Identical twins: “We were born girls – but we’re happier as men”
Jack and Jace Grafe, 23, started life as sisters – now they are hunky brothers. Here, they share their remarkable story with Closer…
wins Jack and T Jace Grafe, 23, were born identical girls – but their similarities went far deeper than appearances.
Growing up, the twins – who have the same DNA – both experienced feelings that they were born in the wrong bodies and were desperate to be male. And in a rare case, the siblings transitioned together. They started hormone treatment last year – just days apart – before having surgery on the same day two months ago to remove their breasts.
Jack, born a girl called Jaclyn, says he relied on his brother, Jace, born as Jennifer, during his transition. Jack, who lives with his fiancée, Maygon, 22, says, “My brother has been my rock. Without his support, I may never have got this far in my transition. We even got a little competitive! We both wanted to be the first to grow facial hair, or get defined muscles. Being trans isn’t easy – people call you names, or refer to you using the wrong pronouns, which is really hurtful. But thanks to Jace, I’m not alone.”
TOMBOYS
Growing up with their religious parents and older sister, Christina, now 29, in Georgia, America, the Grafe twins, who both work in law enforcement, always knew they were different.
Jack explains, “For as long as I can remember, I knew I was meant to be a boy. Jace and I always preferred typically ‘male’ toys – we loved superheroes and were really into football. As we got older, we shopped for clothes in the boys’ section of stores.
“Our parents just thought we were tomboys. They wouldn’t have even considered that we’d be transgender – it just wasn’t acceptable in the Christian world we lived in.”
HEARTBREAK
As children, Jack and Jace would both cry themselves to sleep, and pray that they’d wake up “normal”. But despite their close bond as twins, they didn’t talk about their feelings with each other.
Jack explains, “We’re so close, but we were terrified to tell each other. I was scared that Jace would think I was weird and wouldn’t accept me. It would have been heartbreaking.
“When I was 16, I had a crush on a girl and I eventually plucked up the courage to tell Jace. When he revealed that he liked another girl too, I was relieved.
“At that point, we both knew that, as women, we were gay. But I also had an inkling that, if I were trans, Jace probably was, too. There were too many similarities in the way that we acted, and the interests we had. And when we graduated from high school, we both cut off our long hair. Maybe it’s a twin thing, but I just knew he also wanted to be male.”
Still, it wasn’t until the boys were 18 that they revealed the truth to each other.
Jack explains, “I had a Facebook page that was specifically for a gaming community I was involved in – it was private to my family and friends. So, in that safe space, I’d written a post about being trans. Somehow, Jace saw it and confronted me.
“He asked why I hadn’t told him and, when I explained that I was nervous about how he would react, he said he felt the same way. It was emotional, and there were lots of tears, but it was a huge relief.”
From then on, the twins decided to refer to each other as brothers. While they were yet to tell their parents, they began binding their breasts and were happy for strangers to assume they were male.
Jack says, “At the time, I was working in a fast food restaurant. People called me Jack and I wore boys’ clothes. Maygon, my now fiancée, was my boss at the time. It’s only because I’d filled out an application form to work there, that she knew I’d been born female.
CONFRONTATION
“But aside from that, she’s a straight woman and she knew me as a man. We were friends first but, after a while, we knew there were romantic feelings there.”
But the boys’ parents still didn’t know the truth. Jack explains, “They thought we were just masculine women. I was at work when I got a text from Jace one day, saying our parents had confronted him, asking if we were gay. He’d blurted out that we were trans.
“I rushed over and, I’ll admit, I was terrified. It wasn’t what they would have chosen for us but, over time, they’ve learned to accept who we are.”
After finally saving up enough money, the boys both began having hormone
treatment in April 2017.
Jack says, “Before, I looked in the mirror and felt physically sick at what I saw. But hormones meant my shoulders became broader, my voice deepened and I grew facial hair. Jace and I felt truly confident for the first time in our lives. Then, after saving more money, around £4,600, we were able to have our breasts removed.
SURGERY
“Our surgeries were scheduled for the same day so, while I was terrified, I knew my brother would be right there with me, which made it better. I went into surgery first and have a vague memory of waving at Jace as I was wheeled into recovery and he was taken into theatre.
“Afterwards, looking down at my flat chest. I was thrilled. It was a feeling I’ll never forget. And, as our scars healed, and we gained muscle definition, Jace and I would post pictures of ourselves on Instagram. Finally, our bodies matched who we were inside.”
Now, Jack feels his transformation is complete.
“Neither Jace nor I are interested in having penises made. It’s a very difficult procedure with a lot of risks. My fiancée has never been with a trans man before, but she loves me for who I am.
“It’s been a long journey, but I know I wouldn’t be where I am without my brother. We were lucky – we were in this together. But we want other trans people to know that they aren’t alone either and, no matter how difficult transitioning can be, it’s so worth it.”
Jace, who is dating girlfriend Jess, 19, adds, “As a child, I would often be mistaken for a little boy – it was the best compliment I could get. When I told Jack, and he felt the same way, it was like a huge weight had been lifted. I’m lucky to have gone through this with my brother. We were each other’s lifelines. He gave me the confidence to keep fighting.”
❛WE BOTH GOT COMPETITIVE, WANTING TO BE THE FIRST TO GET FACIAL HAIR❜