Kara perched on the plastic chairs in the dining area of The Delores Project, hand tapping on the table to the beat of her voice as she talked about the roller coaster that has been the last few years of her life.
“The only thing I’m sad about is that I’ll still sound like a boy when you go back to listen to this interview,” she laughed. But for all her misgivings, there is something utterly feminine about the way she holds herself. This is the confidence that comes with accepting yourself and having those around yourself accept you as well.
Kara describes herself as an outgoing girl who likes to joke around and think positive. At 38, she is two years out of the closet as a trans woman, leaving behind both the good and the bad of her previous life. A little over a year ago, she left …show more content…
It’s a place where she finally feels free to be herself, without fear of prejudice or violence. When she first arrived, there was another trans woman at the shelter, and seeing her be accepted by staff and other guests made all the difference for Kara. Experiencing these positive interactions not only at The Delores Project, but also at her new job at Barnes and Noble, has reinforced her identity, assuring her that becoming Kara was the right thing. Before her transition, she described herself as “kind of a coward,” but all traces of that person seem to have disappeared. She is the type of woman who stands up for herself. When a new friend began putting her down, she stood her ground and called him out on his behavior, making sure that he knew that she was willing to stand up not only for herself, but for her gender identity and femininity. The Delores Project is a place where she has the opportunity to be herself, to set her life in the right direction. A part of her transition was putting drugs and bad decisions behind her. This is a new chapter for her, a chapter that allows her to shape herself as she sees