Interview with Jasmina von Leeds

Jasmina von Leeds is a German beauty stylist, YouTuber, singer, and actress, born and raised in Hannover, Germany. She is best known for her appearances in popular German TV series and shows such as Köln 50667, Barbara Salesch, Niedrig und Kuhnt, and Berlin Tag und Nacht. While she has made a name for herself in acting, Jasmina currently focuses on her passion for singing, dedicating herself to refining her vocal skills and performing electro music covers in clubs. She also runs a successful YouTube channel, Jasmina von Leeds, where she shares beauty tips, life insights, and personal experiences with her audience. Jasmina's journey as a transgender woman began at a young age, and she transitioned at 17 with the full support of her loving family. She reflects on her childhood as a time of growing realization that she was different, and she faced significant challenges, especially during high school, where she struggled with feelings of isolation and self-doubt. 

 

However, her faith and the support of her family and community have helped her overcome these difficulties, and she credits her spiritual beliefs with providing the strength to forgive those who had treated her poorly in the past. A passionate advocate for transgender women, Jasmina has openly shared her transition and personal story, recognizing the unique struggles faced by transgender individuals. She admires and respects those who face difficulties in passing as women, acknowledging her own privilege in having transitioned at a young age with access to good medical care. She is also open about her struggles with the criticisms she sometimes receives from both the cisgender and transgender communities but remains committed to living authentically and being true to herself.

Interview with Jessica McGuinness

Monika: Today I would like to introduce to you Jessica McGuinness, an American transgender activist and community leader, and an Emergency Medical Service professional. Her story was presented in Greg Miraglia's book "American Heroes Coming Out From Behind The Badge" (2010) that features examples of how police officers, firefighters, and EMS professionals have been able to come out and be successful on the job. Hello Jessica!

Jessica: Hello Monika! Thank you for having me. I’m really excited about this!

Monika: What are you doing these days?

Jessica: I worked in EMS for 12 years but had to resign due to worsening arthritis from hemophilia. After about a year of being on disability, I got hired at the University of Pittsburgh as a clinical specialist for the Pitt Men’s Study. The Pitt Men’s Study is a 30-year-old study for HIV. It’s been really incredible and I couldn’t be happier.
I was born in 1975 with hemophilia and grew up in the ’80s during the HIV outbreak. Remember Ryan White? I’m one of the lucky few that made it out of that time HIV-negative. Most of those kids I remember at the hemophilia center are all gone. It’s nice because I feel like I can give a little back to the community.

Interview with Christine Beatty

Christine Beatty is an American writer, senior software engineer, musician, and transgender activist. Born in San Mateo, California, she has made significant contributions to transgender visibility and advocacy. In 2000, she was honored as Transwoman of the Year by the Los Angeles Transgender Task Force, recognizing her impact on the community. Christine played a crucial role in organizing the 2003 Transgender Day of Remembrance in Los Angeles, an event dedicated to honoring the lives lost to anti-trans violence. The following year, she participated in an all-transgender production of The Vagina Monologues, directed by Calpernia Addams and Andrea James.

 

An accomplished writer, Christine has contributed articles to Spectator Magazine, Transgender Tapestry, TransSisters, and other LGBTQ publications. She is also the founder of Glamazon Press, a publishing company focused on the TS/TG community. Her literary works include Misery Loves Company (1993), a semi-autobiographical collection of short stories and poetry, and Not Your Average American Girl (2011), a memoir detailing her life and transition. In addition to her literary achievements, Christine is the founder and lead singer of the rock band Glamazon, an all-transsexual hard rock group that emerged in the 1990s. Despite facing challenges in the music industry, her work as a musician has been pioneering for transgender representation in rock music.

Interview with Veronique Renard

Monika: Today I am meeting a fascinating woman. Veronique Renard is a Dutch painter and writer, Buddhist, and pro-Tibet activist, the author of "The Tibetan Freedom Struggle trilogy, and her autobiographical book titled "Pholomolo - No Man No Woman". Her full name is Véronique Françoise Caroline Renard. Inspired by the meeting with the Dalai Lama in India in 2000, she adopted the name of Pantau.

She is the great-granddaughter of the renowned French painter Paul Renard. Veronique lived and worked in the Indian Himalayas, Kerala, and Bangkok. In 2000, she established the Pantau Foundation with a view to raising funds and helping Tibetan refugee children living in exile in India. Hello Veronique!

Veronique: Namaste Monika, thank you so much for contacting me. I hope my contribution to your website will be helpful to many people.

Monika: What are you doing these days?

Veronique: I am still working on my next novel, Comrades of the Cut Sleeve, a story about a closeted gay Chinese military general who is in the process of liberating himself. These days all my books are about how to find happiness, enlightenment, I suppose.

Monika: You are one of the few people that met the Dalai Lama in person. What impact did the meeting have on you?

Veronique: Meeting him first time was very interesting. However, he didn’t mean that much to me at that time. I kind of accidentally met him.