“Patience is a virtue.” I utter this phrase to my son at least 4 to 5 times a week. Patience is something that I know a lot about. At this time, 5 years ago, my son and I were homeless. He was getting ready to start Kindergarten in the fall and we had no place to live. I was working 7 days a week at 2 jobs and each time I applied for an apartment they told me, “You need to make more money.” I remember the day my patience broke. My son and I were sitting in the motel room I had rented, it was cold and raining and he snuggled up under my arm and told me it was fun living in a motel. But it … [Read more...]

I’m here today only because others have been by my side. The greatest indebtedness I hold in my heart is to the teachers who always went beyond the call of duty to support me outside of the classroom. By extending a helping hand during dark times, and encouraging my growth, they helped me to remember a purpose, and to forge my own path. I’m also grateful to the transgender clinic at Cincinnati Children’s for its dedication to service, providing the resources necessary for me to heal and be myself. Last but not least, I’m grateful to my family and friends for being there for me every step of … [Read more...]

Since the age of 4, I have always known I was living in the wrong body. By the age of 5, I communicated to my mother that I was a boy and needed a sex change. My family was ultra conservative, and I never fit the image that I thought I had to be. Growing up, I went through a lot of depression and suicidal ideation. I was not ready to face society and come out as transgender. I learned to medicate how I felt with drugs and alcohol. I spent the next 24 years identifying as a lesbian. I had girlfriends and even married a woman in 2008 in Canada. I got sober in 2003 to open my own substance abuse … [Read more...]

I was worried about my legal name change for a bit. I worried that my name might be “too weird,” and that I should go for something more traditional. Sure, my name is Bridge, but maybe it should be something else for formal documents? As the two of them saw me fretting over my decision, one of my partners pulled me close and told me, “You’re the Bridge that brings people together—the Bridge that shows friends and loved ones where they need to go and how to get there.” Suddenly, I was calm. And I knew I was doing the right thing.  There’s only one Bridge Rousseuax St. Germain, and that … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]