Joanne applied to Rutgers early in her senior year of high school. By the time she arrived on campus the following fall, she was Brian.
“I grew up in a small town and for my entire school life was miserable. I never fit in. For a while I thought I might be butch lesbian, but deep down I always felt like a guy,” Brian said. (His last name has been omitted and his first name changed for this article.)
With support from his mother and counseling, Brian began hormone treatments toward the end of high school. He couldn’t wait for a new start at Rutgers, which he chose for its diversity and reputation for tolerance. “I read [in a college guide] that Rutgers is considered among the top LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender]-friendly colleges.”
