Janae Marie “Kroc” Kroczaleski is a transgender woman, who also identifies as gender fluid and non-binary. Prior to transitioning, she was a World Champion and world-record-holding powerlifter, United States Marine that was selected to work in presidential security under President Clinton, cancer survivor, published author, licensed pharmacist, public speaker, and proud parent of three sons. Janae was the subject of the award-winning documentary, Transformer. It is currently available on Netflix and many other streaming services. She hopes that by openly sharing her experiences, she can inspire those who can relate and help educate those who don’t understand.
In this episode we discuss:
- How Janae identifies as non-binary and gender fluid and what that means.
- How guilt and shame played into her identity for three decades because of her secret, how she considered suicide from the despair she felt from living a lie.
- How hiding behind sports and becoming a champion powerlifter helped her suppress herself and get through the day.
- Why “passing” in the trans community is the number one thing they all desire and why it’s so hard to be out in public if you don’t pass.
- How transphobia/ shaming shows up in her life and how she navigates it.
- Her decision to have vocal surgery prior to genital reconstruction and why that was most important
- What it was like to come out to her parents and why her mother felt her son had died.
- Why speaking out is the most important thing she can do for the community and her mental health.
- Her experiences with straight men and how they desire to be with trans women.
- How being transgender is a physical condition and not a psychological one.
- With her new platform, parents of transgender kids who once didn’t accept their children now can understand them more, after hearing Janae’s story.
Connect with Janae:
Youtube: Janae Marie Kroc
Instagram: @janaemariekroc
Facebook: Janae Marie Kroc
Website: www.janaemariekroc.com
Connect with Ashley:
Instagram: @someday_ill_get_there
Website: www.ashleyrivard.com
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