A brave struggle brings new hope
BY STEPHANIE SMART
18 Sep, 2011 12:00 AM
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-brave-struggle-brings-new-hope/2295455.aspx?storypage=0 (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-brave-struggle-brings-new-hope/2295455.aspx?storypage=0)
Born male, Marcelle knew from the age of three that she was female. For the next 40-odd years she hid her true identity. Last year she began living as a full-time woman, but says people's opinion that people choose to be trans or gay is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome.
''That's how some friends of mine saw it [as a choice]. One day I was this and the next day I was something else. They saw it as the Marcelle female had killed the Marcelle male - that the old me is gone and this new me is an imposter. They get angry because they don't understand the change,'' Marcelle said.