Name Aiden Aizumi | ||
Pflag bakersfield welcomes marsha and aiden aizumi may 2 2013
Aiden Aizumi is a transgender activist and author of Two Spirits, One Heart.
Contents
Early Life & Education
Aiden Takeo Aizumi was born in Japan on May 24, 1988 and adopted by Tad and Marsha Aizumi. Aiden was assigned female at birth. He came out as a lesbian during his sophomore year of high school and experienced cruel treatment. He was diagnosed with agoraphobia with panic attacks. Later in 2008, Aiden came out as transgender and expressed his desire to transition to male.
He graduated from Arcadia High School in 2006. Aiden is currently a Educational Studies major at the University of La Verne. He will be starting the Teaching Credential Program at ULV starting in the Fall 2015.
Trans* Advocacy
Aiden is an active member and advocate for the LGBT community. Due to his own experience with harassment during high school, Aiden and his mother, Marsha, have helped bring high school diploma programs to LGBT youth who have experienced harassment and bullying.
He is a board member of the PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) National Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Advisory Board and Executive Board of Pasadena PFLAG. He also previously served on The Trevor Project Youth Advisory Council.
Published Work
Aiden and his mother, Marsha Aizumi, co-authored a book titled, Two Spirits, One Heart, detailing his transgender experience. They have also spoken at numerous conferences, schools, and events to raise awareness about their book.
Honors & Awards
Aiden was awarded the Higher Education Grant from PFLAG Pasadena in 2013 and 2014. Earlier in 2010, he was honored with the Paul A. Anderson Youth Leader Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Dallas, Texas. In 2013, Aiden received the Alexis Rivera Trailblazer Award from Transpride L.A.