The Advocate

She Was Only 17

Nikki Kuhnhausen was like a lot of teenage girls. She loved makeup, spent hours perusing videos on TikTok, and had dreams of one day becoming a makeup artist.

Kuhnhausen owned her trans identity since she was a child. She summoned the strength her mother, Lisa Woods, (pictured) helped instill in her to empower other young people to find their own voices—specifically trans youth. Woods explains that Kuhnhausen’s pride in her identity inspired trans students at her high school in Vancouver, Wash.

“I knew she

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Advocate

The Advocate3 min readAmerican Government
Husband, Father…and Governor
FOR COLORADO GOVERNOR Jared Polis and his husband Marlon Reis, family time takes precedence in their lives — and when he can, Polis is happy to include his family in some of his responsibilities. “One of the great things about being governor is that
The Advocate4 min read
Female Trouble
A SCENE IN Todd Haynes’s May December unfolds in a dressing room where the character Gracie, a tabloid media subject, is reflected in a mirror. Between Gracie and her reflection is Elizabeth, the actress who will play her in a film about the scandal
The Advocate4 min read
In The Presence Of Greatness
Walking into a room with Jodie Foster and Annette Bening is intimidating to say the least, especially when you have to awkwardly climb onto an extra tall and delicate folding chair in front of them. But both acting icons wore warm smiles during their

Related Books & Audiobooks