Interview with Gina Leigh Duncan

Gina Duncan was born Greg Pingston and lived as a man for 50 years. “Greg” transitioned to Gina in 2006. Greg was a standout football player in high school and earned a football scholarship to attend East Carolina University (ECU). Greg was the captain of an undefeated state championship football team, an all-state middle linebacker, and was class president and homecoming king in high school. Greg was also Vice President of the Student Government Association at ECU. Greg, now Gina, was a father of two, a husband, a brother, and a son. Gina Duncan has been in the mortgage banking business in Orlando since 1980. She has served on the Home Builders Association of Mid-Florida and Mortgage Bankers Association Boards of Directors. Gina was President of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Central Florida in 2005. She was with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage from 1997 to 2011, and served as the Area Manager of Central Florida, and Regional Manager for East Florida, overseeing 26 branches, over 250 employees, and a multi-million dollar budget. While at Wells Fargo, Gina was Chair of the East Region of Wells Fargo’s employee resource group, PRIDE, for LGBT employees, overseeing 46 PRIDE chapters from Maine to Texas.

 

Gina served on the Human Rights Campaign Steering Committee as Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee. She chaired the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Career and Wellness Fair events. Gina also served as President of the Metropolitan Business Association (MBA), the LGBT Chamber of Commerce in Orlando. She was the President of MBA’s Come Out With Pride event, which annually draws over 100,000 people to the Orlando area. Gina was invited to attend the first-ever Human Rights Campaign’s National Women’s Diversity Leadership Conference, and also served on the HRC National Business Council. Gina serves on the Board of Directors and Steering Committee of Equality Florida and on the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Alliance, which has been instrumental in passing the Orange County Human Rights Ordinance as well as a Domestic Partnership Registry in both the City of Orlando and Orange County. Gina recently ran for County Commissioner, garnering 40% of the vote in an unsuccessful bid for county office.

Interview with Jennifer Leitham

Jennifer Leitham is an American jazz musician, double bassist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and bandleader whose career has spanned more than four decades. A left-handed bassist sometimes known by the nicknames “Lefty” and “The Southpaw,” she has performed and recorded with some of the most respected names in jazz, including Woody Herman, Mel Tormé, George Shearing, Peggy Lee, and Doc Severinsen. Her distinctive playing has appeared on more than 100 recordings, and her career has taken her to some of the world's most prestigious stages and jazz festivals. Music became Jennifer's refuge from an early age. Inspired by The Beatles and Vince Guaraldi's music for the Peanuts television specials, she began performing in high school and later worked her way from electric bass to the upright bass. She studied with Al Stauffer and subsequently received guidance from legendary bassists including Milt Hinton, George Duvivier, and Slam Stewart. Her professional career took a major step forward in 1981 when she joined the Woody Herman Orchestra, followed by her move to California in 1983. In 1987 she began working with Mel Tormé, becoming his regular bassist and performing and recording with him for many years. She also became associated with Doc Severinsen, eventually performing with his orchestra and small groups.

 

Jennifer's musical career and her personal journey became intertwined in a particularly profound way. After years of keeping her gender identity private, she transitioned in 2001 while touring with Doc Severinsen. The decision meant risking a successful career in a traditionally male-dominated musical world, and Jennifer has spoken openly about the professional ostracism she experienced afterward. Yet transition also allowed her to build a new chapter as a solo artist, leading her own trio and recording albums including “The Real Me,” which became the most popular recording of her career, as well as “Left Coast Story.” Her story became the subject of Andrea Meyerson's 2012 documentary “I Stand Corrected.” Rather than presenting Jennifer solely through the lens of transition, the film explored her life as a musician, her remarkable career, and the risks involved in finally living openly as the woman she had always known herself to be. The documentary received considerable attention on the LGBT film-festival circuit and won Best Documentary at the 2012 QFilms Festival. In our conversation, Jennifer talks about discovering music, the legendary musicians who helped shape her career, her transition and the losses that accompanied it, the importance of Angela Morley as a role model, the making of “I Stand Corrected,” her experiences as a performer, and her hopes for greater understanding of transgender people.

Interview with Janice Covington

Janice Covington Allison is a fearless and outspoken transgender rights activist from Charlotte, North Carolina. Janice’s advocacy dates back to the 1980s, making her one of the early and enduring voices for transgender equality in the United States. Over the years, she has helped shape the visibility of our community, most notably as the first openly transgender woman from North Carolina to serve as a delegate at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. As the founder of TransCarolina, Janice created a vital space that addressed workplace rights while also building community and solidarity among transgender individuals across the South.

 

Her work with Get-Equal, local demonstrations, and tireless push for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act are just a few examples of her lifelong commitment to justice and inclusion. But beyond the accolades and activism, Janice is also a contractor, a storyteller, and someone who knows that change often begins with a conversation, whether on the campaign trail, at a construction site, or in line at the local theater. Join me now as we explore her remarkable journey, her reflections on political change, and the deep humanity that fuels her fight for equality.

Interview with Rachel Pollack

Rachel Pollack, an acclaimed science fiction author, comic book writer, and Tarot grandmaster, has made a significant impact in literature and spirituality. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she graduated from New York University and Claremont Graduate University, building a legacy through her writing, which explores themes of identity, mythology, and the mystical arts. She is best known for her novels Unquenchable Fire (1989), Godmother Night (1997), and Temporary Agency (1995), as well as her groundbreaking work on Tarot. Her book 78 Degrees of Wisdom (1980) remains a cornerstone of modern Tarot interpretation, and she later designed her own deck, the Shining Woman Tarot, showcasing her deep understanding of symbols and mythology.

 

In the early ‘90s, Rachel brought her storytelling prowess to comics, taking over Doom Patrol for DC’s Vertigo imprint. Her run introduced bold, unconventional themes, including Coagula, one of the first transgender superheroes in mainstream comics. She is no stranger to breaking boundaries, her Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Unquenchable Fire blends magical realism with visionary storytelling. Beyond fiction, Rachel Pollack is an educator, teaching at Goddard College and leading Tarot seminars worldwide. As a trans woman, she infuses her work with themes of identity and transformation, always pushing the boundaries of genre and convention.

Interview with True Scarlet

True Scarlet is an American video blogger and transgender advocate based in Florida. Known for her thoughtful and heartfelt YouTube channel, she has been documenting her transition journey in the hope of offering guidance, encouragement, and a sense of solidarity to others exploring their gender identity. Born Arrietta, she works as a Facility Maintenance Supervisor at a drug and alcohol treatment center and brings the same dedication to her professional life as she does to her advocacy. Now in her early thirties, True began publicly transitioning after spending years researching the psychological and biological aspects of being transgender, initially in private. Inspired by the stories of others she found online, she decided to share her own experience to "give back" and support those just beginning their path. With over a year of counseling, more than fourteen months on hormones, and her legal name and gender marker already changed, she continues to hit meaningful milestones with strength and optimism. A passionate hiker and avid reader, True blends curiosity, introspection, and resilience in everything she does. Whether she’s speaking to students in a college Human Sexuality class, helping organize local Trans Pride events, or simply offering a vulnerable moment of reflection on camera, True Scarlet stands as a quiet but powerful voice for authenticity, visibility, and hope.

Interview with Meggan Sommerville

 

Meggan Sommerville is a passionate transgender advocate, writer, and blogger from Oswego, Illinois. Beyond her activism, Meggan has a diverse professional background, having worked as a veterinary technician, EMT/paramedic, EMS instructor, and a paid on-call firefighter. For the past 15 years, she has been a frame shop manager for a national craft retailer, where she helps customers preserve cherished memories through custom framing. However, Meggan is perhaps best known for her courage in standing up for transgender rights. In 2011, she made headlines when she filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) after being denied access to the women's restroom at her workplace. Her case became a pivotal moment in the fight for transgender equality in workplace policies. In addition to her professional and advocacy work, Meggan is the voice behind Trans Girl at the Cross, a blog featured on ChicagoNow.com, where she shares her life experiences, faith, and insights into the challenges faced by the transgender community. As the only transgender blogger among over 400 contributors to ChicagoNow, she uses her platform to shed light on the intersection of transgender identity and Christian faith.