Bernie Wagenblast, the voice behind the announcements on the New York City subway and the AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport, has come out as a transgender woman. In a recent interview on the WNYC podcast Death, Sex & Money, Wagenblast spoke about her journey, revealing that she had known since childhood that her true gender was not the one she was assigned at birth.
Growing up in a suburban town in New Jersey, Wagenblast first felt like a girl at age 4. However, she soon realized that this was not considered acceptable by society. It wasn’t until she was 13 that she found support from a trans woman in a neighboring community, Paula Grossman. Although they didn’t stay in touch, the call from Grossman meant a great deal to Wagenblast, who eventually went on to college, got married, and had three daughters, all while living as a man.
Wagenblast had a successful career as a radio reporter, working for two of New York City’s most popular stations. She had been living as a man while recording the announcements for the city’s subway and AirTrain, which are in what she called her “old voice,” which was very male-sounding. However, she has since seen a voice therapist to feminize her voice.
Late last year, Wagenblast announced on social media her plans to live full-time as a woman in the new year, stating that she wanted to be able to tell her story in her own words. She has since changed her legal name to Bernie, which can be short for Bernadette, and is considering using her new voice on two podcasts she hosts.
Wagenblast and her wife have decided to separate, but she prefers not to give any details out of respect for her wife’s privacy. Despite the challenges she has faced, Wagenblast remains positive about the future, and hopes that her story will inspire others who are struggling with their gender identity.