rebecca storozuk
photo credit // wesh
Orange County, Florida -
An Orange County deputy sheriff is making history by becoming the first of her rank to come out as transgender.
NBC affiliate WESH reports Rebecca Storozuk (born Peter Storozuk) has served the department since 2012. Prior to joining, the 29-year old served in the army in Iraq.
"When I told people I was transitioning- this is my name, these are my pronouns and this is real- it was nerves, it was excitement, there was so much involved," she said.
The Pulse massacre partially inspired her to come out. She said that she felt safe there and really enjoyed the place.
"Not every day is a guarantee you need to start living your life and be proud of who you are," she said.
Though Storozuk feared that some of her more conservative colleagues would condemn her, she was pleasantly surprised.
"I for some reason thought the older generation, I thought they were going to have bad reactions and I was shocked," she said. "No one batted an eye to be honest with you."
Storozuk added that she is happy she doesn't have to pretend to be somebody different when she walks outside.
"Once you see this more and more you are going to realize we are just people," she said.
NBC affiliate WESH reports Rebecca Storozuk (born Peter Storozuk) has served the department since 2012. Prior to joining, the 29-year old served in the army in Iraq.
"When I told people I was transitioning- this is my name, these are my pronouns and this is real- it was nerves, it was excitement, there was so much involved," she said.
The Pulse massacre partially inspired her to come out. She said that she felt safe there and really enjoyed the place.
"Not every day is a guarantee you need to start living your life and be proud of who you are," she said.
Though Storozuk feared that some of her more conservative colleagues would condemn her, she was pleasantly surprised.
"I for some reason thought the older generation, I thought they were going to have bad reactions and I was shocked," she said. "No one batted an eye to be honest with you."
Storozuk added that she is happy she doesn't have to pretend to be somebody different when she walks outside.
"Once you see this more and more you are going to realize we are just people," she said.
