Tammy Powers chose to rebuild her life on two wheels, with a bicycle shop, a sharp sense of humor, and an unwavering determination to help others. A businesswoman, part-time stand-up comedian, dog lover, vegetarian lasagna enthusiast, and transgender activist, Tammy created A Tran’s Bay Bike Shop on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. Her journey to becoming a business owner was far from easy. Her transition cost her both her job and her home, and there was a time when she was homeless. Yet when asked whether she ever regretted transitioning, her answer was immediate: “Not for a second. Ever.”
For Tammy, the bike shop is about much more than bicycles. She dreams of making it a place where other transgender people can find employment and opportunity, believing that sometimes the best way to make sure there is a job for you is to build the job yourself. Her TRANART crowdfunding project reflected that same spirit, turning the dull walls of her shop into an opportunity for professional mural artists to share their work. Then there is comedy. Tammy discovered stand-up while homeless, using laughter as a kind of therapy and a way to momentarily escape her troubles. Her humor sits alongside a fierce belief in community, mutual support, and the importance of standing together when society does not always stand with you. Her story is ultimately one of courage, resilience, entrepreneurship, laughter, and hope. And as Tammy herself puts it, no matter how difficult things become, “the sun is gonna rise tomorrow.”
