A first-grade teacher changed my name so it'd be easier to say in English. I've gone by it since.
My real name is Maria Luz, but my teacher changed it to MaryLou. I still go by it decades later because it's part of my identity.
Before I Transitioned, I Had to Put Myself First
Surviving abuse, embracing community, and transitioning gave Edward Reese the strength to advocate for LGBTQ+ people in his home of Ukraine—and beyond.