Now in his seventies, James (Jim) Pierce’s life has been a journey of embracing identity and leading with compassion. His story is rich with both personal and collective resilience, shaped by decades of activism and his experience living authentically as both a lesbian feminist and later in life, as a trans man.
Denver Pride’s First Year and Jim’s First Coming-Out
In 1974, Jim took a pivotal step into self-acceptance by attending his first Pride event in Denver, which also happened to be the inaugural year of Denver Pride. Then a 19-year-old college student struggling with internalized shame about his sexual orientation, Jim was on the cusp of change. “I had known for years that I was probably a lesbian,” he shared. “But I didn’t have a very good opinion of myself because everything I’d heard about gay people was that they were degenerate and horrible.”
The Pride event that summer sparked a revelation for Jim. Wandering into a workshop, he encountered something unexpected. “I walked to the doorway and this man was just beaming love at me. I mean, he was just incredible. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this man loves me. He probably thinks I'm gay. He loves me and I can't even love myself.’ And that was wonderful.”
One defining moment came during a break between sessions when a local news crew entered to film. Attendees were given the option to avoid being on camera, and despite knowing that his parents would be watching that news block, Jim chose to stay in sight. “I decided to stay where I could be filmed, with fear and trepidation. I was so scared,” he said. “But I also thought, ‘I never want to go back to the way I felt. I never want to go back to that kind of despair.’ It was a cathartic, chrysalis moment for me.” The decision marked his commitment to living openly, and though he didn’t end up on the evening news, it solidified a lifelong journey toward authenticity.
A Second Coming-Out
In the 2010s, Jim came out again—this time as a transgender man. His journey to this point had been gradual, supported by his involvement in a queer-affirming church where he found acceptance in his transgender identity. “I was already comfortable being who I was because I was part of a queer church. The fact that I wore men's clothing was no big deal. It's also a little easier for FTM folks.” he said. Five years after he came out to his church, Jim’s decision to begin medically transitioning came in an unexpected form—a breast cancer diagnosis. “When I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, it was a clue to me that my first thought was, ‘Wow, I can finally lose these.’”
This moment was the catalyst to him beginning hormone therapy, undergoing top surgery, and adopting the name James —a nod to his mother’s suggestion to keep part of his birth name, and a decision to honor his past while stepping into his future “Once I make a decision, I proceed full force,” he said with a smile.
Reflecting on his experiences, Jim often shares his gratitude for being able to live authentically and the unique strength he draws from his multifaceted identity. Transitioning later in life meant Jim could draw on his past and continue his advocacy as a trans man, committed to the community he had helped build and uplift. “I’ve been reflecting on the parts of my life that I lived very happily and openly as a lesbian feminist. I’ve been reclaiming her story.” he shared. “The women’s music I used to listen to, the incredible synergy of love and passion and energy when we worked together to change the world—it’s all part of who I am."
Jim’s Call to Compassion
Jim’s story speaks to the importance of spaces where people can be themselves fully—a message that he emphasizes for future generations. Reflecting on his first Pride experience 50 years ago, Jim recalled the transformative impact of being welcomed into the community.
“For somebody who has been scared, being willing to face your fears in a semi-public or public setting is incredibly healing and incredibly powerful,” he recalls. “If you are going to be at an LGBTQ+ event, know that there are some people who are going to be wandering around who are afraid to be there. Make them as welcome as possible. Let them know that they are in the right place, that they're loved, and that they have every reason to be proud of who they are in the world.”