Pronouns: She, her, Mrs., Ms. and Madam.
Identifies as: Transsexual woman
Life’s work:
“Heels and Hardhats Contracting Corp.— construction contracting in excavation, landscaping and specialty concrete. We are currently in the process of many certifications required to do government contracting work as a Female Business Enterprise as well as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Then, the end result will be a pathway of hope for other transsexual women to achieve these certifications and build upon their dreams of being self-employed. Our corporation is 100 percent female-owned with my wife Cyndi as my partner in business and life.”
Hobbies
“Antiques (as I am one). Love to shop in thrift stores finding the unusual or maybe something special for the kitchen. And I love to cook.”
Do you have a coming out story?
“I have to say it was the lipstick on my cigarette butts in my office and in the driveway that caught my wife’s attention. She kept on insisting there was another woman here at night, who oddly smoked my brand. There was a long week of finger pointing until I finally broke down and cried and told the rest of the story. She was relieved, but totally confused. We worked through it like people in recovery, dealing with the disease aspects and learning that we had to live in the solutions, not the problems.”
What is the best thing about being trans/ gender-variant?
“It allows us to see life in many ways that a so-called normal person will never grasp. It allows us to learn that hardships are a pathway of progress, and our progress paves a road of hope for those to follow.”
Would you like to say something about your wife?
“My wife Cyndi has rewritten the word “unconditional.” She has stood alongside me through transition, through the hard economic challenges that we faced in a career change and tough economy. She did her best to educate our children about the changes occurring and what we had ahead. Cyndi has been active with me in many Chicago functions and known throughout our community. I am truly blessed to not only behold a great wife but a partner in life. She has held my hand in those tough days of wanting to escape life. We embrace the moments of peace and sort through the challenges in life together. She has welcomed many friends to our home and opened her heart for them as well.”
Jackie Richter and her wife Cyndi marching in the Pride Parade. Courtesy of Richter.
To nominate a person for T in the life, email: Kate Sosin sosin@windycitytimes.com