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The “Obamacare Kid” comes out as trans

The “Obamacare Kid” comes out as trans

We all remember the Obamacare Kid.

The trailblazing, chubby-cheeked kid who proudly stood beside President Obama for the historic signing of the Affordable Care Act.  Marcelas Owens, whose mother died at 27 from pulmonary hypertension, was known nation wide for the heartbreaking story that aligned with what Obama was trying to prevent.

Marcelas’ mom, Tiffany, Lost her job when she could not make it into work due to her sickness. Yet she’d made too much money to qualify for Medicaid — something that Obamacare has addressed by giving states the option of raising income limits on Medicaid. Marcelas was, and continues to be, an activist.

Now, Marcelas has come out as transgender. She lives with her grandmother, Gina Owens, in Seattle where she attends high school.

“I’m going through a reinvention process,” she told CNN in a long story. “I’m growing into adulthood. I’m not the Obamacare kid anymore.”

I like it that I can be called the Obamacare kid, but in some ways I wish I could look past the Obamacare kid and become Marcelas and people would have the same reaction to me that they had with the Obamacare kid.

Marcelas says she wants to be a surgeon. And she’s politically active. She’s already served as a page for Washington State Senator Pramila Jayapal.

Gina, who says she wasn’t happy learning about her grandchild’s gender identity at first, has come around, and accepted her grandchild for whoever she wants to be. She even posted a sentimental Facebook post about Marcelas for her birthday.

So today, on your 17th birthday; I tell you AND the world; My grandson is on a new journey in life… I am so happy that SHE has trusted our relationship enough where SHE felt more comfortable sharing with me first; BEFORE the rest of the world… I give my heart & blessing to HER. I LOVE YOU AND YOUR COURAGE IN LIFE, MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. Walk your journey in love & light.

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