Transgender woman teaches others to stand tall

Friday, July 1, 2011

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/01/BA4I1K5EAG.DTL

A recent Friday at 6:57 p.m.: Moments after telling her story of struggle in front a crowd of thousands in Dolores Park, Felicia Alvarado Elizando receives a warm hug from a supportive friend. She was born a man 64 years ago but has been living as a women for more years than not. In 1974, she underwent gender reassignment surgery and hasn't once regretted her decision. "I was meant to be who I am," she said. At the eighth annual Trans March, she was honored for being an original member of the Screaming Queens, a group of trans women living in the Tenderloin who rioted in 1966 at Compton's Cafeteria to protest poor treatment by the management.