starnewsonline.com – By Shannan Bowen
Besides the obvious, life was different when Rachael Gieschen was a man. Gieschen had a membership to a beach-side club in Wrightsville Beach, founded a century ago by her family, and was part of a tight-knit local German community.
But now 69-year-old Gieschen, who transitioned physically three years ago to live as a woman, is left hurt and feeling discriminated against after the board of directors for Hanover Seaside Club decided to cancel her membership, citing reasons such as members expressing “agitation and concern” about Gieschen’s presence as a woman.