Fourteen year old freshman Renee Faalla, who was removed from abusive parents by a judge in Owensboro, Kentucky, describes her experience this way: I used to think of boys who prefer dressing as girls as being 'weird' or 'queer'> Both of my parents are lushes; they were violent toward me, my brothers and a special needs sister. They never even met a transgender person. I'm very thankful for the judge who removed me from my parents, and placed me here at Rainbow. My mind really opened up once I arrived here in August. I was introduced to Nancy LaPierre, who's now my roommate and best friend. She had been through bender reassignment surgery in San Francisco two months before; She pointed out my flaws and helped me become more of a proper girl. We share our room with two other transsexual girls; one from Decatour and the other from South Bend."