CARIMAC Times 2016: The JREAM Edition Journalists Reviving Awareness of what Matters | Page 92

I

t is hard to miss her bold zebra-striped
leggings as she takes her seat, crosses her
legs, and taps her phone with brightly
coloured, manicured nails. When she
walks the streets, no one knows that,
just a year ago, she lived under the name
Jermaine Burton.

Even those who know her find it hard to forget
this name. I learnt this the day I approached the
receptionist at the agency I would be meeting
Burton, and asked for the name “Jessica Burton.”
The receptionist eyed me for several seconds,
frowning with confusion.
“Jessica?” she asked.
“Jessica Burton.” I repeated. The receptionist
scanned her papers, mumbling the name to
herself. A minute or two had passed before
the recognition registered on her face.
“Oh! Jermaine!” she chirped.
Later, Burton explained that “Some still aren’t
used to it”; it being in reference to her identity,
her appearance, and her name.
‘Jermaine’ was the name given to her by a
traditional, faith-based family, which consisted
of eight children living in Kingston. Even a child
can separate the day from the night, and young
Burton knew she was not like her six brothers.
“Between the ages of three and four, I could
remember vividly that I liked to play with dolls,
and I always wanted to be the mother, the auntie;
but I never wanted to be the father,” she said.

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