I transitioned in 2002. I knew I was going to transition and I felt safer and somewhat protected inside [the government office where I worked]. And I got health insurance, which I had never had before.

I feel safe in Connecticut. When I stopped working for the city of Stamford after 40-something years, I looked around to see if I wanted to do what some other people do and retire somewhere less expensive than Connecticut. I’m glad I didn’t, because all those places are now passing laws that would hurt me. I have no interest in going to Florida.

In my line of work, I was one of two people who got consulted on a regular basis about urban renewal law and urban renewal developments. When [I stopped working for the City of Stamford], I went talking to law firms who I had retained over the years, [who were] very familiar with my work. I had a number of very nice conversations with senior partners and hiring partners, but there is only one major firm in the state with a trans partner. None of the firms that I had given lots and lots of business to had any interest in hiring me.

In Connecticut, people in positions of power have not felt comfortable being out and loud with their protests… [Right now this means], I have to be more visible, I have to be more present, I have to speak up. 

It feels good to do work for [the National LGBTQ+ Bar], an organization that’s doing good things, and can continue to do good things. The best thing that the Bar can do is grow allyship and try to obtain a greater unity of purpose. 

I cannot overemphasize my belief in the importance of political allyship… Those connections are vital. Having ties to politicians, personal relationships… helps to give us access and helps to create a relationship where we can talk about what our community needs.

At the moment we have a reasonably good ally in the White House, could be better. Obama was good, better than Biden, but he could have been better. Somebody made a decision at the beginning of Obama’s first term not to move forward with the Equality Act and make it a priority, and that’s hurting us. I get that marriage was higher on the priority list but it’s still disappointing.

In the federal election and in state elections, the thing that will get Democrats into office is Roe and guns, not us. Which is why we need to have a strong relationship with the organizations that are specifically working in those areas. I know we don’t work as an organization in the political arena, and we should not, but we can be allies with those who do.

There’s so much to do, but I think organizations like Lambda and GLAD and NCLR and ACLU are all doing really good work legally fighting those bills, and for the most part, at least until they get to the Supreme Court, they will be successful. But I’m afraid of this Supreme Court, and that is why we need to have a strong majority in both the House and the Senate… that requires unity amongst the LGBT community.