Pronouns
She/her
Identifies as
Trangender female
Neighborhood
Near North
Life's work
Artist/ Writer
Hobbies
TV, movies, books, outdoor activities
Do you have a coming out story?
"Growing up in a single parent Asian family where I was the only "boy" in the household it was hard for me to express who I really am. I'm not like blaming my family for being that way to me, and I totally understand where they [were coming] from. I stayed the same way as I was no matter how sad and empty I've felt over the years just to keep things as they are...up until the end of 2008. That's when my mother passed away. I finally have the courage to live my life as I am and fully express myself to the outside world without feeling like being tied down for actually doing it. Still, I had no idea there's a term called "Transgender," let alone the people within the community, and so I went online to see if anyone was also facing the same issue just like I do. I was so happy to finally get connected with people like me."
Whom do you admire most?
"I have to say my mother, even though she might or might not fully understand how I am in so many way (not just how I express myself), she was always so strong and hopeful and no matter how things were in life."
What issues outside of the queer community do you care about?
"Animal rights and the environment."
When did you start questioning gender?
"At the early age, I never thought I was any different than other little girls within the circle and I thought I was just like one of them and dreaming about how I would be when I grow up. I dreamt about being a beauty queen [with] a handsome and popular boyfriend, the clothes...etc. But then by four to five years old I realized that I was not as the same (body-wise) as all the other girls, and I was being told that I was a boy and that was it."
How do you explain the way you feel about gender to others?
"I always tell them that there is no such thing as black and white when it comes to gender issue. We are all unique (every single one of us). There shouldn't be a strict rule that separates us as in only this or that."
What do you think is the most pressing issues facing trans people?
"One of the thing other than dealing with the outside world, we need to come together and make our own community stronger. There is a lot of hatred even in our own Trans community with some of the girls constantly trashing one another or like not liking one another because you have this or that. We need to stop that and be happy with ourselves because it's super hard to go through the transition to begin with."
To nominate a person for T in the life, email: Kate Sosin sosin@windycitytimes.com