Becoming Visible: Trans Stories

In the 17th episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack learn all about Boots, a resilient nonbinary individual from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as they share their powerful journey of self-discovery and survival. Raised in a complex family dynamic, Boots navigates the challenges of growing up in a Jehovah's Witness community, where conformity and ostracization were the norms. With raw honesty, Boots reflects on their experiences of abuse, discrimination, and institutionalization, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within religious and societal structures. Through it all, Boots finds solace in unexpected places, from the quiet moments of the night to the compassionate words of a supportive teacher. Join us as we delve into Boots' narrative, a story of resilience, identity, and the pursuit of acceptance in the face of adversity.

Adult 18+ Queer Community Members: Are you an LGBTQ+ individual who is 18+ and wants to make both medical and mental health care more inclusive?

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW

This survey will take 15 to 20 minutes of your time. Your identity matters, and so does your physical and mental health.

Disclaimer: Your privacy is important to us. All survey responses will be kept confidential and anonymous.

Content Warning: Due to the nature of this survey, the questions may be heavy or triggering. Please make sure you are in a safe space before you begin, and take care.

Resources:
https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/
For more info on Quilting Allies:
Facebook "Quilting Allies"
There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary.

Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams
Producer: Susan Williams
Audio Engineer: Cheese
Graphic Design: Carly Schultz
Music: Niklas Peters
Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

In the 13th episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack learn all about Shaneequa. Shaneequa Broken Leg, who grew up on the Rosebud Reservation with her grandparents, eventually relocated to Seattle to live with her dad, facing adversity and ultimately experiencing homelessness after being kicked out. This journey left her with a unique perspective on resilience and compassion. Shaneequa's journey as a Two-Spirit person adds another layer of depth to her narrative. For her, "coming in" signifies not only embracing her role within the community but also recognizing the profound spiritual and social responsibilities that come with it. Her experiences as a bridge between the masculine and feminine, and the natural and supernatural, are interwoven with her mission to heal and reconcile. Shaneequa's story is a testament to the transformative power of embracing one's identity and purpose, and her work serves as a guiding light for others navigating their own paths. Don't miss out on this enlightening podcast transcript that weaves together personal triumphs, a profound commitment to service, and a powerful Two-Spirit journey. Tune in now and be inspired by Shaneequa's remarkable and impactful life.
Resources:
https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/
There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary.

Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams
Producer: Susan Williams
Audio Engineer: Cheese
Graphic Design: Carly Schultz
Music: Niklas Peters
Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram

In the premier episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, your hosts Susan and Jack jump right into sharing about themselves, and do a deep-dive into Jack's journey as a transgender man who came out in his 30's with a wife and three kids in the small town of Hartford, South Dakota. Jack began working as the Community Health Worker/Community Outreach Manager for The Transformation Project in 2022 after leaving his career of 12 years at Citibank.
Resources:
www.transformationprojectsd.org
There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary.

Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams
Producer: Susan Williams
Audio Engineer: Cheese
Graphic Design: Carly Schultz
Music: Niklas Peters
Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

In the 2nd episode of Becoming Visible: Trans Stories, Susan and Jack learn all about Grace Hansen, who besides working as a Database Administrator, a gymnastics coach, and is the only remaining founding member of The Rude Band. Grace is a transgender woman who shares her story with us about how she came out at age 53 with a wife and four grown kids in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Stay tuned after the episode to hear one of Grace's faves from the Rude Band!
TW: Suicide
Check out The Rude Band at:
https://rudeband.ws/
Grace's Articles on Medium:

• My Coming Out Letter https://medium.com/empowered-trans-woman/my-coming-out-letter-6c0c0dc8c7c9?sk=2f94d7b7fd7900527386c6ed0613b1f0
• How The Pyramid of Hate Applies to The Transgender Community https://medium.com/empowered-trans-woman/how-the-pyramid-of-hate-applies-to-the-transgender-community-3fd21baa7afa?sk=d82136d29fd52b0cd81811e9e21c0a92
• How I started transitioning before I came out as transgender https://medium.com/empowered-trans-woman/how-i-started-transitioning-before-i-came-out-as-transgender-b05c645c66ce?sk=40b636f9c11a4ad6ab4fc727a192e323

Resources:
https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/
There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary.

Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams
Producer: Susan Williams
Audio Engineer: Cheese
Graphic Design: Carly Schultz
Music: Niklas Peters
Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)

In this episode, we speak with Rachel about being nonbinary, they/them pronouns, and how family and friends have reacted to their gender identity. Rachel lives in Sioux Falls, SD, and works full-time as a Communications Coordinator, volunteers her time with Sioux Falls Pride as their Marketing Director, and is in school full-time getting a degree in Coding.
TW: Suicide
Resources:
www.transformationprojectsd.org
There are so many great resources available if you happen to be struggling with suicidal thoughts. You can head to the Trevor project.org Or you can call and text 988 and you will be connected to trained counselors that will listen understand how your problems are affecting you provide support and connect you to the resources needed if necessary.

Hosts: Jack Fonder & Susan Williams
Producer: Susan Williams
Audio Engineer: Cheese
Graphic Design: Carly Schultz
Music: Niklas Peters
Niklas is a musician, artist, and organizer based in occupied Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land. They are a founding member of the South Dakota Women and Trans Musicians Network. When they are not creating music or art, Niklas can be found hiking or camping, walking their dog, or enjoying a meal with friends. They work as a Campaign Coordinator for Clean, Renewable Energy for the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Website - Instagram)