Cole Feliciano Colon, 22, has valued the power of community since they were a teenager.
“Humans are meant to socialize, and I find that my most authentic self comes with the interaction and community,” said Feliciano Colon.
Cole says it was the support from the state they live that was such a meaningful force when they began transitioning at age 16, taking testosterone and getting top surgery at age 18.
“I actually am very fortunate, I would say, as a trans person to have started my journey at a very young age; that was a privilege not a lot of trans people get,” said Feliciano Colon.
In North Carolina, families are suing state health officials to block implementation of gender-affirming care restrictions. At least 20 states have enacted policies restricting health care for transgender youth.
According to a study by JAMA Network, the loss of gender-affirming care clinics in those states has dramatically increased the average travel time to a provider. They found about half of adolescents now live more than an hour away from the nearest clinic providing gender care.
“I still experienced lots of prejudice to this day from people out on the street,” said Feliciano Colon. “But thankfully, because of growing up in New York, it was a lot easier for me to transition medically, and it was a lot easier for me to do the things I wanted to do.”
Cole says restricting gender-affirming care could mean life or death for some minors.
“They’re not supported in a way that I was,” said Feliciano Colon. “And I know that suffering feels immeasurable, and I know it feels infinite. But one day you will find the freedom in your own independence, in your own power, and that is something to live for and that is something to strive for.”
