Jill Bjorklund*

Jill Bjorklund, teacher and co-organizer of Ankeny Pride, is a passionate ally of the queer community in central Iowa, where she, her husband, and their three children make their home. Her passion was ignited as she witnessed her middle child revealing her true self at the age of 5. At the time, Jill didn’t realize that the most common age of onset of gender dysphoria in transgender women is five years old. Her heart quickly transitioned alongside her daughter, and their mission since has been to share their story in hopes of making the world a more safe and accepting place.