Finding Safety, Support, and Myself
Mirrored Perspectives: Two Sides of One Journey
Finding Safety, Support, and Myself
By Zoey Gerbrandt
The CHEERs committee is proudly presenting this series showcasing the perspectives of individuals accessing services and the staff who support them. Read Zoey’s story below in her own works and CLICK HERE to read the perspective of Zoey’s support staff, Chisom!
There was a time in my life when fear controlled everything. As a transgender woman, I spent most of my life just trying to survive, not thrive. I stayed quiet, invisible, and kept myself out of the eye of the LGBTQIA+ community, not because I didn’t want to belong, but because I was scared. Scared of being judged, hurt, or rejected. I didn’t know what real support looked like… until I finally saw it with my own eyes.
But even then, it wasn’t easy.
Opening up again took everything I had. I had been hurt too many times and had lost trust in so many people. I had support workers in the past who meant everything to me, people who helped shape who I am, but I lost them too. When life hit me hard, I felt like I lost everything: my routine, my safety, my sense of self.
I had to start over. New eyes. New people. A new beginning.
Then I met Chisom, and that’s when everything started to shift.
Chisom didn’t just support me, she helped me understand myself in ways I didn’t even know I needed. At first, I didn’t want to understand. I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t trust myself, let alone anyone else. But with her patience and care, she helped me take the baby steps I needed. And those baby steps became life changing.
It started small: conversations, shared time, discovering likes and dislikes. We went to movies, visited malls, and built trust slowly, at a pace that respected my boundaries. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I got a little closer to seeing myself clearly. I began exploring makeup, style, culture, and life. I learned that freedom wasn’t something you wait for, it’s something you build. And every choice I made? It was mine. I had support, not control. That made all the difference.
Then came Anna, another huge part of my journey. Her kindness, patience, and presence pushed me further out of my shell. I began to meet even more amazing people. My comfort zone cracked wide open, and instead of fear, I found hope.
For the first time, I felt like I belonged, not just to a support program, but to a community. I felt connected to the LGBTQIA+ community in a real, meaningful way. The kind of way that says, “You’re not alone anymore.”
Today, I’m proud to say that I’ve found confidence, purpose, and connection again. I’m building new memories, living a life that feels real, and finally seeing the reflection of someone I respect when I look in the mirror.
This support hasn’t just helped me survive; it’s helped me grow. And I’m still growing. Still learning. Still healing.
Without the love, effort, and understanding from people like Chisom, Anna, and others who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself… I don’t know where I’d be.
But I know where I’m going now. And I know I’m not doing it alone.
Zoey!
Story and photo shared with permission
