Kell

For a long time I couldn't picture my future as a trans person. I was nearly 40 when I came out as trans (more than 20 years after my first journey out of the closet). I was an established government attorney. I had a wonderful partner and two young children and I didn't want to imagine the upheaval that such a transition would cause. It was overwhelming and seemed selfish to even consider. So for many years I fought to keep the subconscious knowledge of my identity from bubbling to the surface. It worked for a while—until I began my journey to become a better parent. To do so I had to know myself and love myself. How could I teach my children they were beautiful inside and out when I was staying up at night convincing myself to hide the part of me that others might not understand? For the first time I cautiously started to imagine the future I could have if only I took my own advice.

With my partner and kids by my side I have transitioned in life and at work. My boss trained my colleagues and allowed me to switch positions so I could have a clean slate. Access to information helped me understand that I was not alone and that experiences like mine have been shared across cultures and throughout time. My passion now is to take my good fortune and leverage it to help others.