UNITED STATES – 02-14-2017: Connie Rice, a transgender female and former Marine gets flowers from her boyfriend Ken Watter on valentines day at her home in Leesburg Virginia. Rice identified as female since childhood, but because of parental pressure, she initially took a path of suppression very typical of the times. Rice joined the U.S. Marine Corps, married her wife Birgit and had three sons, all while struggling with and concealing her identity for decades. Rice is still living with her wife Birgit and one son Patrick in the home that they raised three sons.
UNITED STATES – September 3, 2017: Connie Rice and her boyfriend Ken Watter enjoy a date night out for dinner. Rice and Watter got together three years ago after he answered her profile on a dating site. Rice, a transgender female is a outspoken proponent of LGBT rights and often can be seen at public meetings speaking out for the rights of the LGBT community.
UNITED STATES – 02-26-2017: (R to L) Connie Rice, her son Patrick, wife Birgit, daughter-in-law Kim and son Michael enjoy a visit and a cookout before Michael and his wife Kim pull out for new jobs in North Carolina.
UNITED STATES – November 6, 2017: Connie Rice finds a moment to play with her her dog Meeko at her home in Leesburg.
UNITED STATES – July 30, 2017: Connie Rice, a life long cyclist, takes a break at the old Waterford Mill on one of her gravel road rides in Western Loudoun.
UNITED STATES – 03-18-2017: Connie Rice, a transgender woman from Leesburg, and Rae Obeyer, a transgender man with Equality Virginia, have a heated debate with a man attending the United Christian Parish in Reston during the Social Justice & Peace Conference on LGBT rights.
UNITED STATES – 03-18-2017: Connie fights back tears and becomes emotional as she tells her story at one of many speaking engagements. Rice, one of Loudoun’s most visible LGBT advocates tells her story a minimum of twenty times a year, it takes a heavy toll on her sometimes.
UNITED STATES – July 28, 2017: Connie Rice and Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring get set to speak during the making of a political TV ad being produced at the AG’s home in Leesburg. The ad will advocate for veterans rights after President Trump tweeted that he was gong to ban transgender people from the military.
UNITED STATES – 02-26-2017: (L to R) Connie Rice, Connie’s boyfriend Ken Watter, and Connie’s wife Birgit, get ready for their son Patrick’s 18th birthday party at the Rice home in Leesburg.
United States – November 10, 2017: (L to R) Ryan Rice, Connie’s middle son, Connie’s wife Birgit, and Connie’s boyfriend Ken, join Connie for a night out with the family in Sterling. With support from her family and employer IBM, Rice has cultivated the confidence to find her voice on the national stage, but it hasnt always been easy. Less than a decade ago, Rice’s world was in turmoil as she began her transition, and there has been plenty of pain along the way. But in the end, acceptance won the day, and a long sought-after sense of normalcy has set in.
UNITED STATES – November 6, 2017: Connie playfully attempts to give her son Patrick, age 17, a hug after he talked about how he explained to some of his friends life growing up with a transgender parent.
UNITED STATES – 05-28-2017: Connie Rice has a laugh with her son Michael during the Rice family annual BBQ to kick off the start of summer. Her son Michael, who supports Donald Trump, clearly loves her and supports her but for Rice things have not always been so rosy. She suffered a breakdown during the early phase of her transition and credits her family and friends for pulling her through that initial crisis and the many financial and emotional hurdles shes encountered on her way to living as a woman.
Twin sisters Gianna Baca and Natalia Baca survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. In less than a week after the mass shooting both sisters attended school homecoming events despite their wounds. The Mandalay Bay hotel and site of the Route 91 Harvest Festival where 58 people were killed are seen on Saturday October 07, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock shot people attending the concert from a room at the hotel. Twin sisters, Gianna Baca and Natalia Baca were both wounded in the shooting less than a week after being shot, they attended school homecoming events. Despite their wounds, they both attended some of the school festivities.
Twin sisters, Gianna Baca, left, and Natalia Baca pose for a portrait at their family home on Saturday October 07, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Gianna was wounded in the leg, while Natalia was shot in the torso while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Natalia Baca, top center, lays in her hospital bed as she is surrounded by family and friends at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center while her twin sister, Gianna Baca, is seen at right, on Thursday October 05, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. They were both shot by suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Gianna Baca gets ready at her home to attend a student assembly at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School on Friday October 06, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Gianna was shot in the leg while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Her twin sister was also wounded.
Gianna Baca, center, prays with fellow cheerleaders while attending a student assembly at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School on Friday October 06, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV.
Gianna Baca rests in her room at her family’s home after attending a student assembly at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School on Friday October 06, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Gianna had her mattress on the ground so she would have a easier time getting into bed after getting shot in the leg.
Natalia Baca, right center, is hugged by neighbor, Amy Lubitz while she holds her son, Bennett Lubitz, 3, as Natalia arrives home from Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center as her mother, Cindy Baca is seen at right on Friday October 06, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Natalia Baca and her twin sister, Gianna were both shot by suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Gianna Baca, left, helps her twin sister, Natalia Baca, right center, with her hair at their family’s home before they attended a homecoming football game at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School on Friday October 06, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Natalia and Gianna were both shot by suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Gianna Baca, left to right, is joined by Analysa White, Gianna’s mother, Cindy Baca, Analysa’s mother, Racheal White and Gianna’s twin sister, Natalia Baca as they wait to have homecoming photos taken at JW Marriott Las Vegas on Saturday October 07, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Gianna and Natalia were both shot by suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Natalia Baca, left center, stands next to her twin sister, Gianna Baca, right center, along with their respective dates, Parker Kanne, far left, and Parker Marx, far right, as they have homecoming photos taken at JW Marriott Las Vegas on Saturday October 07, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Natalia and Gianna Baca were both shot by suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Gianna Baca, center, and her twin sister, Natalia Baca, right, arrive for a homecoming football game at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School on Friday October 06, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Natalia and Gianna were both shot by suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Natalia Baca cries as she attends a homecoming football game at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School with her twin sister, Gianna Baca on Friday October 06, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. Natalia and her sister, Gianna were both shot by suspected gunman, Stephen Paddock while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Forty years after his death, Elvis Presley is still very much alive in the hearts and minds of his many fans. Many made the pilgrimage to Memphis, TN for Elvis Week this year to mark the 40th anniversary of his death. There were also, scores of ETA’s or Elvis Tribute Artists on hand to entertain the throngs of devoted fans. Anglican Archbishop, Dorian A. Baxter of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada and Elvis Tribute Artist performs on Beale Street on Sunday August 13, 2017 in Memphis, TN. Baxter also goes by the name of Elvis Priestley. August 11-19 is Elvis Week. This year marks the 40th year since Elvis Presley’s death.
Linda Erwin, right, of Spartanburg, SC tries to secure a scarf from Elvis Tribute Artist, Diogo “Di” Light during the Images of the King World Championship at the New Daisy Theatre on Monday August 14, 2017 in Memphis, TN. August 11-19 is Elvis Week. This year marks the 40th year since Elvis Presley’s death.
Elvis Tribute Artists, Jim Cardwall, 71, of Jeffersonville, IN, left, and Nathan Pittorf, 11, of Buffalo, NY wait backstage before performing during the Images of the King World Championship at the New Daisy Theatre on Saturday August 12, 2017 in Memphis, TN. August 11-19 is Elvis Week. This year marks the 40th year since Elvis Presley’s death.
Matt Joyce dances with Anne Kathrin to the music of Elvis Tribute Artist, Robert Washington while Amanda Dorrington, is seen at right at Blues City Band Box on Monday August 14, 2017 in Memphis, TN. August 11-19 is Elvis Week. This year marks the 40th year since Elvis Presley’s death.
Elvis Tribute Artist, Daisuke Kiryu, of Tokyo, Japan stands outside Sun Studio after visiting on Friday August 18, 2017 in Memphis, TN. August 11-19 is Elvis Week. This year marks the 40th year since Elvis Presley’s death.
Elvis Tribute Artist, Doug Church uses a clothing steamer to take the wrinkles out of one of his jumpsuits backstage before performing during the Images of the King World Championship at the New Daisy Theatre on Monday August 14, 2017 in Memphis, TN. He ended up wearing another jumpsuit because a fellow competitor was wearing a similar one to the suit he was steaming.
Elvis Tribute Artist, Ron Tutor, 52, of Tinley Park, TN prepares to perform while listening to music in his Dodge Caravan outside the New Daisy Theatre during the Images of the King World Championship on Sunday August 13, 2017 in Memphis, TN. August 11-19 is Elvis Week. This year marks the 40th year since Elvis Presley’s death.
Elvis Tribute Artist, Jimmy Smith of Aiken, SC looks over a fence at Graceland from the backyard of Bud and Mary Stonebraker on Monday August 14, 2017 in Memphis, TN. The couple have lived directly behind Elvis Presley’s Graceland for 22 years. Bud refers to he and his wife as more Elvis fanatics than just fans. Their house is decked out with Elvis memorabilia. They hosted free concerts in their backyard during Elvis Week.
Elvis Tribute Artist, Bruce Hanson of Rice Lake, WI, performs in the backyard of Bud and Mary Stonebraker on Friday August 11, 2017 in Memphis, TN. The couple have lived directly behind Elvis Presley’s Graceland for 22 years.
Mary Stonebraker sits in the living room of her home that is directly behind Elvis Presley’s Graceland on Friday August 11, 2017 in Memphis, TN. She and her husband, Bud Stonebraker have lived in the home for 22 years. Bud refers to he and his wife as more Elvis fanatics than just fans. Their house is decked out with Elvis memorabilia.
Maddie Ross, 28, plays with her son, Dexter, at her motherÕs home in her old room in South Roanoke after seven months in Bethany Hall – a residential substance abuse treatment program. Artwork, magazine clippings and photos of friends from high school hang on the walls. Ross was homeless, suicidal and thought she would die by age 27 from her alcohol and opiates addiction. The Roanoke Times followed Ross and another woman, Kyla Donoho, as they worked their way through the substance abuse treatment program. “I think it really took Dexter coming into my life to see the world in a better perspective,” said Ross, who had been through multiple treatment programs and attributes her success to Bethany Hall, “In other programs you donÕt get the education you need or the time to fix your thinking.”
Maddie Ross, 28, plays with her son, Dexter, at her motherÕs home in her old room in South Roanoke after seven months in Bethany Hall – a residential substance abuse treatment program. Artwork, magazine clippings and photos of friends from high school hang on the walls. Ross was homeless, suicidal and thought she would die by age 27 from her alcohol and opiates addiction. The Roanoke Times followed Ross and another woman, Kyla Donoho, as they worked their way through the substance abuse treatment program. “I think it really took Dexter coming into my life to see the world in a better perspective,” said Ross, who had been through multiple treatment programs and attributes her success to Bethany Hall, “In other programs you donÕt get the education you need or the time to fix your thinking.”
VNPA 