Marci Whitton is a human 'book' at the Hobart Human Library.
The event series in the Tasmanian capital sees people sharing their personal stories in schools or workplaces and allowing questions from strangers.
Marci's story is about her experience as a transgender woman and she particularly enjoys participating in workshops with young people.
"They are very open, they're very understanding. They're like 'oh okay, that's great, now we'll just move on,'" she says.
"To them, transitioning is not considered major or immoral."
Marci grew up in the 1970s and told her family she was transgender just four years ago.
"Back in the [1970's] my mother didn't know what was going on with me, and I didn't either," she says.
"People often wondered why it took so long for me to tell people I was transgender."
She struggled with alcoholism for decades but had her last drink seven years ago. That was when she finally had clarity about who she was.
"It was about 15 months into my sobriety that made me realise, 'hang on, I know who I am now, I know my truth.'"
Human Libraries can be found in cities all over the world. The one in Hobart is run by community organisation A Fairer World and has been operating since 2014. Since then, they've presented more than 200 workshops to more than 6,000 people.
The libraries provide a comfortable space for ‘readers’ to speak informally with a living ‘book’.
In Tasmania, the subjects are local people who have experienced stereotyping, prejudice or discrimination because of their culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, appearance or wellness.
Helen Hortle is the coordinator of A Fairer World and says it is important for participants to feel safe and respected while sharing their stories.
"We take them through a training process, we have to make sure that they are in the right space, and feel safe.
"We help them develop their stories and their storytelling techniques, but we also train them so they're able to politely say when they don't want to answer a question."
Marci saw the Human Library as a chance to tell her story and inspire the next generation to be more open and inclusive.
Letters Marci has received from students thanking her for telling her story. Source: SBS News: Sarah Maunder
"It breathes new light into the construct of what it is to be transgender, knowing that the younger generation is so accepting," she says.
International Transgender Day of Visibility is marked annually on 31 March and Marci says such days help the wider-public to learn about the experiences of others.
"It's important that people try and make an effort; not just with transgender people but with everyone."
It's important that people try and make an effort; not just with transgender people but with everyone. - Marci Whitton
Marci is a Christian and says her life-long commitment to her faith has helped her through her journey.
"God gave me my true life back, one that I hadn't experienced for a long time.
"The last four years of my life has just been extraordinarily wholesome; it's right, it's normal. I can say to people that whatever normal means, this is normal for me.
"I feel liberated, I feel free with no barriers, nothing holding me back."
She hopes that sharing her story will give other people courage.
"Life is very short, denying oneself of experiences in their journey, it's very sad to me.
"I have never felt ashamed of being me. For me, the opposite has occurred, I have felt stronger in my resolution and commitment finally being able to live as the woman I am."
LGBTIQ+ Australians seeking support with mental health can contact QLife on 1800 184 527 or visit . also has a list of support services.
