“The dream before coming to Spain, was simply to survive. It was to be able to spend anoth

er day by my girlfriend’s side and not get killed first.” Greis (she/her, 37) grew up in Peru bullied and abused by her family and community for identifying as a trans boy. She was suicidal and hit rock bottom. “I didn’t feel like a human being… They made me believe I wasn’t worth anything,” she says. “If something bad happened to me, it was because I deserved it. I lived in shadows, hidden.” After being nearly killed by an armed group, Greis and her girlfriend left to seek asylum in Spain. She still faces homophobia, but feels happy, motivated and walks without fear. Despite her experiences, she doesn’t hold hate or grudges against anyone. Her patience, perseverance and belief in God helped her overcome her demons. “They can be challenges, but they are things that teach us,” she says. “Every dawn is a new opportunity to show ourselves what we are capable of doing… There’s a lot of bread yet to slice.” Full Story