Pronoun: He.
Identifies as: Trans boy.
Life's work:
"I am Miss USA, and I do work actually for the community like I did once before … to build community and strengthen it a little more. And to actually do a little more for myself like getting my own business started."
Interests
"I love bingo and volleyball."
Lives in:
Oak Park
School
"I'm at the Christopher House. I go there for my GED program, and I'm going to start the Art Institute in June … fashion design and graphic and architecture."
When did you start questioning gender?
"I actually stepped out into the world when I was 19."
Do you have a coming out story?
"It's been kind of a difficult situation because, remember once before, I never was judged. I thought I was at a point in my life because my grandmother had to actually get used to me. But in my earlier teens, I was wearing women's clothes and lipstick and just go to work. I saw myself growing and expanding … and saying my mother didn't want me living there because I was gay or because she was queer or because she knew another guy that was gay that always harassed her. That's what took me out of the situation to be the queen and to be the diva of them all."
Do you consider yourself an activist?
""I can see that all things are possible through Christ. Without him, I could never have gotten up and done all the stuff I have. ... I never thought HIV was a curse. That's what I want the people to believeto believe in themselves, to believe in their truth."
Whom do you admire most?
"I would say fashion icons and singers all over the USA."
To nominate a person
for T in the life, email: Kate Sosin
sosin@windycitytimes.com