Angel Camacho, Unfiltered: Life as a Trans Woman in the Midwest
- Dawson Wagner
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
Angel Camacho doesn’t exactly blend in on the streets of Manhattan, Kansas and that’s fine by her. She’s a familiar face at local LGBTQ events, a regular at open mics, and someone who’s learned to navigate the city’s small-town energy with a mix of humor, honesty, and a healthy dose of stubbornness. This June, as rainbow flags pop up around town for Pride Month, Angel is reflecting on what it means to be out, trans, and unapologetically herself in a place that isn’t always ready for it.
Growing Up and Getting Boxed In
Angel’s story isn’t about sudden revelations or dramatic turning points. "I wasn’t really aware of my gender identity as a kid," she said on the Evening Drive show on 91.9. "I just knew I was different." She talked about growing up in a Latino family in a mostly white town, where being queer already set her apart. "I was always feminine, and people noticed. But I didn’t have the words for it."
By her teens, Angel knew she was queer, but that label didn’t quite fit. "People just wanted to call me the 'gay friend,'" she remembered. "It felt like I was being put in a box that wasn’t mine." After a rough year at work and a birthday party where she was the punchline, Angel hit a wall. "I left early, had a breakdown, and realized I couldn’t keep living for other people’s expectations."
Transitioning in the Midwest
What followed was a slow, sometimes messy process — therapy, lots of questions, and a gradual realization that she was, in fact, a trans woman.
"I didn’t want to claim that label until I was sure," Angel said. "Femininity wasn’t just an aesthetic for me. It was all of me."
Coming out, even to herself, was scary. "It’s one thing to know who you are. It’s another to admit it in a world that isn’t always safe for people like us." But Angel didn’t back down. She started hormone therapy, changed her pronouns, and began showing up as herself — at work, online, and in public.
Visibility, Community, and the Cost of Both
Angel is clear-eyed about the risks of being visible as a trans woman in Kansas. "I haven’t tried to hide," she said. "If anything, I’m more out there than ever." She’s active on social media, talks openly about her journey, and challenges herself to be present, even when it’s hard. "The mental health side is real. It’s exhausting sometimes. There are days I don’t want to leave the house."
What keeps her going?
Other trans women, for one. "My friends have been everything. Seeing them live out loud made it possible for me to do the same." She’s also quick to point out that her experience isn’t universal.
"This is just my story. Every trans person’s path is different."
Intersectionality and Looking Forward
Angel’s identity as a trans woman of color shapes everything. "Growing up Hispanic in a white town, I already knew what it was like to be on the outside, in a weird way, it prepared me for being trans." She’s proud of her heritage and has spent time learning about cultures that recognize more than two genders — something she wishes more Americans understood.
She’s honest about the challenges, saying "There are days I think about leaving Kansas, moving somewhere safer, somewhere with better access to healthcare." She’s fundraising for a move, hoping for a fresh start in a blue state. But she’s also grateful for the community she’s found here, and for the chance to be the person she needed when she was younger.
No Big Speeches, Just Real Life
Angel doesn’t see herself as a symbol or a spokesperson. She’s just living her life, trying to make space for herself and others like her. "If some kid sees me and thinks, 'Hey, there’s someone like me,' that’s enough."
Her Instagram handle, @AngelHasEmerged," is a nod to the work it took to get here.
"I’m not hiding anymore. I’m just being me."
For Angel, Pride Month in Manhattan isn’t about grand gestures or polished narratives. It’s about showing up, telling the truth, and carving out a little more space for herself... and maybe for the next person, too.
To keep up with Angel’s story or her poetry you can follow her at @angelhasemergedpoetry.
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