It is my heartfelt honor to introduce Claire-Renee Kohner, a remarkable woman whose life story weaves together resilience, motherhood, and tireless advocacy. Claire-Renee is an American transgender journalist, activist, blogger, and devoted mother of three sons. Through her writing, she brings attention to both the everyday realities and the extraordinary achievements within the transgender and queer communities, with a special focus on artists, entertainers, and changemakers who are shaping culture from the margins inward. Claire-Renee has contributed over 100 published articles to esteemed outlets including The Advocate, Bustle, PlanetTransgender, GayEssentials, Original Plumbing, and her own platform Claire Channel Media, which she developed to amplify underrepresented voices in trans and queer storytelling. She has appeared on HuffPost Live, The Queer Radio Network, and MyTalk107.1, boldly discussing trans visibility, dating, and representation in media. Her digital presence, including PlanetClaire, continues to serve as a thoughtful hub for global transgender news.
Behind every article and appearance is a personal journey of astonishing depth. Claire-Renee came out publicly in support of gender-inclusive policies before city councils and national television cameras, moments that were as brave as they were vulnerable. Her path to womanhood was not easy, shadowed by depression, survival, and ultimately, rebirth. Yet, with quiet strength and radiant authenticity, she embraced her truth, turning hardship into hope, not only for herself, but for those who see themselves reflected in her words. Claire-Renee speaks not only as an advocate but as a survivor, a parent, a woman who knows loss and love, and a fierce believer in the power of community. Whether highlighting trans representation in media or confronting injustice in politics, she brings a fearless, compassionate voice to the ongoing fight for transgender dignity and visibility. Today, I am deeply moved to sit down with Claire-Renee, a woman whose story deserves not just to be read, but to be remembered.
Monika: Today, I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Claire-Renee Kohner, an American transgender journalist, activist, blogger, and proud mom of three boys. Claire-Renee reports on the positive aspects of the transgender community, covering everyday issues as well as stories about trans and queer actresses, directors, musicians, and the entertainment industry. Hello, Claire-Renee!
Claire-Renee: Hi Monika! Thank you so much for taking some time out of your day to interview me. I really appreciate what you do.
Monika: Could you please introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Monika: Could you please introduce yourself and share a bit about your background?
Claire-Renee: As you mentioned, I’m a transgender journalist, activist, and mother of three boys. I have over 100 published articles on platforms such as The Advocate, Bustle, PlanetTransgender, GayEssentials, Original Plumbing, and Claire Channel. I’ve also appeared on HuffPo Live, The Queer Radio Network, and MyTalk107.1 to discuss dating while transgender as well as current transgender issues. I’m passionate about amplifying transgender voices and fostering understanding through my work.
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Monika: That’s impressive! Could you tell us more about your media projects and what you’re currently working on?
Claire-Renee: Claire Channel Media, an outlet that includes two online papers and a pending YouTube channel, has been two years in the making and is currently on hiatus while we work on funding. CCM aims to archive all my past articles and provide accessible platforms for new queer and trans writers. Additionally, PlanetClaire is an online news aggregator featuring stories from around the world about transgender people, helping to connect and inform the community. I’m excited about the future opportunities these projects will create for queer media representation.
Monika: I read your short story in The New York Times series titled “Transgender Today.” What inspired you to come out publicly and share your story with a wider audience?
Monika: I read your short story in The New York Times series titled “Transgender Today.” What inspired you to come out publicly and share your story with a wider audience?
Claire-Renee: I first came out publicly about a year before that, at a Minneapolis City Council meeting when they were discussing a city ordinance to make single-stall restrooms gender-free. Six months later, I came out on national TV when I testified in support of the Minnesota State High School League’s Transgender Sports Policy. After that, I started doing interviews and media appearances about being transgender when my short story was published in the NYT series.
Monika: At what age did you first realize you were different, and when did you begin to understand that you wanted to transition to a woman?
Monika: At what age did you first realize you were different, and when did you begin to understand that you wanted to transition to a woman?
Claire-Renee: This is such a difficult question and probably the reason it took me so long to get back to you. I knew at the age of six that something was different, but it wasn’t until I was about ten years old that I told my mom I was “supposed to be born a girl.” That did not go over well. I reiterated it to her again at about thirteen, and once more, that went nowhere fast. These early years were filled with confusion and frustration as I struggled to express my true self.
Monika: How did you express your gender identity during your school years, and what kind of challenges did you face?
Claire-Renee: During most of high school, I shopped and wore clothes from women’s stores like Deb and Maurices in my small town of Winona. Needless to say, I became the school’s punching bag for dressing the way I did. But with New Wave music in full swing, I thought, “Hey, if Duran Duran can dress like this and wear makeup, why can’t I?” So I did. I never “secretly” dressed; I always dressed how I wanted, with no regrets. It was both empowering and isolating at the same time.
Monika: Did you face any mental health struggles related to your gender identity during this time?
Claire-Renee: Depression was a huge issue for me, and still is, as a result of my gender identity. Suicide was always at the forefront of my mind. About four years ago, in April 2013, I was in a horrible car accident that plunged me into even deeper depression. Knowing I was running out of options, in June 2013 I attempted to hang myself. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the crossbeam I used broke, and I face-planted on the concrete floor. That moment became a turning point in my life.
Monika: When did you finally begin to seek help and start your transition, and how did your family react?
Claire-Renee: Within a month of the suicide attempt, I was seeing a gender therapist behind my wife’s back, trying to decide what my options were. I had seen a therapist in the early ’90s, but back then, without HIPAA protections, I was involuntarily put into conversion therapy. That bad experience kept me away from therapists for more than a decade. In January 2014, I finally came out to my wife and family as transgender, and the decision was made to transition. Although it’s the best decision I’ve ever made, it has been both a difficult road and a deeply satisfying, lifesaving choice. I continue to grow and learn every day on this journey.
Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models or figures you looked up to for inspiration?
Claire-Renee: Living in a small town keeps you very isolated from what is going on in the bigger world, so I always thought that I was alone in what I felt and what I was going through. One day, my father was watching tennis and pointed to Renee Richards. He said, "Hey [Dead name], see that girl right there?" pointing at the TV, "she used to be a guy." I was blown away because I couldn’t believe there was someone else who could be like me. Research back then was limited to going to the library and searching for newspaper articles, so I read about what she was doing, and it allowed me to put a label and face to what I was going through. That moment gave me a sense of hope and belonging I had never experienced before.
I do realize that Ms. Richards has made some polarizing comments in the last few years about transitioning and her legacy, but she remains an important influence on my younger self in realizing that we have existed well before the sudden visibility we are seeing today.
Monika: Are there any transgender women today whom you admire or look up to for inspiration?
Monika: Are there any transgender women today whom you admire or look up to for inspiration?
Claire-Renee: I respect and admire all of my queer brothers, sisters, and in-betweeners because, oddly, it takes an amazing amount of pressure to conform to society’s binary standards. When marginalized folks like us decide to live the way we need to in order to survive, society backhands you with high murder and/or suicide rates. It can be incredibly intimidating to color outside the lines of cis-het normative culture. That resilience in itself is something I deeply admire.
Monika: Could you tell me about a specific transgender author or activist whose work has influenced you?
Claire-Renee: Specifically, I do admire Janet Mock; her book Redefining Realness was the first time any of us could read a biography by a trans woman and immediately identify with her experiences. The book made me feel less alone and allowed me to believe that there are people like me out there, which gave me hope to move forward with transitioning. Janet’s courage and honesty continue to inspire many of us every day.
Monika: Are there any transgender artists or creators you would like to highlight?
Claire-Renee: Jen Richards is also at the top of my list of people I admire (and would love to date…but that’s between you, me, and the millions reading this). Her series Her Story is the first time there has been an accurate portrayal of the trans community and our struggles with everyday life living ‘authentically’ (I hate that term, but it fits). Her work breaks barriers and creates understanding, which is so vital for our community’s visibility and acceptance.
Monika: Coming out as your authentic self often comes with a heavy cost, loss of family, friends, jobs, and social status. Did you experience such challenges? What was the hardest part of your coming out journey?
Monika: Coming out as your authentic self often comes with a heavy cost, loss of family, friends, jobs, and social status. Did you experience such challenges? What was the hardest part of your coming out journey?
Claire-Renee: Unfortunately, my coming out was not under my control. I had planned a big announcement for the summer of 2014 when I was unexpectedly ‘outed’ on Facebook. That meant I had to shift my focus to damage control for family members who followed me on social media. I immediately shut down my accounts and FedExed a letter to my parents explaining that I was transgender, what it meant to me, and how difficult life had been since I was about six. It was a painful but necessary step toward honesty.
Monika: What was your relationship like with your parents after you came out? Did they eventually come to terms with it?
Claire-Renee: My parents called me a few days later and were speechless. They came to visit me shortly after that call, but then, sadly, I basically never heard from them again, that was three and a half years ago. So yes, my parents were collateral damage to my coming out. It was heartbreaking, but I understand that everyone processes this kind of news differently and in their own time.
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| Being happy. |
Monika: How did your transition impact your marriage? Were there moments when you thought it might not survive?
Claire-Renee: My wife and I are trying our best to reconcile after 19 years of marriage. My transition was obviously difficult for her, and strangely, she wasn’t the one who considered leaving, it was me who decided to walk away for a time. We are currently in an open relationship and attending couples therapy. Our journey hasn’t been easy, but we remain committed to finding a way forward together.
Monika: And what about your friendships and social life? Did your transition change those aspects of your life?
Claire-Renee: On the positive side, I gained many new friends and a chosen family that I adore. I have three kids living with me, and although not all marriages survive a transition, we’re always working toward a happy medium. Honestly, I believe I paid the lowest possible price for coming out as transgender because I did not lose my job, my kids, my social position, or even my standing in the neighborhood. I’m a lucky trans girl, and that’s something I’m truly grateful for.
Monika: How would you describe the current visibility and representation of transgender women in media and society?
Claire-Renee: I’m not sure it’s thriving as much as it’s finally being put under a spotlight or finally given some visibility. We’ve always been around, it’s just that we’ve had to hide in the closet or face being persecuted or driven into conversion therapy. I think it’s awesome that we are getting to a point in society where we can come out into the open and get the support we need. It feels like a long-overdue recognition that we deserve space and respect. Monika: There seems to be a surge in media projects featuring transgender people. What’s your take on this “Trans-Pop” phenomenon?
Claire-Renee: I refer to the media attention as Trans-Pop; it seems everyone from MTV to the Discovery Channel is racing to air some sort of programming centered on a trans person. Shows seem to indiscriminately throw a trans person in for ratings, and there seems to be this media gold rush to find a trans person to stick in their film. We are not a fad or a marketing gimmick, so as soon as a trans person can play the role of a cisgender person, that’s when we know we’ve made it. This hype can be exhausting, but it also opens doors for authentic stories.
Monika: So, do you think society is truly embracing transgender people, or are we still at the beginning of this change?
Claire-Renee: To answer your question, yes, we are just scratching the surface, but it’s going to still take quite a few years before the cisgender population sees us as anything but outside the norm. Trans is normal; society needs to get used to that. I remain hopeful, though, because every step forward helps build a more inclusive world.
END OF PART 1
All the photos: courtesy of Claire-Renee Kohner.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
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