living authentically. That work developed into a passion to both make the road of transition easier socially for others and to break through to create understanding in the communities I touched so as to be the change I wanted to see in the world. While at times frustrating and challenging, this has given me joy and has satisfied my heart. At 44, … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient JC
My name is JC, I'm 23 years old and I live in Seattle Washington. Since my earliest memory I have always known that I was different. At pre-school age I can recall asking my mom to wear her night gowns and high heels. Not wanting to upset my dad we would always wait until he left for work. Growing up my best friend was also my neighbor, her name was Emily, I would spend most of my days at her house playing dolls, dress up and my all time favorite game pretty pretty princess. I have two older brothers, Josh and Jason, they both excelled at sports and it was a major passion of theirs. From a … [Read more...]