Interview with June M. Kearney

The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) has a notable history of female firefighters and has made strides in diversity and inclusion. The first female dispatcher was hired in 1962, and in 1985, Paulette Kennedy became the department’s first female firefighter. As of 2021, women comprised about 12% of the approximately 2,800 employees in the PFD. Among these trailblazers is June M. Kearney, a veteran firefighter with 30 years of service. A proud transgender woman, June publicly came out in 2023 after years of inner struggle, isolation, and depression fueled by past experiences with transphobia and homophobia. Her transition was deeply personal but also transformative, reshaping not only her identity but her relationships, with her wife of 33 years, with her coworkers, and most importantly, with herself.

 

Today, she describes herself as more empathetic, peaceful, and authentic than ever before. June credits much of her journey to a strong support system, including her wife, her friend and fellow firefighter Lana Moore, and a growing network of nearly 100 transgender firefighters and EMS personnel with whom she co-leads a private support group. A passionate advocate for visibility, she was recently honored to represent the PFD at Philadelphia’s Trans Day of Visibility ceremony. Deeply committed to her profession and community, June continues to break barriers and inspire others, especially those who may feel alone in male-dominated fields. Her resilience, courage, and compassion make her not just a role model within the fire department, but a beacon of hope for anyone on the path to self-discovery. In this interview, June shares her journey as a firefighter and the struggles she has faced as a transgender woman in a male-dominated field.

Interview with Cami Richardson

Monika: Today I am talking to Cami Richardson, an American businesswoman, former firefighter, Chief Financial Officer of American Skiing Company, and LGBTQ community advocate. She is the author of the autobiography "Do You Know Who I Once Was?" (2019). Hello Cami!

Cami: Hi Monika! I am thrilled to be able to talk with you today. I hope our conversation will be fruitful for those listening. I have some interesting stories to tell about my life that I think many people will find enjoyable.

Monika: You are a New York lady, right? Could you say a few words about yourself?

Cami: Growing up in New York was an interesting experience. At the young age of 8 years old, I started to wear my mother's underwear and stockings and loved the feeling of wearing women's clothes. I was a good Italian Irish Catholic boy and could not explain why I was interested in wearing my mother's clothes and obviously I could not tell anybody. I hid my secret for 55 years before I finally came out at the age of 63 years old. I think being in a New Yorker actually helped me in that it toughened me as an individual so that I could handle what was to come when I finally did transition.

Interview with Iden Crockett

Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Iden Crockett, an American trans female artist working in collage, pencil, and ink, and a former firefighter. Hello Iden!

Iden: Hello! I am so excited to do this. It is an absolute pleasure to speak with you.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Iden: Well, I am a forty-two-year-old bi-racial trans-female artist and writer. I work in pencil and ink but what I really do is make collages. Most of my drawing is in service of my collage work and I incorporate all of what do, the drawing, the poetry, into those pieces. I have three wonderful children and one amazing (A M A Z I N G!) wife, and we all live here in the U.S. in a small town called Yellow Springs.

Monika: How would you define your art?

Iden: Confessional. I was recently asked to write an artist's bio and I believe that I used the phrase "deeply personal." I came to art as a way of working through the difficulties I was experiencing with my mental health. I believe strongly that by being as open and candid as I can be about my own struggles, I can not only heal myself but also empower others to leave behind their secret shames as well.

Interview with Becca Benz

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Interview with Lana Moore

Lana Moore is a true testament to the power of self-realization and courage. She is a transgender woman and captain with the Columbus Division of Fire. Lana's journey from a life lived as Larry to becoming the woman she was always meant to be is one of profound transformation and resilience. Growing up in a Catholic home in East Columbus, Lana's struggles with gender identity began early. She felt like an outsider in her own body and often sought solace in secret dress-up sessions as a child. It wasn’t until her late 40s, after years of living in silence and battling gender dysphoria, that Lana found the strength to transition and embrace her true self.

 

Her decision to transition was not just personal but professional. As a respected firefighter and leader, Lana's courage to be open about her identity in a traditionally male-dominated field was met with an unexpected outpouring of support from her colleagues. Today, she continues to excel both on and off the job, advocating for transgender rights and serving as a role model for others. Lana’s story has become a beacon of hope, not only for transgender individuals but also for the many who struggle with their own identity. A fierce advocate for equality, she remains an inspiring figure, proving that one’s true self can emerge, no matter the obstacles.