Trans-Angels is the heart and soul work of a very dedicated group of women, strong, capable and

determined. But, it is much more than a project, or program. I can only speak for me of course, but this is

my vision, my passion, and the culmination of all that has come previous in my life. It is an idea that

started as a vague notion, and through many hours of friendly ad hoc conversations and more than a few

bottles of wine it has grown and become more defined.  It is born of a clear desire to fill a void in our

So what is in a name? It is a concept that is at once divinely simple, yet somehow hard to explain.  For

me, the name came from an assessment of my own life.  I shall be perfectly honest, and admit that I am

working here to provide a crucial outreach that I never actually needed myself.  As epic, life altering

events go, my coming out and transition have been very smooth and very positive.  Certainly I lost some

friends along the way, a spouse, and an already estranged biological family.  I guess that comes with the

territory.  But, despite such things, I have been blessed with a wonderful journey.  That has been true

because I have been fortunate to have many good people in my life.  Friends both new and old, who have

supported, guided and helped me on my way.  The amazing thing to me is how there always seemed to

be the right person there, right when I needed them.  The comforting hand of an old friend when I feared

I would lose all, the knowledge of a new friend when it was resources that I needed.  That uncanny

That was the inception of the name.  The core ideals of the organization are an offshoot of that.  In my

transition I have come to meet some truly strong women.  What I have learned is that so many of them

have walked a hellish path of transition.  Stories of violence, sexual assault, poverty, homelessness,

prostitution and countless other evils abound, sadly all of them true.  These are the girls who made it

through their own strength and sheer will to survive.  They are also the girls who could have used an

angel along the way.  I deeply admire them all, but I am also moved by the notion that no woman, no

And so we endeavor to be those angels, so to speak.  Mind you, I have never considered myself

It seems I've also never been the woman who says “somebody should do something about that.” If I

Perhaps the most amazing thing to me is that I have women in my life who live by that same ethos. 

An idea of this magnitude cannot be tackled alone.  I am honored to say I will not have to, as I have been

blessed yet again with angels in my life.  To them I say thank you.  Ladies, you are my angels, my

confidants and my emotional cornerstones.  You are also the women with the drive, the skills and the

vested interest in making this vision real.  You keep to the good works; I'll continue to be the one with the

Claire Louise Swinford

 Trans-Angels.org