Challenges faced by transgender people discussed during National Coming Out Day

[Shana A]

Challenges faced by transgender people discussed during National Coming Out Day
7:42 AM, Oct. 12, 2011
Written by
Ken Serrano | Staff Writer

http://www.app.com/article/20111012/NJNEWS/310120026/FINDING-SUPPORT

TOMS RIVER — The bathroom permission slip that Ryan Cassata passed around to Ocean County College students Tuesday didn't look like anything out of the ordinary.

But indignities lie in the details. And the slip holds symbolic meaning for the transgender youths in his battle to establish himself — a story he recounted through music and words as part of National Coming Out Day.

[Julie Marie]

"I couldn't think about this incongruity between the mind and body," she said. "I could be in a crowd of people and feel all alone."

The first time I heard myself say that was about three years ago.  I then realized this had been true all my life.  It was a chilling realization.