Christine Grossman had always felt fulfilled with the life she made for herself. She moved to central Florida to be closer to her parents and loved her work in the restaurant industry. But after hearing about the horrifying experiences of several young, transgender coworkers, Grossman decided she needed to make a change and find a way to support her LGBTQ+ community.
A native of Long Island, New York, Grossman identifies as a cisgender lesbian woman. When she came out in her youth, she says she had access to plenty of support, resources and a thriving community. But as she’s gotten older, she’s realized that not everyone is as fortunate. So, she transferred to the USF St. Petersburg campus to gain the skills and knowledge she needs to one day open a nonprofit community center and housing facility for LGBTQ+ youth.