June 13, 2024
Meet Alexandra*, a courageous transgender woman who has overcome significant challenges on her journey to safety and self-acceptance. Despite facing rejection from her family and navigating the complexities of being a transgender immigrant, Alexandra has found strength within herself and support from compassionate communities. Her story is one of resilience, hope, and the unwavering pursuit of her true identity.
My journey to safety has been a difficult and often painful path.
My journey to safety has been a difficult and often painful path. Growing up in a family that didn’t accept my gender identity and sexual orientation left me feeling isolated and afraid. The fear of being harmed for who I am was a constant weight on my shoulders. Despite these challenges, I’ve learned to embrace my true self. This journey has taught me that acceptance starts from within, even if fear still lingers when I express myself fully.
The fear of being harmed for who I am was a constant weight on my shoulders.
As a transgender immigrant, finding a sense of safety and acceptance has been incredibly challenging. My family faced housing and food insecurity, which only added to the difficulty. I dream of a future where there are more support programs for parents with religious backgrounds to accept their children. Such programs would have made a world of difference during my adolescent years.
Your identity is something only you can define. Although my family hasn’t fully supported me, KIND has been a beacon of acceptance and safety. At KIND, I found a space where I can freely express who I am. This support has been invaluable in helping me find a community that celebrates my gender identity and encourages me to be my true self.
Your identity is something only you can define.
KIND is an incredible organization that has been a lifeline for LGBTQIA+ youth like me. My attorney at KIND has always shown compassion, never pressuring me to relive past traumas. They even threw me an eighteenth birthday party, complete with gender-affirming messages and a gay pride-themed cake. That celebration made me feel truly recognized and loved for who I am. 
In the United States, my dream is to create a family where I feel safe and to walk in public without fear. I’m focused on building stability and getting to know myself better. I’ve recently moved into my first apartment and am excited about discovering what I truly want for my life.
In El Salvador, I couldn’t express my true self due to cultural and family constraints. It wasn’t until I arrived in the U.S. that I felt free to disclose my transgender identity and received support from close friends. One friend, in particular, encouraged me to embrace my womanhood and not worry about others’ opinions. This shift in mindset has been incredibly empowering.
This shift in mindset has been incredibly empowering.
Since childhood, I’ve always felt a deep connection with womanhood and never felt right in my assigned gender. Gender identity isn’t determined by sex; it’s a personal and profound understanding of oneself. Despite the lack of acceptance from many, I firmly believe that my womanhood is something only I can define.
Self-expression through makeup and feminine clothing allows me to show the world who I truly am. This period of my life is marked by the freedom to express myself, a significant milestone that I’ve achieved through my newfound independence.
Self-expression through makeup and feminine clothing allows me to show the world who I truly am.
In the United States, I found a community that has been crucial to my journey. Declaring my womanhood here and striving to express myself authentically every day has been a liberating experience.
