Originally, I had discovered SLCY’s gender affirming legal care for youth through an organization at my college. At that time, a lot of the safeties for transgender students were being stripped away. They removed the LGBTQ+ resource center, began placing students deadnames on their ID cards, and made their deadnames apparent in the professor’s roll calls. To be honest, it was disappointing and felt hurtful to see these changes by my own college, as a student all I wish for is respect and a safe environment to grow.

These changes were the exact reasons why SLCY felt like such a light during a dim time.

I couldn’t have been any more clueless on how to pursue changing my name legally yet wanted to feel comfortable at my school; they were so understanding and treated me with so much kindness, no matter how foolish some of my questions were. Through the legal name change clinic hosted, I was able to connect with those who were experienced with legalname changes alongside the legalities of it, and was guided carefully through the entire process with respect to who I am. Those who worked within the clinic and SLCY’s gender affirming legal care for youth made a process that seemed daunting into something so affirming. While the push to legally change my name came from sudden and frankly frightful circumstances, with the guidance of the organization, it became something so joyful after making a very long-awaited step forward. I truly cannot thank them enough for such and feel so blessed that every semester that comes I get to be recognized as my updated legal name, to be seen as me.