Transgender woman recalls bullying in high school
By CHELSEA McDOUGALL
Created: Friday, September 28, 2012 5:30 a.m. CDT

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/09/25/transgender-woman-recalls-bullying-in-high-school/avbyto1/


Crystal Gray relaxes while petting her cat, Molly, at the home she shares with her partner, Shari Miller, in Wonder Lake, Illinois. (Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com)

Gray's bullying started when she was in junior high, and followed her through her senior year at Woodstock High School. It wasn't until she volunteered with the auxiliary police and came to school in full sheriff's garb that the students finally left her alone.

But the damage already was done.

After her third suicide attempt in 1995, Gray checked herself into a behavioral health unit in California. Gray eventually landed at a recovery home for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. It was a turning point in understanding who she really was.

But it was still several more years before Christopher would become Crystal.

She buried her wife along with her former life.

"However, I brought these traits over with me. I'm still the same personality, but now the body is different. The body and mind are free, and now it's time to start a new life as Crystal."

"Do I ever forget what happened to me? No," she said. "It's always there, but I've gotten to the point that ... I can look back and understand how those different events made me who I am today, and I wouldn't change a thing."

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