Episode 699: Kristine Coons (transgender) and her wife Laura (cisgender), Active LDS

My friends Dr. Kristine Coons (Internal Medicine Physician, RM) and her wife Laura (mother of four, BYU grad) join us from Hawaii where they are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary to share their remarkable story.

Kristine talks about her long-term gender dysphoria and coming out her wife in 2014. They talk about their “lifeline” of communication and the gospel to help them stay committed in their marriage and to navigate this road. Laura talks about supporting her wife as she transitioned and saw first-hand their improvement in her life. They both talk about how they are and continue to be soulmates. Their story is a beautiful love story.

Kristine talks about digging into the science of gender dysphoria and discovering through genetics that she has congenital hypogonadotripic hypogonadism (CHH) and how they helps explain how she feels. Kristine also shares her suicidal plans and how she got help (including calling the suicide crisis line) and how she is now in a much better place.

This is a powerful podcast to better see, understand, and support transgender Latter-day Saints. I was so moved listening to Kristine and Laura. “When we know better, we do better.”

Thank you, Kristine and Laura, for being on the podcast. You two are awesome and are helping us better create Zion.

Links:

60 Minutes Episode: youtu.be/1Rw2cfXxnwE?si=nLrYzMuIUVjHjv_j

Kristine’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@KristineCoons?si=akQ7hjSfchtJtcKN

More about CHH: www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/genotes/knowledge-hub/congenital-hypogonadotropic-hypogonadism/

Latter-day Stonecathers FB Post: www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid031CaN5MDFdpANwe2sgv1CG1gg4a5gioRqEFQT5ucgkiH93X3yRJ7NNjqYzRG7SVaAl&id=100091855963860

Other Trans Podcasts: listenlearnandlove.org/transgender-and-more-podcasts

LDS Church Website: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/transgender

Ministering to LGBTQ Latter-day Saints Facebook Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/1433556613672143

Richard Ostler Books: www.papaostler.com