By Katie Campbell | Arizona Capitol Times
Tracey Nadzieja never wanted to be the story.
She spent decades trying to hide herself from everyone around her, terrified that they may one day learn the truth and she would lose everything.
But she was thrust into the spotlight on October 12 when she took an oath as a commissioner of the Maricopa County Superior Court. At that moment, she became the first known transgender judge in Arizona.
According to the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, she’s just the third in the country.
Sitting down with Arizona Capitol Timesto talk about the historic moment was not easy, she said. She never set out to make history.
“That’s the weird thing about doing this. Yes, I’m the first, and that’s a story,” Nadzieja said. “But on the other hand, what I had basically hoped going into this job is that people won’t see that part of the story. That the whole transgender part of the story will ultimately become an absolute non-issue. That people will just see me as somebody who is competent, fair, dedicated and just like anybody else.”
Nadzieja ultimately accepted the attention for the people struggling with their own experiences who need to hear that they can be like anyone else. She wanted them to know that they can have the lives they want.
“There is a tomorrow, and tomorrow’s going to be better than yesterday,” she said.
That message comes at a time when the transgender community across the country feels attacked.
