Karen Yvonne

I met Karen back in the 1980’s. I was working in a big gay night club and Karen was hired by my boss to replace the carpet in the lounge. Karen had been a lifetime union flooring installer. My boss had me be her helper for that carpet install job.

Karen was the first openly trans woman I had ever met. After helping her do that job she had contacted me to see if I would help her do a large ceramic tile job at a tire shop at the end of the big box store Venture. I said yes.

We had to tile the showroom, hallways, two restrooms and the customer waiting area while they stayed open.

Even though she was a flooring installer her passion was nails. She had her own nail salon and did that for a very long time.

Today she is 86 and lives about 2 blocks from me. She hadn’t been a part of the club scene in the 80’s & 90’s but she has always been someone that I have never forgotten.

I am glad that I got the chance to work with her.

What is happening now against my trans family is abhorrent. I know what they are going through because I went through it in the 1970’s as a 12 year old boy that had been outted as gay by the adults. I know the fear.

No one should have to live in fear. I for one will not put up with trans hate. Anyone that goes after people for being trans is coming after me because I most definitely will always stand between trans and the hate being directed towards them.