Former WWE star Gabbi Tuft shares latest step

San Francisco CA

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Tuft’s overwhelmingly positive experience at home is somewhat uncommon in the trans community. According to the most recent National Transgender Discrimination Survey, relationships ended for 45 percent of people when they came out to their partner, and 57 percent experienced some form of family rejection. Further, transgender people who deal with rejection, whether from a spouse or another family member, are at a dramatically elevated risk of experiencing homelessness, having suicidal thoughts or turning to sex work. “All that mattered to my mom was that I knew she loved me no matter what. She said I was beautiful, nothing has changed. I remember the moment. I got out of the truck, I was walking around the back of the truck, I was like a child poking my head around, I had my arms crossed and she had her arms outstretched already walking toward me. There was no way I could not do the same," she recalls. "From then on, our relationship has been amazing. I have a whole new relationship with my mom. It’s that mother-daughter relationship where we are very open and honest, it’s just wonderful.” The most recent step Tuft shared with the world was her decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery. Her procedure, which took place last week, marked an important moment for Tuft, who had been resorting to using breast forms in public. Although Tuft was presenting as female and had come out to the world, using breast forms limited her wardrobe and often left her bleeding as she peeled them off at the end of the night. In addition to the physical issues and limitations, having to use breast forms left Tuft feeling incomplete, psychologically. “Part of wanting to feel feminine and feel like a woman is being able to go out with friends and enjoy social events and feel accepted and pretty,” Tuft says. “The thing people don’t realize with the breast forms is that I couldn’t wear certain tops because they would show or I’d need to have cleavage showing and I couldn’t do that. There were some days where they weren’t perfect or looked funny. It’s such a painful experience emotionally to have to take off what you feel like is a costume. I would look in the mirror and feel like a fraud.”