Interview of Simon Chartrand

Simon Chartrand describes his experience growing up in upstate New York, being outed to family, living with chronic pain and navigating healthcare as a trans person. Simon discusses the long process of embracing his trans identity through college and graduate school. He found community and a network of friends through groups offered by the LGBT Center, as well as through trans events such as the Trans Day of Action and Trans Day of Visibility. Throughout his interview Simon describes navigating the culture and power dynamics of online dating as a trans man, interactions with cis people, and racism today. (Summary by Kaity Lloyd-Styles.)