Interview with Eden Lane

Eden Lane is an award-winning American journalist, producer, and arts and culture reporter for Colorado Public Radio. She holds a groundbreaking place in broadcast history as the first openly transgender person in mainstream television journalism in the United States. But Eden’s story is not just one of firsts, it’s a testament to quiet strength, resilience, and grace under pressure. Raised in southeast Michigan, Eden's early love for storytelling and performance led her to New York, where she studied in college and immersed herself in the worlds of theater and dance. This artistic spirit later found a new home in journalism, where she built a respected career by giving others the spotlight. For more than a decade, she produced and hosted programs for PBS12, including the LGBTQ magazine Colorado OUTSpoken and the acclaimed In Focus with Eden Lane, a weekly interview series celebrating the voices of artists, writers, performers, and visionaries in Colorado’s cultural scene.

 

In 2008, Eden became the first openly transgender journalist to cover a major U.S. political event for PBS, when she reported on the Democratic National Convention. Her visibility, though never her initial goal, made her a role model to many in the LGBTQ community. Even when her transgender history was weaponized by others in politics and the media, Eden stayed focused on her work, refusing to let the noise derail her mission: to tell human stories with integrity, depth, and empathy. Balancing a demanding career with life as a wife, mother, and homemaker, Eden has always embraced her many roles with humility. She has also anchored national news segments and continues to use her platform to explore the intersections of identity, art, and social change. Whether she is interviewing emerging artists or producing a documentary on trans representation in media, Eden Lane leads with quiet courage and unshakable dignity. Today, Eden lives in Colorado with her loving husband and daughter. She remains deeply committed to creating space for underrepresented voices, while also proving that you can live a meaningful, ordinary, beautiful life, even while making history.

 

In Focus with Eden Lane - 429 Leading Ladies.
Source: YouTube.

 

Monika: Hello Eden! I’ve seen you on TV so many times, and now I finally get to talk to you. Wow, I’m so happy to be speaking with you today!

Eden: Hello Monika! I admire your blog, and I am thrilled that we can share our thoughts with your readers. It's such a meaningful space for connection and visibility. I'm really looking forward to this conversation!

Monika: You wear so many hats, wife, mother, homemaker, journalist, producer, and you carry them all with such grace. It’s a demanding load by any measure. How do you manage to stay grounded while balancing so many responsibilities?

Eden: For me, it’s impossible to take it all in at once. The old adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time”, is a great reminder. My electronic devices can help me stay on track for deadlines and family events, but I also have learned that I can’t excel in all areas at the same time; at least not without the support of my family.

Monika: Your coming out wasn't planned. Some time ago, during your political reporting, your transgender status was dragged into the spotlight and used as a weapon in a smear campaign, targeting not just you, but even the politicians you were covering, both Democrat and Republican. Did you have any strategy in place for responding to such a personal and underhanded attack? And did you ever imagine that your identity would become a point of controversy in your professional life?

Eden: ”Coming Out” isn’t really the best term in that I wasn’t in the closet so to speak. My trans history wasn't a secret, but it wasn't on my business card. It never really occurred to me that it was relevant to my work any more than another woman’s medical and personal history was relevant to her work. When another journalist cited my work and included a description of me as transgender it seemed like it distracted from the point he was making. Since it was a surprise to become part of the story I didn't have a strategy prepared on how to react.

In the flesh.

Monika: You never set out to become a transgender role model. In fact, you once said you simply wanted to be a married, suburban housewife and mom, far from the public eye. Yet today, you’re seen as one of the most inspiring voices in our community. Do you ever find yourself wishing things had turned out differently, or do you embrace the role you've grown into?

Eden: “Role model” is an uncomfortable label for me. I’m far too flawed to carry that title. But I know that my work and platform serve as proof that other trans people can reach for any opportunity if they’re willing to do the work and keep trying. I can’t regret that. Hearing from others that my work has influenced how they see their own potential is both humbling and inspiring. I’m grateful.

Monika: One unfortunate consequence of your unintentional outing was the loss of potential sponsors for your weekly primetime arts program, In Focus With Eden Lane. Has the situation improved since then?

Eden: It’s true that it has made it more difficult to find and retain corporate sponsors for our broadcast. However, it’s important to note that the viewers, the community, have continued to support our show, not only by watching but also through direct financial contributions. That is so encouraging, because it proves that viewers know they are watching a trans woman host and anchor programming, and they still choose to watch and help fund the show. Someday, sponsors, news directors, agents, producers, and media organizations, large and small, will realize they don’t need to be afraid to feature trans men and women on camera, beyond just reality shows.

Interviews for "Official Rejection".

Monika: On your TV program, you interview artists, writers, directors, performers, and other figures from the worlds of theater, dance, music, film, and television. Looking back, what would you say was the most significant cultural moment in the United States in 2013?

Eden: It is almost impossible to cite a single cultural event. It feels like we might be cracking the door open just a little more for women, people of color, and some parts of the LGBT community, beyond just “diversity,” incrementally edging toward true inclusion. Even though they may be just tiny cracks, it did feel like a small tremor of change in 2013.

Monika: Some critics argue that contemporary art still offers limited opportunities for women to showcase their talents and share stories that resonate with female audiences. Do you agree with this assessment?

Eden: Opportunities for women’s voices in art, politics, business, really in all segments of life, are still limited. What encourages me is that more and more women are creating their own spaces for art, their own businesses, and their own political movements.

Monika: What is your perspective on how transgender stories and characters have been portrayed in films, newspapers, and books so far?

Eden: We are beginning to glimpse more varied stories of transgender people. It’s just the start, but it’s so exciting to witness. The old, worn ideas of who trans people are still dominate, but it feels as if something seismic is happening.

Laverne Cox has delivered compelling performances in Orange Is the New Black and Musical Chairs. Janet Mock’s unflinching memoir Redefining Realness gives us a look at a powerful young trans woman of color that most people have never encountered before. Chaz Bono was invited into America’s living rooms in primetime.

Newsrooms are also reevaluating how they report on trans people, and while there’s still plenty of room for improvement, the doors are opening, the conversations are starting, and amazing trans men and women are refusing to stay silent. 

In Focus with Eden Lane - Show 735 Producing
Artistic Directors. Source: YouTube.

Monika: When you were transitioning, were there any transgender role models or figures you could look to for guidance?

Eden: That seems so long ago. I don’t recall knowing much about other transgender people at that time. In fact, I had never even heard the word "transgender." It wasn’t easy to find information, at least not truthful information. Of course, I’d heard of Christine Jorgensen, April Ashley, Caroline Cossey (Tula), and later Aleshia Brevard. On a more personal level, I learned a lot from the showgirls who shared their experiences with me. That was a time when many women who worked as showgirls left the business and the community as they transitioned.

Jon Jon show.

Monika: How do you view the current situation of transgender women in American society?

Eden: Basic safety continues to be a major concern for so many transgender people. Access to informed health care, education, employment. It is wonderful to see the positive achievements of many transgender men and women, but it is still too rare an exception. We need to create more inclusive environments where transgender individuals can thrive without fear or discrimination.

Monika: Do you think transgender rights could become the next major frontier in human rights?

Eden: It feels like one of the far too many frontiers. At least now the hard work and sacrifice of many have at least included transgender people in the conversation. There is still much work to be done, but the momentum is building, and the awareness is growing.

Monika: Do you engage in any lobbying or advocacy work? Do you believe transgender women can have a significant impact in politics?

Eden: As a journalist, I do not participate in campaigns I may be reporting on. There are so many ways everyone can make a difference in politics. Working on campaigns, not only for transgender or LGBT issues but building alliances by working on other issues.

Monika: Do you have an interest in fashion? What kind of outfits do you typically wear? Are there any particular styles, colors, or trends that you gravitate toward?

Eden: I enjoy and respect fashion but my wardrobe is more practical than creative. Covering a Red Carpet event is often both fun and stressful just considering what to wear.

Monika: What are your thoughts on transgender beauty pageants?

Eden: I don’t know enough about Transgender Pageants to make a statement.

On stage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House
during the auction for Opera Colorado.

Monika: Many transgender women have written memoirs. Have you ever considered writing one yourself?

Eden: There have been a few memoirs by transwomen I really enjoyed. A project I began a few years ago started out as something else, but has morphed into a kind of memoir. It’s a work in progress, but I do think it’s important to share our stories when the time feels right.

Monika: Are you currently working on any exciting new projects?

Eden: My weekly broadcast is ongoing, but during breaks, I have other projects in different stages. One is a documentary about transgender people working in media. Another is a limited series of looks at the Arts and Artists in surprising places.

Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls who dream of following a career path similar to yours?

Eden: Work on your school newspaper or newscast if they have one. Watch a variety of newscasts. Find an internship that will let you do more than make copies and carry gear. Attend the NLGJA convention as part of the student project. Learn to write, shoot, edit, produce... do it all. The most sought-after people in the newsroom are backpack, multimedia, one-man-band journalists.

Monika: Eden, thank you for the interview!

All the photos: courtesy of Eden Lane.

© 2014 - Monika Kowalska

  

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