guide or menu that parents have."

When she began showing up at work dressed as a woman, she lost her job. She's sure it was related, "But no one would say that - not at the court, hello."

She sunk into a deep depression which she used illegal drugs to try to combat. She scored hormones on the black market in the Tenderloin and was homeless for three years. She said she was a victim of sexual and physical violence and struggled to get any kind of health care with no job and no insurance. It was also during this time that she contracted HIV.

She once went to an emergency room with severe stomach pain, but was discharged because doctors were convinced she was just trying to get free drugs.After two weeks of intense pain and vomiting, she went back and was diagnosed with severe bowel obstruction and gangrene in her gastrointestinal tract. She had emergency surgery which she said could have been avoided.

"You want to see the scar?" she asked, lifting up her shirt to show a massive scar up her abdomen.

Strong friendships

Chung was gradually able to reconcile with her mother, who realized her daughter's decision was not a personal attack on the family. Chung also formed strong friendships and found employment as an advocate for transgender people. In 1998, she had full gender reassignment surgery in Bangkok and was finally able to put her darkest period behind her.

"I was a much better person with my family behind me again," she said.

She worked as deputy director