Interview: Paul Hofman
Gliding smoothly in her wheelchair, Sherry Jae rolls into the hotel lounge. As one of six ambassadors, she’s certainly the most striking. As a baby she came to the Netherlands from Biafra at the end of the 1960s, during a brutal civil war. Sherry Jae (53) has had to fight many prejudices: she was a person of colour and had polio. Eight years ago she discovered she is transgender. “I’m a survivor. Period.”
Polio
She speaks softly about her earliest years. “I was severely malnourished as a baby. At that time there was no polio vaccine. In Arnhem I met my foster parents. They took me to Naarden where I had a fantastic childhood.” She smiles as she recalls the mischief. Sherry Jae was a curious child who met the world openly. Her disability was never a barrier, she says. “My parents were strict and encouraged me to do things myself. Especially my father had the attitude: if you want something, you work for it.” That wasn’t an empty phrase. She took a paper round.
Although it shaped her, she admits her father was sometimes too harsh. “He could have dialled it down a notch.”
Mischief
She didn’t like school much; she preferred to play. “Getting up to mischief was more my thing.” After finishing secondary school she started working. She moved out at 21. “I wanted to go to the big city. Just be independent.” She went to live in Amsterdam Zuidoost, a borough with over 170 nationalities. “I enjoyed it and still do. Though I’ve felt firsthand that the tolerance threshold here can be low.” She never felt unsafe, but she did witness unpleasant things. She falls silent for a moment.
Her plans? Her eyes light up as she enthusiastically says she will use her role as Pride ambassador to raise visibility for trans people, trans migrants and people with disabilities. “Within the LGBT+ community we may be a bit of an odd one out, but I want to show that we exist. For many people it’s still unfamiliar. I want to change that.” As an ambassador she can make a difference.
Wow factor
When Sherry Jae was asked to take on this role she didn’t hesitate. “I really had a wow moment. It’s such an honour to do this. I’ll be visible everywhere during Pride and I’ll work hard for visibility.”
The committed activist herself works atTrans United Europe where she is the hub of the Amsterdam office. “I’m basically the jack-of-all-trades.” Trans people can come here with all their questions. “Here you can also talk with other bicultural trans people and find a listening ear.” She emphasises that trans people can end up in vulnerable and complicated situations. “That’s why our work is invaluable.”
Her skin colour, disability and gender identity make her unique. Laughing: “I’ve never met a second version of myself.” In 2005 she finally retired her crutches. She’s glad she’s been in a wheelchair since then. “The quality of my life improved. I regained my independence.” Being back in control of her own life meant a great deal to her.
Her life motto? Without hesitation: “Never keep your heart a murder hole; just say it like it is. And never let anyone treat you like trash.” Fighting injustice is in her nature. About herself: “What you see is what you get.” In her forties Sherry Jae realised she was ‘different’. “It didn’t come like a bolt from the blue. It was confirmation of the feelings I had: I am a woman.”
Take Pride in Us
Not long after this discovery she began transitioning. It was a long process, but she assures it was worth it. “I feel okay this way.” She emphasises she’s proud of herself. The Pride theme this yearTake Pride in usis therefore entirely fitting for her and the transgender community. “My dream of being one hundred percent happy has come true. I fought for that. I followed my own path and had battles to fight. But it has been more than worth it.” It’s hard to imagine a better representative for trans people’s interests. She’s eager to start her work as ambassador. She recognises a lot will be expected of her, but she’s ready. “Inclusivity comes first. That’s what I fight for. We matter too.” No one can ignore Sherry Jae Ebere anymore.
Pride ambassador since 2021.
