Meet Tristan
April 7, 2025
For Tristan, life has been defined by two profound journeys: coming to terms with his gender identity and adapting to life with quadriplegia. His story of resilience and self-discovery offers powerful insights for those navigating similar paths.
“As a kid, I always knew I was a little bit different, but I didn’t really have the words to describe what that was,” he says.
By the age of 10, Tristan had developed an understanding that would later crystalise into the recognition that he was transgender. “I had these thoughts up until I was 11, 12 years old,” he explains, “and then I had an accident, which left me a quadriplegic.”
The accident dramatically altered Tristan’s life trajectory. His exploration of gender identity temporarily took a backseat as he adjusted to his new reality as a person with quadriplegia.
However, as he’s grown and adapted, Tristan has found unexpected benefits in this intersection of identities.
“As I’ve grown, I’ve realised that having a disability has actually helped me understand my gender identity better,” he says. “I have a lot of people around me who support me, who I am able to relate with a lot more and greatly encourage me with my identity.”
