A western North Dakota mother is taking letters to Washington to honor trans daughter

BEACH, N.D. — For a lot of LGBTQ+ individuals, June is a time of celebration, with satisfaction festivities being held throughout the nation.

For one mom residing in Seaside, North Dakota, it marks a extra solemn event. It was simply final 12 months when Christina Feldmann’s life modified endlessly.

Her daughter, Haley Feldmann, took her personal life in November. She says Haley was very clever, and principally carefree. However issues modified when she received older.

“When she began to grasp the world round her, and what was occurring in it, that she began to not be so outgoing and so laid again. She sort of retreated into herself,” mentioned Feldmann.

Christina’s daughter was a transgender girl. Christina mentioned Haley’s years of struggling to stay as who she actually was took a toll, and the hostility she would typically encounter made life difficult for Haley.

“A number of the distrust and misunderstanding comes from a ignorance,” mentioned Christina.

Christina has since tried to her finest to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ group to honor her daughter.

She’s presently accumulating letters from LGBTQ+ North Dakotans about their experiences and points. She’s taking them to Washington, D.C., later this month, the place she hopes handy ship them to North Dakota’s representatives.

She says she needs them to know that her story is only one of many.

“It’s a massive group in North Dakota that to this point has gone unseen and unheard and is definitely dismissed by our legislators,” Christina mentioned.

To her, that is about making one thing constructive out of a tragedy and celebrating Haley’s life. She hopes it helps fulfill the request made within the ultimate traces of Haley’s obituary. “Do higher unto others as you’d have performed to you, and attain again to these in want, carry them up, increase them increased, and love love love thy neighbor.”

When you or a member of the family want to submit a letter for Christina Feldmann’s journey, you possibly can e-mail them to ndqueerequality@gmail.com.