Intimate Conversations with Ms Ally and Ms Angel Castillo, transgender sisters.

Ms. Ally and Ms. Angel Castillo are Filipina-American Transgender sisters who have made their mark as immigrants here in the United States. The word “transgender” or “trans” is a term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned at birth. Ally Castillo’s screen name is Ally Cat Castle. She is a TV news make-up artist in Washington DC. She is also a co-founder and co-host on their virtual podcast every Sunday advocating for the Transgender Community. Angel Castillo is a Registered Nurse/Case Manager in Los Angeles, CA. She finds time pursuing her modeling and acting career. Their pronouns are she/her/hers. In this episode, Ally and Angel share their journey and their lived experiences in their transition. Both knew at a very young age that they were special. They both talk about their challenges due to cultural, religious, and familial reasons. Ally and Angel sacrificed their happiness to be obedient in their family. When they migrated to the United States, they slowly found their true authentic self. They both transitioned to becoming a female. Angel is Ally’s “trans mother” who provided guidance to her sister’s transition. For those who are ready to transition, Ally and Angel reinforce the importance of seeking a Transgender Health Care Provider. According to Human Rights Campaign, the transgender community are very diverse but lacks legal protection due to the legislation that prohibits trans people from access to resources, voting rights and basic healthcare coverage. Around 29% of trans adults live in poverty. Trans people face stigma, harassment, violence and discrimination and is thought of as having mental illness or sexuallt deviant. This stigma is perpetuated in our culture, social media and Hollywood. Many trans people have been denied promotion, due to their identity. Often harassment, violence, are not reported. Many trans people lack health care coverage. Many have difficulty with their documentations of who they truly are. We in the healthcare community need to support the trans community. We need to have more compassion, understanding and empathy and be allies to the LGBTQ community. Ms Ally and Ms Angel both find their passions in life as they use their strengths, talents education, and skills to teach us about being transgender here in America. Ms. Ally points out to “never ask permission from anyone to be who you are, just let them know. You have the power to choose you!” “They recently graced the cover of the “On Christopher Street: Transgender Portraits by Mark Seliger.” (link below) https://www.memphisflyer.com/on-christopher-street?fbclid=IwAR0VpeDoOhrI0ThocCOWn7zbYIE1ycl43plFn-pT16lPSYWAgO4QNj3RK8o Disclaimer: “Guys” as a word is used to refer to Ally and Angel as “you all”, their pronouns are “she/her/hers.”