Interview with Charlene Bradshaw

In this oral history, Charlene Bradshaw reflects on his experiences living in Minneapolis, MN as a Black transgender person. Bradshaw describes himself as a ‘baby transgender,’ at the beginning of his journey. Born and raised for part of his life in Hawaii, he eventually moved to Washington D.C. and joined the military, serving 22 years. In this interview, he recounts early childhood experiences of his gender awareness; his experiences in the military as a closeted lesbian, facing harassment and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; starting to come out as transgender; wanting to transition; and his role as a parent and coming out to his children. Bradshaw also describes his spirituality, and finding community inside and outside of church in Minnesota.

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Item Information:

Identifier: jd472w730
Collection: Oral Histories with People of Color
Institution: Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection, University of Minnesota
Creator(s): Jenkins, Andrea
Bradshaw, Charlene
Publisher: University of Minnesota Minneapolis Libraries
Date Created: Jan. 12, 2016
Genre: Oral Histories
Transcriptions
Subject(s): Charlene Bradshaw
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Places: Minnesota > Hennepin County > City of Minneapolis > Minneapolis
Washington, D.C.
Hawaii
Hawaii > Honolulu County > O‘ahu
Topic(s): Black people
Bullying
Childhood
Children
Coming out
Education
FtMs
Gender realignment surgery
Harassment
Homophobia
Lesbians
Masculinities
Military
Sexism
Sexuality
Spirituality
Support groups
Transgender people
Transitioning (Gender)
Travel
Volunteering
Writers
Resource Type: Moving image
Text
Language: English
Related URL: https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/search?facets%5Bcollection_name_s%5D%5B%5D=Transgender+Oral+History+Project&q=transgender
Rights: Copyright undetermined
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