In Honor of PRIDE Month: The Transitioning of Lester & Debbie Cook

Jay Michaels recounts the true story of Lester & Debbie Cook

For Lester Cook, the worst was finally over.

Or so he thought.

This sounds bad but after years of hating herself, Lester decided to take her life in her hands and transition. Knowing the cost — financially, emotionally, and physically — the agony of the transition seemed less painful than the decision to commit suicide. That maybe, to finally be called HE, would be emancipation.

He and his wife, Debbie, were homeless. Les’ medications were tag-teaming him into illness more than good health. Singulair for his lungs was not working well with a type of testosterone that he was unable to fully metabolize correctly. This put his testosterone/estrogen numbers so out of whack that it looked like he was a teenage male in puberty — stereotypical puberty — TV sitcom puberty — even uncomfortable dangerous puberty.

Ironically, it would then take him from one stereotype to another.

Let’s get back to the homeless part. They were living in a shelter. These meds and procedures are not cheap, and lack of funds sent them into a shelter.

“I was fighting with the housing lottery system trying to get Debbie and I a better apartment because they all were refusing my voucher over willful misinterpretation of program guidelines. That policy fight would be one I would eventually win for other people, just not…