Interview with Teegan Toftely

Monika: Today I am chatting with Teegan Toftely, an American woman who chronicles her transition on social media. Hello Teegan! Thank you for accepting my invitation.

Teegan: It’s my pleasure!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Teegan: Of course, Monika! My name is Teegan Toftely. I’m a 54-year-old trans woman living in the United States in the Midwest State of Minnesota. I live in the Twin Cities area. It's been my home for a very long time.

I work in the tech industry and have done so for over 20 years. Before that, I was an attorney. After working in a law firm for a few years, I came to find that I just didn't have the passion or the temperament for the work. After quitting the firm, I sent myself adrift for a while. During that time, I discovered that I had a knack for tech, so I took it upon myself to get the skills I needed. In a fairly short amount of time, I was able to earn about the same amount as I was in the law, but I was no longer conflicted.

Interview with Diane Keinanen

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Diane Keinanen, a Minnesota lady of many talents, RN Vascular Access Specialist. Hello Diane!

Diane: Hello Monika! Thanks for having me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Diane: Old life dissolved, been left to the past. Now Diane has evolved, loving life at long last!

Monika: You are a nurse but you have an artistic hobby ...

Diane: Creation is my serenity. I love to create in stained glass. I also enjoy woodworking as well. I find great fulfillment in crafting things that will bring happiness to another.

Interview with Riah Roe

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Riah Roe, an inspirational American girl, transgender activist, and advocate, known for her transgender activism at Concordia College, a private college in Moorhead, Minnesota. Hello Riah!

Riah: Hi Monika, thank you so much for that kind introduction.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Riah: Well, as you mentioned, my name is Riah (Rye-uh) Roe. I currently call Minneapolis Minnesota my home. I moved here during the summer of 2013 shortly after I graduated from Concordia College in western Minnesota.

Throughout my studies there I focused primarily on critical issues within the field of gender and sexuality. Now, being a more conservative private college there really was not a program for that so I ended up with a double major in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Women's Studies.

As for recreationally, I absolutely love spending time with my dear friends. I went to roughly twenty-three schools as a child and so I never really felt very connected to say a town or family members outside of my single-parent family.

However, a consistent theme throughout my life has been befriending like-minded individuals (usually outcasts) and sharing experiences together. It was inevitable that one day that experience sharing would eventually develop into social justice advocacy.