Two Spirits, One Heart: A Mother’s Journey into LGBTQ+ Activism with Marsha Aizumi

It's Why We're Here: Finding the Path to Purpose

There is nothing quite like a Mother’s love. In this episode, we are honored to get to hear from Marsha Aizumi. Marsha is an educator, author, activist, and mom of two sons. After years of infertility, Marsha shares what it felt like becoming a mother through adoption and holding her first son Aiden, for the first time. At birth, Aiden had been assigned female and at the age of 20, after a journey of self-discovery, Aiden transitioned from female to male. Marsha shares what that experience was like witnessing and supporting Aiden on his journey, as well as sharing what the experience has been like having her own kind of transition as the mother of a transgender son.

03:00 Being a 3rd generation Japanese-American, moving to California, and taking over the family insurance business.

04:40 What is the secret to being married 49 years and counting?

07:00 What was the moment like holding your first child through adoption?

10:00 When did you start to notice that Aiden felt different?

13:00 What was it like hearing Aiden say he felt like he was born in the wrong body?

15:30 How did you find harmony in honoring your culture and your son through the transition?

18:15 What did you know about the trans community or transitioning before Aiden came out?

20:30 The whole family goes through their own transition alongside their trans loved one.

23:40 What were the first few years like after Aiden’s transition?

25:30 What was it like embracing your role as an activist?

27:50 The power of hearing the President specifically addressing Transgender Americans!

30:30 Ways Aiden experienced changes in privilege transitioning from female to male.

32:00 Why did you and Aiden decide to write this book?

35:40 Marsha’s Pathfinder: a quote that has guided her along her journey.

Check out Marsha and Aiden’s book:

Two Spirits, One Heart

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