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Transgender issue leads club to cancel membership
Besides the obvious, life was different when Rachael Gieschen was a man. Gieschen had a membership to a beach-side club in Wrightsville Beach, founded a century ago by her family, and was part of a tight-knit local German community.
But now 69-year-old Gieschen, who transitioned physically three years ago to live as a woman, is left hurt and feeling discriminated against after the board of directors for Hanover Seaside Club decided to cancel her membership, citing reasons such as members expressing "agitation and concern" about Gieschen's presence as a woman.
Gieschen has not filed a lawsuit against the Wrightsville Beach club, which is at 601 S. Lumina Ave. Instead, she said she and her attorney are trying to resolve issues with the club amicably in an attempt to have her membership reinstated.
"We think it's the right time for the club to come back and give me my membership back," she said.