Aug. 3, 2021
Odele Pax, 35, originally from New York, lives in Phoenix with her family. Pax uses the term trans femme as part of a group of labels that make up her complex gender and sexual identities. Labels can be a controversial identifier for folks in the LGBTQ+ community, Pax says, but they help her identify people with experiences she can relate to. (Photo by Rae Johnson/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – In the Zoom window, Odele Pax looks small, contained. Her boisterous laugh and candor belie her many mentions of how nervous she is. Pax holds back tears as she talks about her journey toward gender affirmation.