Jake (Deb) grew up in southern Indiana and from an early age he always felt that something not quite right. “I just felt my body didn't fit with who I was,” he said. “My parents were very understanding and instead of a doll, I had a G.I. Joe action figure. I preferred male oriented activities and played a lot of sports," he said, "I was what they called a "Tom Boy." Jakes dad taught him to play baseball and golf, and he recalls enjoying his collection of Matchbox race cars. In elementary school Jake (Deb) had lots of friends and was a happy child. "I dressed like all the girls and did what they did," he recalls, "but by 8th grade we were able to wear jeans to school and I never wore another dress." Jake remembers being very socially active in high school, a regular "Party Animal." "I smoked, and began drinking, but my folks said no when I wanted to buy a motorcycle." Jake remembers feeling like an outsider when the girls began talking about boys. "Boys just didn't have
any appeal for me, he said. My Mom was real supportive and helped me to sort things out. Some people mature at different ages and in different ways, she said."

When it was time for college, Jake enrolled at Indiana State at Evansville and lived at home during his freshman year. "Gays were outcasts at my high school, but when I got to college I told my Mom that I thought I was a lesbian," Jake recalls. He (she) was interested in the military and joined the Army Reserves. He was called up for Desert Storm and served for 2 years attaining the rank of Captain. "When I returned home, I had grown up and was more interested in getting a good education and a start on a career," he said. Jake visited the University of Texas thinking he might enroll there, but found it much too big." A friend recommended Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas. "They had a military program and they were glad to see someone who had had some active duty," Jake said. He enrolled in art student majoring in photography. Jake became involved with the lesbian bar scene at college, but remembers being unhappy with the anti-male rhetoric of some of his friends.
"Interestingly, he remarked, "my lesbian friends were some of the most critical when I had my sex change. I had a girl friend named Alice, with whom I thought I had a solid relationship. She was an older art student who had been married and had a 12 year old son. However, after my mastectomy she became very upset and we broke up."

Jake had been receiving professional counseling for his drinking problem and why "I hated my body."
"My counselor gave me a copy of the autobiography of Christine Jorgensen (who had a sex change in the 1950s), he said. "It convinced me this was what I needed to do." Jake said. Fortunately, I had been working a lot and putting away some money. My counselor put me in touch with a gynecologist who was very kind and supportive. The local hospital told me a hysterectomy would cost $6,000, but my doctor called and explained my situation and that I would be paying cash. They cut the price to $3,000.” In all, the gender reorientation cost over $30,000.

In 1998, Jake was working in the library on Texas Women's University. A graduate student named Malinda was also working there preparing a history of the university. "I asked her out to dinner," Jake recalls, "and on the first date I told her of my sex change. She was fine with it and two years later, we were married." My transition to a male body was relatively easy in retrospect, except for the multiple surgeries. Things don't heal as quickly down there." Jake's parents and sister Ginger were supportive throughout the two year sex change, as were his friends and co-workers at the university. "I remember the first time I used the men's rest room at the University," he said. "My boss happened to be there at the same time and welcomed me "to a man's world." Jake is perhaps the only person to serve in the U.S. Army as both a woman and a man. "When I had a chance to return to the active duty as a man, I was thrilled," he said. "It was one of my best years of my life."

When his wife was offered a teaching position at Prairie University (a historically Black school now part of Texas A&M) Jake left his job with the Texas Women's University and moved with Malinda to Brenham, Texas. Today, he operates a ceramic arts studio in Brenham and is also employed at nearby Texas A&M University as a software trainer.

Ten years after his decision to undergo a sex change Jake has become involved with other transsexuals who are considering gender reorientation or are currently in the process. "I know how it changed my life for the better, and how very thankful I am that I did it. I'm anxious to share my information and provide encouragement whenever I can," he said.

Note: Jim weaver is a freelance writer from suburban Philadelphia.

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