By Tim Collins
This is the story of a courageous man who has travelled a tough road to find himself.
His name is Eli Mitchell.
He lives in Sidney and two years ago, at 62 years old, he chose to transition from being a woman to a man. But before we talk about Eli, let香蕉视频直播檚 consider a little background.
The evolving nature of gender identity has galvanized opinions around the world and, some would say, created a disproportionate level of concern on the subject. Canadians have not been immune to this phenomenon.
A 2023 Angus Reid survey found more than half (56 per cent) of Canadians are entrenched in their view that individuals should be identified as male or female 香蕉视频直播� while 34 per cent said that is too limiting 香蕉视频直播� and hate crimes against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are on the rise, according to Canadians United Against Hate.
The 2021 census and information compiled by Statistics Canada found that one in 300 people in Canada aged 15 and older identified as transgender or non-binary.
Protests that mirror the transphobia, biphobia and homophobia wave that has engulfed parts of the United States have been on the rise in Canada. Books have been banned while protests and threats of violence have been on the rise.
Within that context, let香蕉视频直播檚 get back to Mitchell.
Elizabeth Mitchell moved to Sidney in January 2018 after retiring from a career as a radio operator for the Canadian Coast Guard.
She started attending St. Paul香蕉视频直播檚 United Church and became a valued volunteer, joining the property committee and then branching out to take on other volunteer jobs in the community such as driving seniors to their medical appointments.
Then life changed.
香蕉视频直播淚 was on a cruise in 2022 and something happened,香蕉视频直播� Mitchell said. 香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 explain it, but something happened. Eli woke up and I realized that what I was doing just wasn香蕉视频直播檛 working. That香蕉视频直播檚 when I came out to myself.香蕉视频直播�
It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 long after that, returning home, Mitchell announced his epiphany to the congregation of his church.
香蕉视频直播淚 stood up in church one day 香蕉视频直播� and I had no idea that this was coming 香蕉视频直播� and I went up to the mike and told them [that I wanted to transition]. It was something I just needed to do.香蕉视频直播�
According to Mitchell, this awakening took a long time coming.
香蕉视频直播淚 grew up as a girl but never felt like a girl or, later, a woman. I was definitely never a lady,香蕉视频直播� Mitchell said. 香蕉视频直播淚f someone had called me that, I would have slugged them.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲hen I was a little kid, I wanted my mother to put a fly in my pajamas. She wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 do it,香蕉视频直播� Mitchell added. 香蕉视频直播淚n grade four at school, I always wanted to line up with the boys. I liked going out when I was eight or nine wearing shorts and no top, just like the other boys. In high school, I wanted to take shop instead of home economics. The list goes on, but all the markers were always there.香蕉视频直播�
And in terms of sexual attraction, things were equally confusing.
香蕉视频直播淚 was never a lesbian. I香蕉视频直播檓 not attracted to women; I香蕉视频直播檓 attracted to men. But all the boyfriends I香蕉视频直播檇 had had not been right because they were straight. I was attracted to gay guys, but they were not accessible to me.香蕉视频直播�
Mitchell also relayed how he香蕉视频直播檇 always wanted a beard (he has one now) and how he finally has been able to join a men香蕉视频直播檚 choir, something he香蕉视频直播檇 wanted to do for 30 years.
But beyond the numerous 香蕉视频直播榤arkers香蕉视频直播�, Mitchell said he香蕉视频直播檇 always known he was not in the right body.
After coming out to the community, Mitchell started his hormone therapy and began his surgical transition. He also changed his name to Eli and was re-baptized under that name.
And while Mitchell reports that he is now happy with himself, perhaps for the first time in his life, he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see himself as an advocate for the trans-community or for 2SLGBTQIA+ issues.
香蕉视频直播淚 won香蕉视频直播檛 stand on a soapbox and try to change people香蕉视频直播檚 minds about things; all I know is what was right for me,香蕉视频直播� Mitchell said.
Asked about his feelings on the anti-trans sentiment that seems to be on the rise, he香蕉视频直播檚 philosophic.
香蕉视频直播淚t saddens me,香蕉视频直播� Mitchell said. 香蕉视频直播淯nderstand that I didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a choice. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 me making a choice. It would have been a choice not to do it once I had woken up. If I can just talk to people openly as I meet them and maybe change a few minds or educate some people, then I香蕉视频直播檝e done my job.香蕉视频直播�
And while Mitchell is now at peace with his transition, he wondered how the community had reacted.
香蕉视频直播淲hen I made my announcement in church, all I felt was the love and acceptance all around me,香蕉视频直播� Mitchell said.
Reverend Cheryl Black confirmed Mitchell香蕉视频直播檚 perception.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think there was a single person (in the congregation) that was negative about it,香蕉视频直播� Black said. 香蕉视频直播淓lizabeth was well known by the congregation and people didn香蕉视频直播檛 know exactly what it meant香蕉视频直播� nor, I suppose, did Eli. We just said, 香蕉视频直播榃hatever this transition is, we love you; whatever happens香蕉视频直播�.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淧eople can now see the difference in his zest for life. Becoming himself has released energy and his enthusiasm for life. He now has an anticipation of what the days are going to bring and is comfortable in how he thinks and presents himself. It香蕉视频直播檚 in congruence with who he香蕉视频直播檚 always been.香蕉视频直播�
Mitchell香蕉视频直播檚 neighbour (who asked to go unnamed) agrees.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e known Eli since 2015 and I香蕉视频直播檓 very happy for him. He seems so much happier,香蕉视频直播� said the neighbour. 香蕉视频直播淚t takes some courage. Even if he isn香蕉视频直播檛 facing people who openly take him on right now, you know that he香蕉视频直播檚 going to encounter some at some point香蕉视频直播ven if it香蕉视频直播檚 just microaggressions.香蕉视频直播�
The neighbour is particularly relevant to the situation since, more than two years ago, one of his two sons began the transition process and is now identified as a girl.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been apparent for years that she is trapped in the wrong body. She香蕉视频直播檚 on hormone blockers now and we are working with her to allow her the time to develop the maturity she needs to make her final decisions,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭his fall, she香蕉视频直播檒l be attending a new school where some of the kids know her, but for the most part everyone has been very supportive.香蕉视频直播�
Mitchell spoke about witnessing this transition as an important, perhaps critical factor in his own awakening.
香蕉视频直播淚 saw this little girl doing this very hard thing and I saw that she had the courage to do what I wished I香蕉视频直播檇 done when I was young,香蕉视频直播� said Mitchell. 香蕉视频直播淭here are people who oppose transitioning and come up with excuses like the (monetary) cost to society. My response is that you can pay those costs, or you can deal with the costs of cleaning up after people who turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with a broken life. Even worse, you can deal with suicides.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淎ll I know is that I香蕉视频直播檓 happy now,香蕉视频直播� said Mitchell. 香蕉视频直播淚 know that I won香蕉视频直播檛 be dying in the wrong body.香蕉视频直播�
