Racheal McGonigal was born on August 12, 1955, in Gisborne, New Zealand. A proud Kiwi, she has lived a life filled with diverse experiences, personal transformation, and an unyielding zest for life. From an early age, Racheal was an achiever. Growing up as Andrew David, she excelled in academics and sports, serving as Head Prefect at Lindisfarne College in Hastings and playing as a first XV prop in the school's rugby team. She naturally gravitated toward leadership, becoming the chairman of various organizations and a respected figure in her community.
Her academic journey led her to university, though her reputation as the ‘Phantom Dippy’, a reference to her penchant for skipping classes, became well known. Despite her unconventional approach, she remained a sought-after confidante and leader among her peers. Racheal’s early adult years followed a traditional path. She purchased a sheep and beef farm in Patoka, near Napier, married, and became the father of two children. However, beneath this conventional exterior, she wrestled with an identity she had yet to fully understand. She had been crossdressing from a young age, but it wasn’t until much later that she recognized her true self.
Eventually, she embraced her identity as Racheal McGonigal, a transition that came with both liberation and loss. Her rebirth meant leaving behind her former life, and tragically, she lost contact with her children in the process. But despite the hardships, she found herself, strong, confident, and unapologetically authentic. Racheal’s career has been as varied as her life experiences. She has been a farmer, horticulturist, storeman, salesman, territory manager, sales manager, café owner, tractor salesman, and fashion accessory boutique owner. Beyond conventional professions, she has also worked as an escort, BDSM mistress, brothel owner, and escort agency operator, and has been involved in the world of swingers clubs. Her ability to navigate different social circles, from politicians and CEOs to wharf workers and rednecks, speaks to her adaptability and innate charisma.
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| Just who I am, Racheal Amanda McGonigal. |
Though she is not an activist in the traditional sense, Racheal is a strong advocate for transsexuals and their journeys, emphasizing their right to be seen as normal and accepted. While she supports the transgender and gay communities, she identifies specifically as a transsexual woman, believing that education and understanding can break down societal fears and misconceptions. Above all, Racheal McGonigal is a woman who loves life. She is confident, happy, and full of laughter, qualities that make her seem at least a decade younger than her actual years. Her journey, marked by resilience and self-discovery, is chronicled in her books, offering readers a glimpse into the extraordinary life of a woman who has lived boldly and without regrets. Through her writing, Racheal shares her unique story, inspiring others to embrace their true selves and live life to the fullest.
Monika: Today, I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Racheal McGonigal, an author, businesswoman, and transgender activist from New Zealand. She has written several books, including Transgender Guide (2012), Country Boy to City Girl (2012), Summer Storm (2012), A Pictorial Transformation - Him to Her (2012), Be Careful What You Wish For (2013), and Reflections (2013). In our conversation, we’ll discuss her transition and the current situation for transgender women in New Zealand. Welcome, Racheal!
Racheal: Thanks, Monika. Thanks for the opportunity to speak out as I believe the more we show ourselves, the sooner we will be accepted in society as understanding/education is the key to end discrimination.
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| 'Now we can say her body matches her soul'. Sanguan Kunaporn. 6 weeks post-SRS. |
Monika: Can you share a bit about your career journey and the different paths you've taken?
Racheal: A very diverse career. farmworker, sheep and beef farmer, horticulturist, restaurant provider, storeman, salesman, key account manager, territory manager, cafe owner, fashion boutique store owner, tractor salesman, prostitution is not illegal downunder so escort, brothel owner, escort agency owner, mistress, unemployed writer.
Monika: What are the most pressing issues on the transgender advocacy agenda in New Zealand today?
Monika: What are the most pressing issues on the transgender advocacy agenda in New Zealand today?
Racheal: I think New Zealand is likely one of the top three places for TS/TG in the world. Generally, one-on-one, we are accepted pretty well. The issues arise with employment, health care, and, for the younger ones, in schools. We can now marry more easily (same-sex marriage is legal), and we can get an ‘X’ on our passport or even choose ‘M’ or ‘F’ based on how we identify, rather than what is between our legs. We can also change the sex identifier without proof of SRS.
Personally, I believe one of the main issues is actually within the TG community, and that is learning to work together and accepting that others have a right to differing opinions. The squabbling and bickering make us look like little kids making demands. We need to work together, acknowledging that all are equal. I would also say mental health issues, particularly suicide, are a high priority. Better access to SRS/GRS would help with this.
Monika: A few years ago, I read an article about transgender women in New Zealand criticizing the healthcare system, particularly the long wait times for gender reassignment surgery. While the procedure is free, the wait can take years, leading many to seek surgery in Thailand instead. Has anything changed since then?
Racheal: Alas, no, it hasn’t. You must remember we are only a small country of 4 million people. So, while a waiting list of 53 may not seem bad, with only three MtF surgeries and one FtM surgery allocated every two years, that list is growing and will take some 30 years to clear. We also have only one surgeon performing SRS/GRS, and he is about to retire. His reputation isn’t great either, with a high percentage of his patients needing touch-up or follow-up work compared to Thai surgeons.
I think the main reasons girls go to Thailand are the price, experience, and quality of the surgeons there. The New Zealand surgery is government-funded, but for private patients, it would cost around NZ$30K–40K. Meanwhile, surgery in Thailand, including airfares, accommodation, and BA, plus a holiday would cost around NZ$20K in total.
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| Normal kiwi bloke - Fishing, beer, rugby, woman. |
Racheal: Cost mainly, but also the experience of the surgeon. Sanguan Kunaporn had performed the procedure on 639 patients before me. I was confident he knew what he was doing. Searching his name in Google Groups produced few criticisms of him.
I guess I never really considered Europe or America due to the distance and the prices I was told by other girls, which made them out of reach. When I was emailing back and forth with Sanguan, he was prompt and clear. I felt I was actually talking to him, and I later found out that I had been, at least up to that point, he insisted on answering his own emails to prospective patients.
Monika: How would you describe the current situation for transgender women in New Zealand? What challenges do they face today?
Racheal: Too much bitching between the various different sectors. Not enough consideration of the needs of others. Alas, transsexuals are the minority within the minority, yet they are the neediest. They need access to hormones and surgeries, and I believe their suicide rates would be higher. Unfortunately, no data is collected on transgender people.
Many girls turn to the sex industry as a way to fund their surgery and, in doing so, become exposed to drugs, which causes more issues. Don’t get me wrong, not all turn to sex work. Many girls are out working normal jobs, from lawyers to car parts managers, checkout operators to university lecturers, surgeons to shop owners. Most of these, though, are non-TS transgender people. It is more often the TS women who turn to sex work.
Monika: In recent years, more transgender women have come out publicly in the USA, with some achieving celebrity status. Figures like Lana Wachowski in film, Jenna Talackova in modeling, Kate Bornstein in academia, Laura Jane Grace in music, and Candis Cayne in acting have brought more visibility to the community. Have you noticed a similar trend in New Zealand?
Racheal: I heard the other day that the Auckland Sexual Health and Gender Clinic, where a lot of transgender people go, has seen a huge increase in the number of FtM individuals. I would have to say, it appears there are definitely a lot more transgender people now, and they are a lot younger—mostly under 25. I wouldn’t say the number of transsexuals is increasing, but more are being seen. Alas, no figures are collected, so it’s just my feeling.
Monika: At what age did you begin your transition, and what was the experience like for you? Did you face significant challenges along the way?
Racheal: Around 48, I came out to all. I’d been on hormones for close to 2 years. I lost 3 stones (42 lb) in 3 months. I lost my father 10 days after I came out, my kids disowned me, and I have never heard from them since. Rumors and exaggerations were rife in the community where I lived. I lost a beautiful lady who I loved. My business suffered due to our bitter break-up. Stress was huge, and I guess I went a bit ballistic. So I had no support from family or friends.
Monika: For many transgender women, school, college, or university can be a particularly traumatic time due to discrimination and bullying. Was your experience similar to that, or did you have a different journey?
Racheal: No. I can understand it, but I never realized I was transsexual until likely around 40. It’s hard for many to comprehend, but you have to look at the years and what it was like back then. I knew I was different from around 7 but didn’t understand it. I never heard the word "transsexual" until I was around 15.
Transsexuals were the "dirty girls" who worked the streets, used drugs, and had diseases. That wasn’t me, so why would I think I was like that? Homosexuality and prostitution were illegal, and words like "faggot," "queer," and "poofter" were commonplace. We didn’t have Google or the internet, just libraries, and what was I going to sneak in and look up? I couldn’t go online in anonymity, ask questions, and learn.
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| Normal kiwi girl - shopping, wine, shoes, men. |
Monika: At the time of your transition, did you have any transgender role models or sources of support to guide you? What was your understanding of transgender experiences back then?
Racheal: There is no such word as "Transgenderism." All the new words and terms we invent and use just keep us further from acceptance because it makes it too hard for society to understand us. They can’t be bothered to, and so throw us in a barrel and say, “So you’re one of those.” Sorry, but it is my pet dislike. Neither the DSM nor WHO’s ICD recognizes it, but they recognize "Transsexualism."
As explained in the last question, my knowledge grew really slowly due to access to information back then. It’s not that way now, thankfully, due mainly to the internet. Also, there has been an improvement in discrimination. It wasn’t until I came out that I found a couple of role models, but they weren’t really that important to me. I knew who I was, and I was lucky in that I am a strong person and confident.
Monika: Transgender women often face the challenge of whether they "pass" as women or not. While you are a beautiful woman, what advice or thoughts do you have for those transgender women who struggle daily with concerns about passing?
Racheal: Thanks, but I am not special. I get sprung. I think too many ladies worry too much about passing. About their appearance and voice. It causes more stress. For those who feel it’s important, go for it, but for me, passing has never been a huge issue or worry. I still have the deep masculine voice that pisses me off heaps on the phone when people call me ‘Sir’.
For me, if I change my voice, and I can, then it is false, it’s a lie, and it isn’t me. I am just who I am, real. I walk alone anywhere a natal woman will walk alone. I don’t care or fire off at someone who says ‘You’re a man.’ I just look at them and say, ‘Used to be, but then my brain kicked in, and I realized the best side to bat for.’ Or, ‘Bet I have bigger balls than you, mate. You wouldn’t do what I have.’ Or I take every opportunity to educate and say, ‘I used to be, but now I am all woman. What would you like to know?’
Education is the way to end discrimination, not demanding rights, which just causes friction.
Monika: With modern cosmetic surgery advancements, transitioning later in life, say, in your 50s or 60s, seems more possible than ever. Do you think it's truly achievable? What advice would you give to transgender women considering transitioning at that age?
Racheal: I know lots who have transitioned in their 50s, 60s. Had FFS and SRS/GRS. I suggest people go to a busy café in a mall. Sit for an hour and watch the women at your age walking around. Are they all stunningly gorgeous and passable? Picture perfect? I’m 57. I get sprung more when I have the long blonde hair to my butt and the beautiful clothes than when I have a brown bob and a floral dress below the knees. No one notices me then.
END OF PART 1
All the photos: courtesy of Racheal McGonigal.
© 2013 - Monika Kowalska
