From the vibrant soul of Louisville, Kentucky, to the dynamic heartbeat of the Greater New York area, Shemiyia O’Bannon-Sweeney has never stopped shining. A proud Southern belle with the heart of a trailblazer, Shemiyia embodies resilience, elegance, and a deep sense of purpose. For over a decade, she has served with compassion and excellence as a medical professional, currently working within a major New Jersey hospital system known for its commitment to LGBTQ advocacy. Yet her story stretches far beyond the hospital corridors. Known affectionately as “The Jacqueline of all trades,” Shemiyia balances many roles with grace, wife, daughter, actress-in-training, healthcare advocate, and U.S. surgical coordinator for the Mexico Transgender Center, where she helps others access life-changing gender-affirming care.
A cherished moment in her journey came in 2015 when she stood tall and radiant on Dr. Drew’s television show, offering visibility and hope to countless viewers. Shemiyia is also deeply rooted in her family legacy. Alongside her mother, Sheila O’Bannon, she continues to breathe life into The Prodigal, a moving stage play written by Sheila and now on its way to becoming a screenplay. Together, they are shaping stories that uplift, challenge, and heal. But beyond her professional endeavors, Shemiyia’s story is one of self-love, courage, and authenticity. Her marriage to the love of her life, Bobby, is a testament to the power of love that sees beyond labels and embraces the soul. Through years of inner struggle, faith, and determination, Shemiyia emerged as the woman she was always meant to be, not just beautiful on the outside, but powerful in her truth. It is an honor to sit down with this remarkable woman, who believes that every transgender person deserves to be seen, celebrated, and cherished. In Shemiyia’s words, “The best is yet to come.” And we believe her.
Monika: I'm thrilled to welcome Shemiyia O'Bannon-Sweeney today, an inspiring young woman who grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and now calls the Greater New York area home. Thank you for joining me, Shemiyia!
Shemiyia: Well, hello there! I'm so excited to be here and looking forward to our conversation.
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| Dr. Drew's show with Mom Sheila (Left). |
Monika: You strike me as someone with a lot of exciting projects on the go! How would you introduce yourself to someone meeting you for the first time?
Shemiyia: Wow. Well, I like to refer to myself as "The Jacqueline of all trades"! I am a very busy bee! First and foremost, I am the wife to my amazing husband of two years, Bobby. I have been a medical professional for the past 13 years, and I now work for a very big hospital organization here in New Jersey that prides itself on its advocacy with the LGBT community.
Monika: That already sounds like a full life! But I know you're also involved in creative projects. Can you tell me more about those?
Shemiyia: My mom, Sheila O'Bannon, and I are working on some projects together, one being the continuation of the theater portion of The Prodigal, the stage play written by her. We're also moving forward with some options for a screenplay version of it, which, over the past year or so, has prompted me to take acting classes to further pursue one of my passions. Among some other things I am working on, I would have to say the thing I am most inspired by and proud of right now is a joint venture I’ve pursued with a team of medical doctors in Mexico: The Mexico Transgender Center! It’s a deeply meaningful project, and I’m excited about the positive impact it will have.
Monika: In 2015, your experience as a transgender woman reached a national audience when you appeared on Dr. Drew’s show in the segment titled “Love Thy Neighbor: Transgender in the Church.” How did it feel to walk into that space, knowing the topic was so emotionally charged?
Shemiyia: Well, being in a room full of passionate transgender individuals, walking into it, I definitely expected a lot of strong opinions. But what I was overwhelmed by was the feeling of love! And I feel like there were a lot of people there who were not used to that feeling, and there was a full embrace and acceptance of each other, something all of us living in this sometimes complicated and not-so-understanding world needed to feel. And the embrace, treatment, and welcome we received from Dr. Drew and his staff were just beyond incredible!
Monika: Looking back now, what stands out to you the most about the impact that appearance had on your life?
Shemiyia: That day, we were given the chance to decrease the lack of knowledge for some, and for others, to tell our stories to someone at home watching us who desperately needed to see someone they could relate to. It was amazing and well put together. It actually brought my husband's family and me together. I came away from that experience with some great new friends. It reaffirmed my belief that visibility really can spark connection and change.
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| (L to R) Sheila (Mom), Shemiyia, Rodney (Brother). |
Monika: In your view, how has the media, whether film, news, or literature, portrayed transgender people in recent years? Do you feel those representations have done justice to the full diversity of the community?
Shemiyia: As a trans woman of color, I can say that although trans visibility is moving in a positive direction these days, it still feels very underwhelming to me. Of course, we have Laverne Cox, who is admirable, beautiful, driven, and oh so talented, and now we have the up-and-coming Amiyah Scott, who is part of the main cast on the Fox hit series Star, created by Empire's Lee Daniels. Yet despite this progress, we are still often viewed as lesser. The portrayals remain surface-level, and real depth and intersectionality are still lacking.
Monika: Why do you think so many trailblazing trans women, especially trans women of color, remain underrecognized despite their critical contributions?
Shemiyia: Caitlyn Jenner, whom I commend and embrace for finally taking the steps in her life to live with authenticity, was put on a pedestal and made out to be the transgender community's saving grace. Meanwhile, there were already countless transgender women, many of them women of color, like Monica Roberts, Janet Mock, Cherno Biko, Angelica Ross, and Madison Hinton, who had been on the front lines, clawing, fighting, and scratching for our rights and our visibility for years. And yet, they remain in the shadow of someone who only recently found the courage to live her truth. That’s a problem. We need a broader lens, one that uplifts all our stories, not just the most palatable or high-profile ones.
Monika: You got married in 2015, and I had the chance to look at your wedding photos, you looked absolutely radiant. What do you remember most vividly from that day?
Shemiyia: Thank you very much! I could not have asked for a better day, a better setting, better surroundings, or a better man to share that moment with!
Monika: How did it feel to stand there, dressed like a princess, marrying the man you love in front of everyone?
Shemiyia: I felt like, how did I even get here to this moment? You look at yourself in the mirror thinking, wow, I finally get to be the girl I’ve watched in so many movies! To marry a man with the confidence to stand beside me and with me for the rest of our lives, with no concern for anyone else’s thoughts or opinions, how many people end up that lucky? Oh, and how crazy could he be to want to marry me?!! Lol. It was a dream I never thought would come true, but there I was, living it, in real time.
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| Our Wedding in Cabo, MX with Husband Bobby in 2015. |
Monika: When did you first begin your gender transition, and what was that journey like for you emotionally and spiritually?
Shemiyia: I felt like a girl for as far back as I can remember, we’re talking 4 years old. I went through a lot of tough moments growing up, because the more I started to visibly and physically show signs of revealing my true self, there was an internal struggle due to the way I was raised at church and with deep-rooted Christian values. It took an attempt to take my own life at the age of 15 to wake up and realize: YOU HAVE TO BE YOU! So my transition began slowly from there and progressed to the point that, by the time I was out of my teen years and into adulthood, I was officially living authentically on a full-time basis.
Monika: During the early stages of your transition, were there any individuals or role models who helped guide you along the way?
Shemiyia: Well, I would say not at first, but luckily the right people were watching and waiting from the sidelines and swooped in at just the right time to guide me in the right directions! I’d say between them double-teaming me with my mom, I ended up pretty good!
Monika: Looking at where you are today, are there any transgender women you look up to or draw strength from?
Shemiyia: I have such admiration and respect for every transgender woman because I feel like we are the strongest and most amazing people this universe has to offer! We can overcome and become anything! The beauty of our existence is that we carry stories of resilience that the world is just beginning to truly hear.
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| "I have been a Medical Professional for the past 13 years." |
Monika: When you reflect on your coming out journey, what was the most challenging emotional barrier you had to overcome?
Shemiyia: Fear. Fear of God. Fear of disappointment. Fear of non-acceptance. Fear of judgment. Fear of violence and ridicule. Fear of loneliness. Fear for my future. It was like carrying a thousand invisible weights while trying to move forward with grace.
Monika: Many reports suggest that transgender individuals in the U.S. still face significant barriers to employment and acceptance, even within the broader LGBTQ+ community. Why do you think this struggle persists so deeply, especially in professional settings?
Shemiyia: Honestly, that sounds accurate. If you look even slightly outside of the norm, no one is jumping through hoops to give you a job. Maybe in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or NYC, but transgender people are people, and we come from everywhere. I was born in Waterloo, Iowa. I’ve been told that I fit the category of being "passable", whatever that means, so I’ve been fortunate that it’s been relatively easy for me to maintain my position in the healthcare industry.
Monika: Do you think that passing privilege or geographic location determines someone’s chances of surviving or thriving as a transgender person?
Shemiyia: Absolutely. It is not like that for everyone, and that’s why so many transgender people turn to illegal and illicit activities like drugs and prostitution. For some, it’s the only way to eat, survive, and even transition. It’s sad, but it’s true, because there is such a limited number of individuals willing to accept that transgender people deserve the opportunity to exist in the same world they do, work the same jobs they do, and receive the same benefits and opportunities they do. And until society stops judging worthiness by appearance or gender conformity, this cycle will sadly continue.
Monika: The transgender community is often grouped under the broader LGBTQ+ umbrella. Do you feel the trans cause receives enough recognition and support within this larger movement?
Shemiyia: Yes and no. I feel like we’re more like the neglected stepchild of the LGBTQ family, and that plays a big part in the recent increase in visibility for the transgender community, because we were tired of existing in the shadows. Tired of being the taboo. We’ve had to raise our voices louder just to be acknowledged, even among those we stand beside in the fight for equality.
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| Mardi Gras '17 in NOLA. |
Monika: Do you see yourself ever getting involved in political advocacy, or do you prefer supporting change in other ways? In your view, can transgender women have an impact in politics?
Shemiyia: I have always connected politicians with being bullies. That's what they do, they bully people into seeing things their way and getting things their way. And I believe trans individuals to be the opposite of that. So I try to avoid the political conversation, while still standing behind my community. Certain people are meant to fight certain battles, and vice versa, but know that I support my transgender sisters and brothers who are out there on the front lines fighting for the ability to be equal with the rest of the world 100%. I'm proud to cheer them on from behind the scenes, where I feel I can do the most good in my own way.
END OF PART 1
All photos: courtesy of Shemiyia O'Bannon-Sweeney.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
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