Susan's Place Transgender Resources

            Welcome to the Role Models forum

This is a space to celebrate LGBTQ+ heroes and role models who do the hard work of inspiring acceptance
and change.
This is a place for sharing the people — past and present, famous or personally meaningful — who've
shaped your journey or moved the needle for our community.    That might mean:

• Trans and LGBTQ+ figures who've made history, in activism, science, sports, the arts, or anywhere else.
• Public figures whose courage opened doors for the rest of us.
• People closer to home — a friend, a mentor, or even members right here on Susan's Place who've inspired you.

Feel free to jump into an existing topic or start a new topic.  Sources and links are always welcome if
you're sharing someone's story, but personal reflections are just as valuable — not every role model
needs a Wikipedia page.
However you came to know them, we're glad you're sharing those who inspired you here. 🌈

I wish to acknowledge and thank our member @Anne_lifetrip  for contacting me with her vision of
starting this new topic and Forum board that encourages discussion of the Role Models that have contributed
to our lives in our LGBTQ+ community.
                 
Warm Regards,
Danielle [Northern Star Girl]
The Forum Administrator    Direct Email: alaskandanielle@yahoo.com

Thanks for this Danielle! I will look forward to checking back here from time to time for inspiration.

I could make a long list but I'll start with the founder of Susan's Place, Susan Larson.  There aren't many safe spaces for people like us and Susan's is one of them.  I know that it's difficult and time consuming to selflessly maintain this site with the numerous challenges she faces.  It's been a home for so many of us.  I'm sure many lives have been forever changed by the vision and persistence of one very strong woman.  Thank you Susan!

I want to name Jennifer Finney Boylan.
For writing the book "She's not there: A life in two genders". I guess that her experience is not too uncommon for us trans persons but writing a book that captures so much of the things that only a trans-person will ever experience is quite uncommon. That book surely helped me realize who I actually am, and that I've been this way since forever, and I'm sure many of us has read the book and recognized almost everything.

May I suggest that we name but one role model in each post? And that we provide a bit of motivation as well (I think it is the motivation that is valuable for the readers)?