TRANS – Transgender Life Stories from South Africa (Reviewed by Ulla Kelly, January 2010)

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:31:41 +0100

First, see the next person as a person, before you worry about the sexual part of it, whether it's a man, or whether it's a woman, or whether it's a drag queen. Don't look at me as a trans man, don't even look at me as a man; think of me as a person, first and foremost, it's not about what's dangling or not dangling between my legs.” - Charl Marais

TRANS – Transgender Life Stories from South Africa (edited by Ruth Morgan, Charl Marais & Joy Rosemary Wellbeloved and published by Fanele, 2009) does exactly what it says on the lid, giving us verbatim life stories and interviews with transgender Africans and South Africans. It does more than that though, also giving voice to friends, family and partners of the interviewees.

It's an intensely fascinating book – the individual stories and opinions and Robert Hamblin's very excellent photographs leap off the page – you can almost hear each person speak. Forget reading dry, academic gender studies; this is the real deal and it contains just about any emotion you can imagine and some you probably can't. There's a diverse mix in terms of race, age and so on too.

I flicked through it at first and then became drawn in by the stories, started from the beginning and read it cover to cover. It's a book I'd imagine would be an absolute godsend to anyone who wants to transition, is transitioning or has already transitioned – but I am none of the above and I found it enthralling.

It is also a truly South African book and it bears the deep scars of apartheid too. There's the apartheid government's offers of experimental sex-change surgery, someone who shot the penis she loathed while at a military hospital; but sadly the accounts of racial and gender discrimination extend far beyond the death of apartheid.

There are frank opinions about sex, sexuality and gender – joyous as well as painful; the book contains a vast amount of struggle but perhaps an even bigger amount of hope. You'll also find out the questions trans people most hate being asked (e.g. what have you got between your legs?) – and in many cases, you'll get the answers too. You might be as surprised as I was to learn of the long history of transgenderism in Africa too. Fadwaan Murphy made the headlines recently, as a male convict whose biological gender was discovered to be female when he was strip searched, but did you know that back in the 1950's, the Drum featured Gertie Williams, a District Six gangster who was also a trans man? Or that a black nurse called Christina spent 65 years concealing her biologically male identity?

Let's also not forget what an incredibly brave book this is. In a society that doesn't even give men and women equal rights, there is a ludicrous amount of intolerance towards trans people. A lot of people have taken a lot of risks by having their names and faces alongside their stories. Even within the LGBTQI (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex) spectrum, there's some transphobia. Once you've read the book, you'll wonder why on earth society tries to exclude this bunch of brave and creative people.

Gender DynamiX – +27 021 633 5287 / info@genderdynamix.org.za

{click image to buy book - please note, I do not receive anything from book sales - I really just loved this book}

Should Celebrities Come Out?

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:25:12 +0100

I suppose I keep on asking that question, because I have firm opinions about it and I wish everyone agreed with me. Obviously they don’t – and why on earth should they? After starting the Coming Out Stories project, I began to interview queer artists and celebrities and the above question is one I pretty much always include. I also decided to ask the question on the coming out blog and also canvas a few hundred of my close personal Facebook contacts. It’s not even a remotely representative or accurate survey, but then, are they ever? I’m not offering statistics here, just opinions and in my humble opinion, all opinions are valid.

Should they be left peacefully in their comfortable closets? Should they leap out, face the fear and the fire and add their voices to the struggle? Those two statements are a blatant indication of my own bias, but read the following responses to my question and decide for yourself. Please feel free to leave your views and opinions in the comments section.

Maggie Faris
They are entitled to their privacy. I think its good for the GLBT movement when they do come out but everyone has their own process and time frame and I think we should all be respectful of that. Except Clay Aiken. I mean c’mon, we all knew.

Joshua Klipp
I respect people’s personal choices about coming out or not. I also know that seeing celebrities come out when i was younger had a profound impact on me - it completely changed and shaped my life growing up. That’s why i think it’s important people continue to exercise that courage if they feel they have it in them. It makes the world a better place.

Esjay Jones of Stealing Love Jones
Everyone’s entitled to their privacy. Gay people want to be acknowledged and respected so they should do the same unto others. Its the fundamental principle of knowing that everyone in their individuality is precious.

Kate Clinton
When homophobia disappears closeted celebrities can be fully entitled to their privacy.

Melanie Lowe
I think it’s a personal choice. It always amazes me that nobody expects a celeb to openly admit they’re straight. While I will concede that people are more inclined to to assume “the norm” the theory still applies. Why are people forced to categorise themselves? It should have nothing to do with who a person is sleeping with and EVERYTHING to do with their art. If people want to put me in a box, they are welcome to and I will leave them to their theories and thoughts on who or what I am but I am just me. I never planned to be public property. The public decided to put me there. No matter what I say, they already have preconceived ideas of who and what I am. I don’t think I owe anyone but myself, a private viewing of my life and I should imagine most celebs feel the same. I am entirely comfortable with who I am as a person and I can’t spend my life trying to make other’s comfortable with me. When you are sitting in your rocking chair at the end of your life, reflecting on all you’ve done, you are the only person you will have to answer to. Everyone else who ever criticised you, or tried to change you will be sitting in their own rocking chairs, thinking only of themselves as well. You won’t feature then, so why feature now. I do think that no-one has the right to judge another person and if someone chooses to keep their private life, private, it’s their choice and people should respect that.

Karma
It really should be left up to the individual as to what they do and do not wish to discuss with the press. I don’t feel any sense of obligation to discuss my sexuality or private life with the press on a general basis and certainly steer clear of involving any friends or partner in these discussions when I choose to do the occasional interview. My personal view is that the only reason I am being interviewed is because I am a musician – so lets talk music!

Melissa Conradie of Holly and the Woods
I think that’s all personal preference. Some want to be private about their sexuality, while others are fine with having everyone know about it. I don’t think anyone should be pressured to make their sexuality known, just because they’re a public figure and are forced to now become a role model for the gay community. It’s a big responsibility to take on.

The Magic of Pegasus
Graeme: Sure, every role model out there helps. Plus when you’re caught at your local glory hole at least the media won’t be surprised, you can just be like: “what? I already told you silly!” On the other hand, I can understand people wanting to keep their private life out of the public eye. As long as it’s not a case of hiding who you are out of shame, I think that’s also okay.
Sean la Bang - Of course… Be your sexy self!

Mel Sanson of Kenelis
I think they should get out!

Claudine West of The Idolins
I think if you are in the public eye, then don’t expect your secrets not to be shared. The press love that kind of scandal. Closets can be very deep dark lonely places. But then again. Who is really that bothered nowadays? Cultures are evolving, acceptance of peoples diversities becomes the norm eventually.
Bigots mostly don’t change they just get more screwed up.

Drik
They should be able to come out if they want to.

Virginia Rainbow
Same as everyone else, they are intitled to their own privacy and can come out if they want to but it shouldn’t be an obligation upon them to do so.

Thando
yeah like err1 else they shd only if they want…tht wd b nyc tho if they wd cum out,maybe gay pple wd b taken seriously…imagine th impact if say Angelina wd tel the world sh is gay…mmmh

Saroj
Actually I think Angelina admitted she’s bisexual…but I digress. I think while people should be comfortable in their own skin, the industry is cruel. It depends on the person, and how well they’d be able to handle the repercussions. Some are aggressive and will shut down any attempt to defame them solely on their orientation, others can’t. Maybe for some, privacy is best in that case.

Natasha
The life of a celebrity is considerably public these days however I think they are certainly entitled to their privacy. When Ellen, Melissa etc came out it was a great time for lesbians.They should not feel pressured to out themselves because of their status but out themselves if it’s what brings them happiness. Life in the closet is very repressed and secretive .. nothing good ever comes from secrets.

Jonathan
If someone is being hypocritical in that they’re being homophobic whilst being in the closet then there could be an argument for outing them but if someone is gay in their own private life and doesn’t wish for whatever reason to come out then that should be respected.

Alastair
i agree with the bove that celebrities have much more high profile lives than the rest of us and a lot of society is not particularly accepting. When a private individual comes out it is to their friends and family - the people across the street or at the papershop won’t know unless you want them to. If a celebrity comes outeveryone in the world (… Read Morethat watches E!) does. I’m generally of the opinion that peoples romantic lives are not my concern - that fascination is, to me, the least appealing of our celebrity obssessd culture - i honestly don’t mind who other people date gay, straight or both. People can stay closeted or come out as they like - regardless of how high or low profile they are. If however someone is a high profile hypocrite i believe in them being exposed - and thats not particular to homosexuality - if anyone makes a hypocrisy a key part of their public persona - and profits from it - they should be exposed

Samantha
i think they should come out or else be outed!yeah!

Munks
I think it depends on their personal circumstances. Much of which we are not privy to. Many feel they don’t need to be part of the ’cause’ that’s cool - each to their own politics. I don’t believe in outing though.

Sophie
Well I think there’s ultimately no danger in coming out, only in not coming out and being outed by unnuanced media. It’s something which is their choice but it’s best if they recognize that they better tell anyone themselves than have it rumored around by the media. People, either celebrities or me and you, have their right to privacy, but there’s no rule that tells you can’t have a private life and be out at the same time. If you live an out life than people will know, especially when you’re a celeb. If you don’t live an out life despite being gay than you give a signal to society that you need to in the closet to succeed, and I think that’s plain b*s* . The more queer celebs are out the more they will be treated regularly like any other celeb, meaning to say that sexuality being no big deal will be the way ahead, just like no ff*ing media makes a fuss about celebs being straight.

abg
It would give the media less to play detective about, lol…

articles

TRANS – Transgender Life Stories from South Africa (Reviewed by Ulla Kelly, January 2010)

Should Celebrities Come Out?