Rhode Island Home to 1st Transgender High School Coach
by Joe Siegel
Contributor
Tuesday Dec 3, 2013

http://www.edgeboston.com/news/national/152684/rhode_island_home_to_1st_transgender_high_school_coach

Stephen Alexander has been coaching boys' soccer at Ponaganset High School in Gloucester, R.I., for the past three years. But what separates Alexander from the average high school coach is that he identifies as transgender.

Alexander made history recently when he came out as transgender in an interview by Outsports.com, making him the first openly transgender public high school coach in the country. Alexander sat down with EDGE to discuss his transitioning from female to male, and the reactions from family, friends and others.

Growing up in the tiny rural community of Chepachet, located in the northwest corner of the state, Alexander was a female who went by Jen Dandrow. Alexander was a tomboy, involved with sports, like football and basketball, and was a star athlete on the girls' basketball team.

Though Alexander excelled in sports, he was having an internal battle with his emotions.

"I felt different," Alexander told EDGE. "I was always jealous of boys. I wanted to be a boy."

I wish Stephen the best of success in his endeavor to educate others.