Mar 13, 2009   | COMMENTS     

Jeri Hughes didn’t plan to be a gay or transgender activist even though she’s involved with several local LGBT groups.

“I’m not an organizer, I’m not an activist,” she says. “I’m just a resident who cares.”

The Cleveland native arrived in D.C. in 2006 but spent most of her working life in Rahway, N.J., where she worked variously at a car wash, at General Motors and then at an industrial laundry where she started as a mechanic and, over 20 years, worked her way up to president.

Hughes, who’s transgender, started transitioning in the early 1980s and for a period of about 10 years, presented as a woman at night but kept her male identity on the job. She was active with a large group of gay men — though she never identified as gay — and found she fit in queer circles. But after losing many of her inner circle to AIDS, societal pressure forced Hughes back to living as a man.

She realizes now it “wasn’t the right decision” and says life got nearly unbearable to the point that in 2002, Hughes again started living as a woman.

“It’s the kind of thing that wears on you,” she says. “It creates a discomfort that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it. The best way I can describe it is imagine if you were forced to go to work in drag every day and present as a woman. You can do it for a while, but it’s a subtle form of torture. It takes a toll.”

Hughes had gender reassignment surgery in 2005 and says that was “the easy part.” Coming to terms with it herself and coming out to her family was harder. Hughes was contacted in 2001 by a girl named Casey who claimed Hughes was her parent. They had DNA tests and learned it was true.

“I can’t consider myself a mother any more than I can consider myself a father,” Hughes says. “I didn’t raise her. But we’re friends now and we have a good relationship. She’s a wonderful girl. I could go on and on about her.”

Through Casey, Hughes has two grandchildren, Liam and Mirella, who live in Cleveland. Hughes settled in Washington because her brother has a place here. Finding work has been hard — Hughes would like to jumpstart her career in the mechanical or electrical fields but says discrimination has kept her from regular employment (she works part time). She got involved with local LGBT groups when she saw the D.C. Trans Coalition’s booth at a Capital Pride festival.

In her spare time she enjoys motorcycles, film, sailing, deep sea fishing and spending time with her dogs, Natasha and Jesus.

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?

I first came out in the early ’80s. It was difficult for me to come out to my family, I suppose especially to my mother. I came across really butch. No one had any idea.

Who’s your gay hero?

Lee Brewster. I used to shop in his store. He practically funded the first Gay Pride parade in New York by himself. I have many transgender heroines including D.C.’s own Earline Budd and Jessica Xavier. Sylvia Rivera, of course. And there are so many others.

What is Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?

I don’t get out that much in my old age. I have been to Bachelor’s Mill, where my friend Patty was performing. And I went to Ziegfeld’s opening night with my friend Pam. I had a great time! And I went to a recent event at Lace.

If gay marriage were legal, would you tie the knot?

I would need a fiancé before I can have a husband. I do believe in committed relationships.

What non-gay issue are you most passionate about?

Well, that is kind of a trick question. I am passionate about everything to do with civil rights, with human rights. It’s a disgrace that in today’s world, a young black male is four times more likely to be incarcerated than go to university. Or that women don’t make as much as men, or have control over the welfare of their own bodies. LGBT rights are an extension of all that.

What historical outcome would you change?

The Constitution of the United States would have had to live up to the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Obviously, we’re still working on ...