My guest today is Anni Arbour, an award-winning, bestselling author and journalist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She
studied at both Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan and is a member of the Trans Journalists
Association. She writes for Pride Source Media, where her work covers transgender issues, politics, history, popular
culture and the lives of transgender people in Michigan and beyond. Anni is also the author of Trans Ascending, a
publication dedicated to stories of transgender people who have overcome prejudice, succeeded in hostile
environments and become inspirations to others. Through her writing, she has explored the lives of transgender
pioneers and historical figures, as well as transgender representation in comics, film and popular culture. Writing
and art have been important parts of Anni's life since childhood. She has written that, while growing up, she was
drawn to reading, writing and art and dreamed of becoming an artist. Her mother supported those ambitions and
recognised that her child was different, while Anni also experienced criticism from other members of her family for
her preference for what she describes as softer pursuits rather than traditionally masculine activities. Anni's
mother died when Anni was a teenager after a long illness with lung cancer. Anni was her main caregiver, and after
her mother's death she remained at home, helped care for her younger sister and endured a difficult relationship
with her older brothers. She later married, became a parent, divorced and raised her child alone.
Throughout those years, Anni continued to suppress her gender identity. In her own words, she knew from an early age
that she wanted to be among the girls at school, but she lived according to the expectations of her family and
society. She has described her eventual recognition of herself as a woman as a gradual process rather than the
result of a single defining event. Today, Anni is openly living as a woman and has also become active in creating
connections within the transgender community. She moderates the Reddit community MI_Transgender_Friend, which was
created to help transgender people find friendship and community. Her own writing has also addressed the importance
of connection with other transgender people, as well as the loneliness that can accompany a life spent feeling
different and misunderstood. Alongside her personal writing, Anni continues to report on issues affecting
transgender people in the United States. Her articles have examined topics including transgender rights, political
attacks on the community, transgender athletes, activism, representation and the experiences of transgender people
in Michigan.
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