Shandi Strong, is a Canadian transgender rights advocate, author, public speaker, and politician from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first Trans Grand Marshall for the 2015 Winnipeg Pride Parade, recipient of the Winnipeg LGBT* Chamber of Commerce Trail Blazer Award.
She serves as Advocacy Coordinator for Pride Winnipeg, and Executive Secretary for Manitobans For Human Rights Inc., as well as working as a constituency assistant for the Liberal Caucus in the Manitoba Legislature.
In 2017, I talked to Shandi and asked her about the price of the transition, and this is how she responded: "My story, in a nutshell, was that I lost my 15-year career when I came out, then three weeks later my supportive spouse of nearly 20 years betrayed me and left, and my daughters basically followed her. I was distraught and so messed up that I nearly ended myself.
After my surgery, I found redemption in the job I mentioned before, made more money than I had before, and was on a high until the company closed my store. I spiraled again, ending up on welfare for a time, at times working three part-time jobs, just to keep the collection agents at bay. I am grateful to so many friends and my current partner Kate, for helping me out, and not letting me lose faith in myself.
The hardest thing was the loss of my spouse and daughters, who had all known about my pending transition for many years. My ex was my rock for nearly 20 years, and throughout most of that knew about and supported my dream. Her betrayal affects me even to this day. But I have been very fortunate to maintain so many of my friendships, some that I have had for over 30 years, and to find love again.
The best has been the recent reconnection with my daughters after 7 years apart. I am so glad to have us in each other's lives again. I truly feel alive!"
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