qx1072.pdf

(30457 KB) Pobierz
clubs
bars
cabaret
life
No 1072 24 September 2015
Men
Self-Made
18
Suitable only for persons
of 18 years and over
Self-made Men:
Trans Guys on the Scene
While the LGBT scene seeks to cultivate an environment of empowerment, it remains a place of
uncertainty, ignorance and persecution for a high number of trans men.
Chris Godfrey speaks to four trans guys about their experiences on the LGBT scene.
Jake Graf
Before I transitioned I was on the lesbian
scene and used to work in candy bar, so
that was my community. It’s weird, obviously
you know what the scene is like; on the girl’s
scene there’s this anti-men thing where
all the girls group together and they go to
women’s bars and that was
obviously a bit isolating for
me. But I was part of that
community at the time, so I
went along with that.
And I guess when I
transitioned it was really
not taken well at all. I was
told by a lot of the girls I
shouldn’t do it and there
was a real feeling that I was
jumping ship on the scene.
It was almost like I was
becoming a traitor, becoming the enemy.
When I went back about a year or two
into transition, I was punched by a lesbian,
I was spat at by someone else, so just the
With me no one
ever knows that I’m
trans; if anything
when I tell people
they say ‘no you’re
not, that’s bullshit’.
usual stuff. They’d grab me between the legs when I told
them I was trans. This happens to a lot of trans people
apparently, so that’s one of the perks: getting grabbed
by strangers in the middle of the street between your
legs. So that was from the girls and obviously more and
more I sort of distanced myself from that kind of thing.
I know that a lot of guys have quite bad experiences
from what I hear. When you do the big reveal, which
you probably have to at some point, as otherwise it
could be quite awkward, I know a lot
of guys would say that you’re not a cis
guy therefore I don’t want to date you.
But in my experience that hasn’t been
the case. So I’ve been quite lucky in
that respect.
With me no one ever knows that
I’m trans; if anything when I tell people
they say ‘no you’re not, that’s bullshit’
and I have to show my or hand or
something (as we tend to have smaller
hands than cis guys) just to prove that
I am trans, which is ridiculous. But I
know that there are people obviously who don’t present
in the way that I do, who are happy not to present in
the binary way and obviously they, I would say, are
certainly more at risk.
Fox Fisher
I’m out on a national level and
have been since I took part in My
Transsexual Summer on Channel
4, four years ago. Despite being an
out trans activist, I can still go down
the pubs or the shops and just be
read as a guy. People sometimes
read me as a gay guy, which is fine
by me as I’m pansexual, so it’s kind
of half right!
Before I transitioned I tried to
live my life as a woman but that
didn’t really work for me at all. I
feel like I’ve had many lifetimes
in one and it’s strange to be on
this side of things now get to live
my life as a male, as my authentic
self. I’m just so happy to be seen
as myself, as a guy. I don’t really
care how I’m read and I think a
lot of trans guys feel like that too.
I would say about four or five
years ago there wasn’t really a
trans community. We would just
meet up each year for Trans Day
of Remembrance, which is very
sombre and honours any trans
related deaths, naming those
who didn’t make it that year
globally.
So when we set up Trans Pride
in Brighton we wanted it to be
separate to ‘big pride’ as we felt
the larger pride events (in bigger
cites) are further down the line
with equality and awareness.
They’re at a point of party and
celebration, which is a wonderful
thing, but as trans people, we’re
still at that point where we’re
trying to help people understand
that gender expression is a
human right. Obviously a lot of
trans people may also be part
of the gay/lesbian community,
depending on their sexuality.
But when we first set up Trans
pride Brighton I remember us
bringing flyers around to different
gay bars and clubs and felt some
hostility from the staff there and
maybe a bit of confusion too -
maybe they didn’t understand a
trans person’s needs or why we
were doing something separate.
I think there are issues among
the LGBTI community to
try and understand one
another better with all our
categories, which have
historically had different
issues and agendas.
Regardless of sexuality or
gender expression, we’re
all bonded by our non-
conformity.
But since the first Trans
Pride event three years
ago, I’ve seen a lot of
integration in Brighton
and support from the gay
community. Particularly for
the trans movement we’re
making progress through
film and the media, and
there are lots of people
coming out who are quite
well known. Things are
shifting on a massive scale
and people are becoming
more and more aware. I
think things are looking
very positive for us.
2
qxmagazine.com
Lewis Hancox
These days going out is all positive for me, because I’m at a
stage where it doesn’t matter where I’m going, whether it’s the
LGBT scene or straight clubs. But back in the day, when I was
earlier in my transition I remember feeling quite uncomfortable.
When you’re at the earlier stages of transitioning you really
focus on other people’s perceptions of you and you’re really
self-conscious. I think that heightens everything around you
really. In the early stages of my transition when I went out I
was what people perceived to be a lesbian, I would feel like I
fitted in going into the all girl clubs. And when I was perceived
as perhaps transitioning to a guy, I did feel like when you
walked into a place all eyes are on you, that people would be
thinking ‘what are you doing here?’
I did actually get a bit of negativity from a gay guy with
his boy friend and he could tell that I was born female and he
was quite hostile towards me, saying ‘oh you’re pretending
to be a guy’, which you wouldn’t really expect from the gay
community, because you’d think that people would be more
accepting since they’ve had to go through things themselves.
So I remember that that affected me quite a lot really.
When I’d go to the LGBT scene that would actually make
me feel a little bit more uncomfortable. I guess I was just quite
conscious of wanting to be seen as a straight guy and people
weren’t really seeing me as that; they perhaps either saw me
as gay or I got one comment from a guy saying I was a butch
lesbian even though I’d been on the hormones and everything
I still looked a bit more androgynous.
I’d either get perceived as a butch lesbian or a gay guy,
which wasn’t what I was and that was quite frustrating, as
I didn’t seem to get
people labelling me if I
went out around clubs
that weren’t LGBT.
But I guess after
I looked more and
more naturally male
I would go into the
clubs where perhaps it
was mainly guys and
obviously everyone
would just presume
that I was a gay guy
myself. But I’m not
bothered by that now;
I think it’s something
that you’re more
conscious of when your
more focussed on the
transition.
Now I go out in
Soho and it’s always
great, no one mistakes me for female anymore and if people
don’t know I’m trans and perhaps think I’m a gay guy
that doesn’t bother me one bit. I guess I’m just a bit more
comfortable with myself.
In the more queer spaces it’s been a lot
more positive, compared to if it’s a more
designated lesbian or gay space.
Leng Montgomery
The scene is a mixed bag for trans people to be honest. In the more queer spaces it’s been a lot more
positive, compared to if it’s a more designated lesbian or gay space. I’d say I’d go on the scene less
and less, partly because as a trans male I don’t feel that there are many spaces open to us. When I was
a lesbian I feel that if I was looking to pull or meet people it would be a better space for me, but now I
don’t really know what spaces are available to me.
I prefer to disclose because that way I know that someone has that knowledge and also it gives me
a good indication if someone’s aware if someone’s ok with stuff like that. I was in a bar in Soho once
and a guy went to kiss me and was getting a bit gropey, and I said well by the way I’m trans. Then
he was like ‘eurgh, I don’t deal with people like you’, and he punched me in the face. That was about
eight months ago.
Sometimes I’ve even found on apps like Grindr and things like that, that sometimes when people
realise that I was born female – because I’m quite open about it – I get a lot of negativity. I’ve had more
polite messages where people have said ‘that’s not my thing’ and that’s fair enough, but some people
who’ve been like eurgh you’re not a real man or that sort of thing.
Generally, I don’t think people are going out of their way to be outwardly hostile. Some people -
because they panic about it instead of being mature about it - sometimes they respond in quite extreme
ways and that isn’t always a nice situation to be in.
But I don’t feel overly negative about it either. I don’t let it prevent me going out but I just don’t really
have many expectations on the scene. I just feel it’s based on a lack of understanding. I definitely feel
that there’s still a lot of education and acceptance to happen within even the LGBT community, in the
same way that straight people don’t always get it.
I have found though, that on a personal level that the people I’ve had constant encounters with or have
had relationships with are people that generally seem to be a lot more secure in their sexuality or who they
Self Made Men
The term Self Made Men, and its dual meaning, was made famous by Jason Robert Ballard,
who started a community resource site for trans men before going on to launch US based FTM
Magazine. The term, which literally refers to us having had to ‘reconstruct’ and make ourselves
into the men that we are today, has been widely adopted by the trans male community,
particularly in the States. It’s very prevalent on sites like Instagram, as a sort of underground
code that allows us to recognise each other, much like ‘Friend of Dorothy’, I guess! - Jake
3
qxmagazine.com
Jersey Wows!
By Dom Top
When you think of Pride celebrations, you normally think of
London, Brighton, Manchester, Madrid etc. You probably don’t
think of the Channel islands. Why is that? Oh, maybe because
until last week they’d never had one!
In a truly
heartwarming
display of
support for
equality, the
Channel
Island’s
LGBTQI+
community
and their
friends turned
out in droves.
On Friday 11th of September, the Sex Shells, a band of
comedic miscreants including yours truly, flew to Jersey
for the first-ever Channel Islands Pride. After a few
drinks, possibly illegal car journeys and last minute
rehearsals, we arrived at a charming pub named the
Green Rooster,
(Minden
Place, JE2 4WQ)
to open
the proceedings with a foul-mouthed show that left
most of the audience horrified, bewildered and mildly
amused. With that, the inaugural Channel Islands
Pride had begun.
Organised by
Christian May
and the
team at inclusive charity, Liberate under the
#HausofLiberate moniker, this Pride was clearly
a labour of love for a group who had fought long
and hard to bring equality to their island home.
The following day, we boarded a rainbow bus at
West’s Centre and set off through the streets of St
Helier, to Weighbridge Square where a bevy of acts,
including home-grown talent
Bother,
headliner
Heather Peace,
Shirley Bassey impersonator
Paula Randell
and some very handsome young
singers were ready to entertain an expected crowd
of a thousand revellers on the main stage.
As it turned out, they were actually performing
to a crowd of roughly three thousand. In a truly
heartwarming display of support for equality, the
Channel Island’s LGBTQI+ community and their
friends turned out in droves. All there to celebrate
each other, enjoy the beautiful weather and take
part in the host of festivities put together by their
organizers, Liberate.
The year’s theme of Proud and Free was perfect, as
everyone from twinks, to hunks, to bears, dads, blokes,
delightful drag queens, lovely lesbians, supportive
parents, fabulous friends and more swarmed the
Weighbridge Square, listening to rousing and inspiring
speeches from Heather Peace and Christian May.
Of course no Pride celebration would be complete
without a bit of partying, which Shameless at
Ce Soir
(10
Caledonia Place, Weighbridge, St Helier JE2 3NG)
was more than happy to provide. It’s not a stretch
to say the Sex Shells embraced and disgraced the
island of Jersey in equal measure, during a party that
rivalled some of the biggest Pride bashes we’ve ever
seen. All we’re saying is that tequila is lethal and STAY
OUT OF THAT BOUDOIR!
Thank you Jersey, for having us, for showing your
colours and for putting on a truly wonderful Pride event.
Here’s to next year!
To find out more about Channel Islands Pride,
go to www.liberate.je
Photos: Natalie Mayer Photography / www.nataliemayer.com
4
qxmagazine.com

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin