A GIRL NAMED TRU
A GIRL NAMED TRU
Tru Wilson is the first-ever ambassador of BIGLOVEBALL. She inspired us and countless others by courageously taking on her local Catholic school board to be acknowledged as the girl she is, rather than the gender assigned to her on her birth certificate. In 2015, at 12 years of age, she graced the cover of Vancouver Magazine as one of the 50 most powerful people in our city. With the unwavering support of her parents, Garfield and Michelle, Tru shares her story to enlighten others and show support for members of society who feel excluded… for any reason.
While getting to know Tru, we have seen her unfaltering love for her family, her friends, and the warmth she extends to strangers. She is an articulate, compassionate spokesperson who is enthusiastic about using her creativity to share her point of view. We thank Tru for her fearless, open heart, and we are thrilled to call her our friend.
Tru Wilson is the first-ever ambassador of BIGLOVEBALL. She inspired us and countless others by courageously taking on her local Catholic school board to be acknowledged as the girl she is, rather than the gender assigned to her on her birth certificate. In 2015, at 12 years of age, she graced the cover of Vancouver Magazine as one of the 50 most powerful people in our city. With the unwavering support of her parents, Garfield and Michelle, Tru shares her story to enlighten others and show support for members of society who feel excluded… for any reason.
While getting to know Tru, we have seen her unfaltering love for her family, her friends, and the warmth she extends to strangers. She is an articulate, compassionate spokesperson who is enthusiastic about using her creativity to share her point of view. We thank Tru for her fearless, open heart, and we are thrilled to call her our friend.
12 questions with tru WILSON
12 questions with tru WILSON
Everything. I love slumber parties with my girlfriends where we stay up all night talking about boys and private stuff that would be awkward to talk about with a boy. We do truth or dare and get to be really silly. We giggle and scare each other half to death. We do our nails and give each other crazy makeovers. Its awesome.
2. How would you explain transgender to those who may not know this term?
Transgender is being born in a different body and just knowing that you are the opposite gender. The gender that youre born with is not who you really are.
3. How do you think we should treat people when they are mean, rude or hurtful?
You may feel like you want to punch them but you have to walk away. Let yourself feel the pain and move on. It makes you stronger.
4. Who are your real life role models and why?
My mom. Shes so confident and nice. Shes just so amazing and i hope someday i could be like her.
5. Other than your mom, who are your real life role models and why?
Katy perry and lady gaga. They are so confident in what they do and not afraid to be creative and be themselves. They are fierce!
6. What do you want to be when you are an adult?
I want to be a director/film editor and work on movies. I like being behind the camera and i also like putting all the pieces together.
7. Who are your closest friends and what traits do you admire about them?
Sydney is so funny and she always finds a way to make me laugh. Talia is a really good friend. She knows how to cheer me up. From the minute we met we formed this bond that feels unbreakable. She told me that when she saw me the first time and heard my story, she felt the need to protect me. That means a lot to me. I never want to lose her. She is so strong and beautiful, she is so confident but sometimes she can get emotional and then its my turn to help her. We are there for each other.
8. What activity most relaxes you?
Being on the beach or in the water, just floating. I love the water and how it sounds flowing over the rocks in a river and trickling down a waterfall. Because i was born into water in a kiddie pool, i feel like im a water baby! My favourite mythical creature is a mermaid and i feel a bond with them because they are also split between two worlds.
9. What has been your most amazing memory of your life so far?
There was a boy that i met at a dance and really liked. We were going to meet up the next day to hang out. He didnt know i was trans though, so i called him to talk about it and make sure there wasnt any surprises for him. I was so scared. When i told him i was transgender, i asked what he thought about that and he said he didnt care, that it was normal and kinda cool. I ran into my dads arms crying because i was so happy.
10. What is your biggest challenge right now?
The biggest challenge in my life right now is getting people to understand that being transgender is not something that is out of this world or not normal. Its just me, its who i am.
11. If you could send three people a bigloveball, who would they be and why?
Harriette because she deserves all the support she can get. She is fighting just like me and making a difference in the world of trans kids. She is so strong, and funny, and beautiful. Milan. Because he is a new found friend that i will cherish for eternity. He is also trans, and is fighting along with harriette. Kadence. Because she is going through her own troubles and some of them are bigger than my own. I want to support her and help her through it as much as i can.
12. If bigloveball was a microphone and the world could hear your message, what would you say?
Dont be afraid to be you. Be confident and love yourself and your own uniqueness.
Everything. I love slumber parties with my girlfriends where we stay up all night talking about boys and private stuff that would be awkward to talk about with a boy. We do truth or dare and get to be really silly. We giggle and scare each other half to death. We do our nails and give each other crazy makeovers. Its awesome.
2. How would you explain transgender to those who may not know this term?
Transgender is being born in a different body and just knowing that you are the opposite gender. The gender that youre born with is not who you really are.
3. How do you think we should treat people when they are mean, rude or hurtful?
You may feel like you want to punch them but you have to walk away. Let yourself feel the pain and move on. It makes you stronger.
4. Who are your real life role models and why?
My mom. Shes so confident and nice. Shes just so amazing and i hope someday i could be like her.
5. Other than your mom, who are your real life role models and why?
Katy perry and lady gaga. They are so confident in what they do and not afraid to be creative and be themselves. They are fierce!
6. What do you want to be when you are an adult?
I want to be a director/film editor and work on movies. I like being behind the camera and i also like putting all the pieces together.
7. Who are your closest friends and what traits do you admire about them?
Sydney is so funny and she always finds a way to make me laugh. Talia is a really good friend. She knows how to cheer me up. From the minute we met we formed this bond that feels unbreakable. She told me that when she saw me the first time and heard my story, she felt the need to protect me. That means a lot to me. I never want to lose her. She is so strong and beautiful, she is so confident but sometimes she can get emotional and then its my turn to help her. We are there for each other.
8. What activity most relaxes you?
Being on the beach or in the water, just floating. I love the water and how it sounds flowing over the rocks in a river and trickling down a waterfall. Because i was born into water in a kiddie pool, i feel like im a water baby! My favourite mythical creature is a mermaid and i feel a bond with them because they are also split between two worlds.
9. What has been your most amazing memory of your life so far?
There was a boy that i met at a dance and really liked. We were going to meet up the next day to hang out. He didnt know i was trans though, so i called him to talk about it and make sure there wasnt any surprises for him. I was so scared. When i told him i was transgender, i asked what he thought about that and he said he didnt care, that it was normal and kinda cool. I ran into my dads arms crying because i was so happy.
10. What is your biggest challenge right now?
The biggest challenge in my life right now is getting people to understand that being transgender is not something that is out of this world or not normal. Its just me, its who i am.
11. If you could send three people a bigloveball, who would they be and why?
Harriette because she deserves all the support she can get. She is fighting just like me and making a difference in the world of trans kids. She is so strong, and funny, and beautiful. Milan. Because he is a new found friend that i will cherish for eternity. He is also trans, and is fighting along with harriette. Kadence. Because she is going through her own troubles and some of them are bigger than my own. I want to support her and help her through it as much as i can.
12. If bigloveball was a microphone and the world could hear your message, what would you say?
Dont be afraid to be you. Be confident and love yourself and your own uniqueness.
