My Name Was Stephen

[Shana A]

My Name Was Stephen
By: Autumn Sandeen Sunday July 15, 2012 4:21 am    

http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/07/15/my-name-was-stephen/

Being a someone of trans history, I wasn't born with the name Autumn. I was born Northridge, California in the late 1950′s, and my parents gave me the name of Stephen Mark Sandeen. These days I have a complicated relationship with that name: I like the name as a name, but the name just doesn't fit me now.

Well, sort of doesn't fit me now.

My parents were very spiritual people who very much embraced their Christian faith. My parents named me Stephen of Acts 6 and 7 — the Christian faith's first recorded martyr — and after the Apostle Mark. (Mark is traditionally credited with writing the second Gospel of the New Testament).