"For nearly 50 years, Aleshia Brevard hid the fact that she was one of America's first transsexuals from her friends, stepchildren, fellow actors and actresses, film producers, students, university administrators and even from her four husbands.
The Woman I Was Born To Be is a sequel to Ms. Brevard's earlier book, The Woman I Was NOT Born To Be. This book covers the second half of her exciting life, describing the many challenges she encountered and triumphs she achieved after having fulfilled her boyhood dream of becoming her authentic self and finding acceptance as the woman whom from boyhood she'd known herself to be."
I still cannot believe that Alessia is not around anymore. She was my best friend and my second mother. In 2013, we did a very long interview about how she coped with all challenges related to being transgender, and this is what she told me: "When I transitioned the term “transgender” had yet to be invented. At that time, in fact, “transsexuality” was generally thought of as a ‘condition’, an awkward period through which one must pass, like some bothersome adolescence.
Our goal was to move forward, as seamlessly as possible, easing into mainstream society to live as our authentic selves. We wished to live among, work alongside, and compete on an equal footing with other women, including those who had been born female.
