This trans athlete is sharing their journey through pictures and it’s so inspiring
A transgender athlete from America is using photographs to share the story of their transition journey.
Schuyler Bailar has been sharing images of himself from 2014, when he was still presenting as female, and now.
Bailar shared images from his prom in 2014 and a prom that he took his friend to.
The side-by-side comparison makes an important point about his journey over the four years because the images are a “total simplification”, he said.
The athlete explained that his transition was a lengthy process, and the before and after do not show the “in between”.
“I did not wake up one day and just become a man, nor was I ever truly a woman. I have always been me — whether dressed in a gown or a tie. Between and before these pictures are hundreds of days of incredibly important discovery and pain and growth that I will never ignore,” he said.
Bailar also used the post as an opportunity to send a message of love and hope to his followers who may be in the midst of transitioning.
He added: “Change is possible. Happiness is possible. Authenticity is possible. But all of these things take time and effort and perseverance and self love. Still, they are ever possible; so, never forget this, my friends. Never give up on yourselves.”
He was offered a place at the prestigious Massachusetts university, in part due to his sporting success, with an invitation to join the women’s swimming team.
After transitioning, he was worried that he would no longer be allowed to compete, and would not be welcome on the men’s team, but he was.
Musician Jaimie Wilson has also shared his inspiring story on the image sharing platform.
The model shared before and after pictures to show that “not everyone has to show signs to be transgender” and that you “don’t have to pass a test to prove you’re trans.”
Charlie Peck, another transgender musician, created a beautiful duet with himself prior to and nine months after beginning hormone treatment which changed his voice.
Peck, from Sweden, put together the cover of “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and put his own unique twist on the song.
The beautiful song was intended as a tribute to give back to the trans community, Peck explained.
