2012 Power List: Locals who made a difference this year

Jace Woodrum

Statewide LGBT advocacy organization One Colorado’s deputy director Jace Woodrum is honored for coming out publicly as a trans man this year and sharing the story of his transition to raise awareness of transgender issues.

“I’ve always believed in the power of stories,” said Jace Woodrum, deputy director for statewide LGBT advocacy organization One Colorado. “When we get to know someone and their stories, it creates a connection.”

Woodrum had already been helping LGBT Coloradans and their families share stories with voters and state legislators in the battle for civil unions when he realized that he, too, had a special one to tell.

“When I realized I was trans, I had a choice to make in how I wanted that to be. My job has a public nature and I decided not to hide or run from that,” Woodrum said.

So in April this year, Woodrum announced publicly that he is trans, detailing the transition process for all to see.

“Many people in the LGB community didn’t understand what it means to be trans,” Woodrum said. “I’ve been kind of exploring my gender for a decade. I’ve always considered myself a little bit a part of the trans community; I always felt I was gender-queer. But I didn’t embrace the label as trans until after I was in a public role. I knew people as Jess, and wanted them to meet me as Jace.”

Since he began his transition, Woodrum said, “it’s been an incredible look at the difficulties trans people experience – accessing health care, changing a name. Going through this experience made me realize how important it is that issues important to trans people are elevated within the LGBT movement.”

That’s especially true when it comes to the health care system, Woodrum said – something One Colorado has worked on and found to be especially troublesome for transgender Coloradans. A 2011 Healthcare Survey by One Colorado found that transgender respondents have not only some of the lowest rates of insurance coverage but difficulty finding unprejudiced physicians who understand trans health care needs – something Woodrum is seeing firsthand, be it hormones or surgery.

Health care is “something that touches trans people every day,” Woodrum said.

To the community response to Woodrum’s transition – honoring Woodrum as one of those who took a risk, and made a difference this year – “it means a lot,” Woodrum said. “It’s the first recognition I’ve received as a trans person; the first recognition I’ve received as who I am, after discovering who I am. It’s humbling because so many others in the LGBT community are giving so much. It’s humbling to be recognized above so many others I know are giving back.”

“We are very slowly making progress” on trans issues, Woodrum said, but there’s still a ways to go. “I hope this encourages other members of the trans community to reach out to me, to One Colorado, to share their stories and get involved in the work that’s being done for trans equality in Colorado,” Woodrum said.