Twitter users Junia Joplin, Jadzia Dani and Kelsey Sproat all shared their stories of transitioning later in life on Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. (Photos courtesy Twitter)

Topics: Ethical Living | LGBTQ2S+

“It was the scariest thing I’d ever done … and also the best”: celebrating later-in-life transition stories

On Transgender Day of Visibility, members of the trans community are sharing their journeys

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Transgender Day of Visibility is a time for celebration. It was originally created by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, a psychotherapist and international trans activist. It started in 2009 with a Facebook post encouraging people to organize their own festivities, and has since grown into an international celebration. Trans Day of Visibility now takes place every March 31 to raise awareness and acknowledge the struggles and successes of the trans community. 

According to Statistics Canada, 62 percent of trans and non-binary people are under 35. On average, Canadians age 15 and older are 48.0, while trans people are on average 39.4. Though the experiences of trans youth are important, Broadview wanted to highlight the stories of  trans people who transitioned later in life and are marking their journeys by sharing their stories on Twitter.   

Dozens of people posted Friday about their later-in-life transitions, including user Jadzia Dani, who said she started transitioning in 2019 at the age of 44. 

Despite describing it as, “the scariest thing I’d ever done and the hardest,” she considers it the best thing she’s ever done, and encourages others to keep going. 

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Alexander Hermann started transitioning in 2018 at the age of 56. He states, “I knew I couldn’t live that lie a day longer,” so he did what was best for him and also now encourages others.

Twitter user Jane’s Journey started transitioning in 2013 at the age of 48, saying she was tired of living someone else’s life. Despite the challenges, she says she’s now happier than ever and that if her visibility is an act of defiance, she stands proud. 

Junia Joplin started transitioning in 2018 at the age of 39. She describes her transition as “harder than it had any right to be, cost me more than it ought to have, & exposed me to trauma like I’ve ever known.” Despite the many difficulties she faced, she says she would do it all again, and remains hopeful for good things to come. Joplin also co-hosts And Also Some Women, Broadview’s upcoming podcast. 

More on Broadview:

The visibility of trans people in the media is now more important than ever. 2023 has proved to be a disastrous year for anti-trans legislation in the United States, with over 250 bills now active in the U.S. across 38 states. These include those that scale back healthcare and parental rights. 

But amidst these attacks, many bravely continue to be visible and stand up for their rights. Ultimately, there’s still much to celebrate. As the many Trans Day of Visibility posts have shown, many people continue to make personal triumphs every day. Social media has allowed people to connect with others in new ways and shows individuals they’re never alone. 

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Alexandra Lee is an intern at Broadview.

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