On Oct. 6, more than 160 students gathered in the Nohr Art Gallery in Ullsvik Hall to hear from transgender speaker Christina Hollis.

Hollis shared her story with students and talked about what it means to be transgender. Adam Danowski, a sophomore criminal justice major, said he came to the event for extra credit in a class but recommends that other students listen to her story.

“It was pretty interesting; it’s not every day you get to hear from a transgender,” Danowksi said. “It was well worth it to hear what she had to say.”

Hollis shared her experience of being transgender  and educated students. She explained the differences between being identified as gay, transgender, a drag queen or a transvestite. Hollis went through the first 44 years of her life as a man, and said during that time she was very confused and forced to repress her feelings.

“There is a lot of confusion for a transgender,” Hollis said. “You don’t know who you are.”

Hollis said towards the end of her life as a man, she began to talk to other people about how she was feeling, including many psychiatrists. She joined the “Chicago Gender Society” and said she felt relieved to be able to interact with people who were experiencing the same kinds of feelings. In 1985, she “came to the surface” and told some of her friends, coworkers, family and children. At that time, Hollis said she only had three choices: play dual roles for the rest of her life by being a man at work and a woman on the weekends, make the change to a woman or commit suicide.

“Being transgender is not fun. It is not sexy,” Hollis said. “It is a difficult life and often results in suicide.”

Now, after Hollis’ reconstructive surgery, she is married, happy and says she does not regret any of it. She said she no longer thinks of herself as a transgender, but as a woman. She wrote a book called “Beyond Belief” which she said was her therapy during her struggle.

Ross Kirschbaum, a junior mechanical engineering major said he recommends other students take the opportunity if they ever have one to hear a transgender person’s story, especially if they are from a small town like Platteville.

Valerie Gill-Mast, a lecturer in the psychology department, said it is good to expose students to new and different things like this.

Gill-Mast offered extra credit to her students that came to the event, because she said it was good to learn the kind of struggles a transgender person faces and why. Gill-Mast said that the thing she enjoyed most about listening to Hollis’ story was the happy ending and that Hollis had the courage to come talk to students.