The identical Grafe twins have shared their stories about transitioning alongside each other in the hopes to help any other people out there who may be struggling with a similar issue.

From a young age, the 23 year-old brothers always felt that they were not the gender assigned to them at birth. They described the feeling as “like being in prison, except it’s in your own body”. They grew up in a very religious household, their father was a pastor, which further affected their ability to be open. 

Unbeknownst to each other, both were experiencing the same feelings but were even scared to tell each other. It wasn’t until they were 15 that they came out to each other but then waited another three years to tell the rest of their family.

“Fear is like the biggest thing to keep you away from anything, that’s what kept me in my box,” Jack said. When they reached the age of 21, they decided they would transition together, knowing they could rely on each other for support.

The twins underwent top surgery recently, their surgeon, Dr Sheldon Lincenberg, telling an interviewer: “Their identity is set inside themselves. They’re not trying to change that. They just want the world to see them as they are.”

The twins are both police officers and in happy relationships, with Jack engaged to be married. Speaking of his transition, Jack says, “It’s like the biggest relief you could ever feel.” Jace adds: “I’m finally perfect to me. I’m just excited to finally go out there and be exactly what I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.”

The twins hope to encourage anyone struggling with similar issues to reach out and ask for help and not to hold themselves back from being the person they want to be.

For anyone affected by this issue, contact TENI, the Trans Equality Network Ireland who will be happy to help.