StoryCorps: “We’re just people too.”
Jennifer: I don’t think you realize, Rae, what a leader you are to the other kids. Because even the times when you felt you didn’t have friends, I would go to the school, and walk through the hallway with you, and all I heard the entire time was people saying hello to you. So I think people look up to you, because you are not afraid to take a different path. And that’s a true hero: someone who can be true to themselves and kind to others, and live an intentional life that is different.
What do you hope the future holds for transgender or any LGBTQ people?
Rae: Well, as I once heard, humans are afraid of the unknown, so they don’t want transgender people in the bathroom, because they are afraid of the unknown. They don’t want gay or lesbian marriage, because they are afraid of the unknown. So, I think that they should just give us a chance, ‘cause we’re are not going to be evil. We’re just people too.
Jennifer: You’re being true to yourself, aren’t you, by being who you are?
Rae: Yes. Yes I am. In ten years, you may not know this, but I want to be in a giant martial arts academy. I want to own it. I want to be the head instructor. I want to teach my own classes. I want everybody to be accepted, and I want to be able to compete in tournaments as a male, because that’s been a challenge for me lately. I wanted to go to a tournament as a male in Tuscaloosa, and most of my instructors supported me. But a few at the head said no, but I came to Birmingham, and the martial arts there lets me compete as a male. I’m really happy about that.
Jennifer: Yeah, that was a situation where we actually faced some discrimination, a little bit of discrimination, for the first time, didn’t we?
Rae: Yes. It made me feel kind of upset, because martial arts is what I love. The whole world … all those evil people … they just fade away. I can’t think about anything but martial arts when I’m on the mat.
Jennifer: I’m just so proud. Happy tears.
Rae: OK.
Jennifer: I’m very proud to be your mom.
Rae: I’m proud to be your son.
Jennifer: I think you’re super-cool, and you’re one of my heroes.
Rae: You’re cool, I just live with you.
More than 100,000 pounds of ground beef are recalled for possibly having E. coli
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture alerted federal authorities about several illnesses in the past week.
President-elect set to shape ‘Trump judiciary’ for next generation
Legal experts predict President-elect Donald Trump will move quickly next year to cement and extend his legacy in appointing federal judges.
Mama Stamberg’s relish faces its toughest critics: NPR staffers
Susan Stamberg returns with her annual love letter to the pink pile of Thanksgiving mush known as Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish.
In this election, demographics did not determine how people voted
Groups that Democrats believed would always turn out in their favor did not do so this year. Here's how the vote shook out in the seven swing states.
In ‘Wicked: Part I’, Cynthia Erivo defies gravity — and convention — as Elphaba
Cynthia Erivo says being different had "something to do with" her role as Elphaba in 'Wicked: Part 1.'
Tesla won the plug war. Enter the age of the EV charging adapter
The auto industry is embracing Tesla's charging technology in order to share its vast Supercharger network. This is going to be a slow transition — expect to see a lot of adapters.
