Pronouns: "She preferred ... but never get upset if slip made (seldom) with my children and their friends or neighbors; it has come to be 'Rachel, she's my dad.'"
Identifies as: "Female. All my legal documents state female."
Life's work: "Retired teacher [of] 19 years. Started my own business: Rachel's Gardens landscape design/installation."
Hobbies: "Chess, Scrabble, reading, hiking, travelling, sharing time with children (keeps me young at heart)."
Do you have a coming out story?
"Many and still happening as my life continues on. At our home once, a new boy to [my son] Erik's school stopped by to visit. I let him in to play with Erik (then 10 or so), told him the other boys were downstairs and to join them. I heard Erik ask, 'Who let [you] in?' The boy replied, 'Your mom,' to which Erik replied, 'She's my dad!'"
What is the best thing about being trans/ gender-variant?
"Since I pass very well as female because of my facial features, I would say people get to know me first as a person, then as a transgendered being. My personality, the 'me,' is what they come to know."
Do you consider yourself an activist?
"I guess so. I have given lectures at church groups or LGBT groups. I even spoke to politicians in Springfield about rights. But I try to speak with kindness and respect rather than harsh, attacking words."
How do you explain the way you feel about gender to others?
"Human being first and gender second. For me, it was just a physiological happening at birth, something that happened while an embryo, which was no fault of anyone."
In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing the trans/ gender-variant community?
"Hardest one is acceptance of family. Too often rejection sends transgendered persons into solitude. Often [it] just takes family members time. My brother considers me dead and will not communicate with me, but his children have come to accept 'aunt' Rachel. We now have get-togethers. Secondly, that society comes to accept transgendered people as an asset to society with many talents to contribute, rather than to look upon trans/gender as an oddity and liability."
To nominate a person for T in the life, email: Kate Sosin sosin@windycitytimes.com