BY AJ TRAGER
FERNDALE – Rachel Crandall, co-founder of Transgender Michigan, is turning 18 and GLSEN has come out to help her celebrate.
Beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 in the lower level of the Community Pride Building in Ferndale, Crandall's birthday party will showcase Halloween costumes, laughter and fun all free of charge. The entire LGBT and allied community is welcome to join Crandall and Transgender Michigan to celebrate her "18th birthday" as Rachel.
She says that she has learned a lot over the course of 18 years and joked about writing her own book about transitioning and the wild world of living as a woman in today's society.
"This means that I am a full female adult. That I have been through the streets of being a girl and I have learned how to be a woman. I think I have learned how poorly women and girls are treated and that they are not respected. I do not mean only transgender women. I am talking about all women," Crandall told BTL. "And many trans women do not fully know what they are getting themselves into – that being a women is hard. Many people think that everything will be like a fantasy land, and it is a cold, hard world out there for women. People need to know this when they are thinking about transitioning. And I have never really heard anyone really say that out loud."
Every year dozens of LGBT and allied people from Metro Detroit attend Crandall's birthday party that serves as celebration and as a welcome space for transgender men and women who often times come out as their authentic selves for the first time. Attendance is free of charge; however, any and all donations to Transgender Michigan are encouraged.
"The last time we tried to have activities, people just ignored them," Crandall laughed. "But, so many people who come are just looking to socialize with people like them. Many people who come will have never ever met anyone like them."
The Community Pride building is located at 429 Livernois St. in Ferndale. Parking for the event is in the back of building. As of Oct. 19, 37 people had RSVPed for the event. To RSVP, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1792779590949014/.
