Some women are born to sing their stories. Others carve them into the world with every step they take, every lyric they write, every truth they dare to speak aloud. Shawna Virago does all three, fearlessly, fiercely, and with the kind of grace that doesn’t ask for permission. She is not just a musician or a writer. She is a living melody, a rebel-hearted bard whose voice has echoed through decades of resistance, tenderness, and unyielding authenticity. Emerging in the early 1990s as one of the first openly transgender women to tour across the United States, Shawna brought her guitar and her truth to stages where few like her had stood before. Her presence was revolutionary, not because she sought to be a symbol, but because she insisted on being herself, in high heels and leather, with punk riffs and velvet lyrics, against a backdrop that rarely welcomed difference. She transformed every stage into a sanctuary of survival and defiance. Her song Objectified became an anthem, her album Heaven Sent Delinquent a testimony, and her very life a ballad of resistance and resilience.
As the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, Shawna curates stories that breathe, scream, seduce, and heal. Under her vision, the festival has become more than a screening, it is a gathering of souls who dare to imagine and create beyond the binary, beyond erasure. She uplifts voices not only with care, but with a deep knowing born of her own path: a road often walked alone, in high-heeled boots, beneath a sky both dangerous and full of stars. Shawna’s music speaks of outlaws and femmes, of heartbreak and revolution, weaving Americana with an outlaw spirit. Hers is a sound that carries the dust of protest, the perfume of desire, the scratch of vinyl, and the hush of midnight reflection. She sings for the girls who survived, for the ones who are still learning how, and for those who don’t yet know the power they hold inside their names. In her presence, the past is never forgotten, it becomes poetry. And the future? It hums quietly in the background of her songs, waiting to be rewritten. It is my deepest honour and pleasure to speak with Shawna Virago, songstress, storyteller, cultural warrior, and woman of incandescent grace, about her life, her art, her love, and the many ways she continues to dance defiantly through the noise of the world.
Monika: Today, I have the pleasure and honour of speaking with Shawna Virago, trailblazing singer-songwriter, writer, and Artistic Director of the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival. One of the first openly transgender women in the U.S. to tour nationally, Shawna has been performing since the early 1990s. Her anthem “Objectified” is celebrated as a landmark trans song, and her album Heaven Sent Delinquent earned national praise. Her writing appears in Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation, Trans/Love, and other acclaimed anthologies. Welcome, Shawna, it’s wonderful to have you here.
Shawna: Thank you, Monika. I’m delighted to be here, and thanks for reachin’ out. It’s a real pleasure to talk with someone who brings such care and curiosity to these conversations.
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| "Performance Trailer" (YouTube) |
Monika: Can you recall the moment you first felt the pull toward becoming an artist? Was there a particular song or experience that sparked your journey into music?
Shawna: I’ve wanted to be a songwriter and musician for as long as I can remember, since I was very young. Music, for me, has always been magic, and I’ve been drawn to it my entire life. I used to sit for hours with a guitar, trying to translate feelings into melodies. Even before I had the words for who I was, I had music to carry me through.
Monika: Your 2012 debut album Objectified explored themes of female empowerment and resistance against patriarchal norms. In both your music and public presence, you’ve spoken up for women’s rights. Would you describe yourself as a feminist, and how has that identity influenced your work?
Shawna: I believe we need to raise our voices for the rights of women, including, of course, transgender women. The second you transition, you begin experiencing female socialization and all the discrimination that comes along with it. I used to love reading Transisters: The Journal of Transgender Feminism. I especially looked forward to reading the letters section, which was full of fantastic bickering. It was messy and passionate in the best way, proof that feminist thought is alive, evolving, and deeply human. Those conversations reminded me that feminism isn't about perfection, but participation.
Monika: In a past interview, you spoke out against mainstream women’s magazines and their impact on self-image. What are your thoughts on how these publications shape the way women view themselves and their bodies?
Shawna: Yes, I believe women’s magazines are bastions of articles that encourage women to hate themselves. They glorify unhealthy body types by promoting anorexic models. Plus, these magazines are very boring. They recycle the same narrow beauty standards over and over, rarely offering anything meaningful or inclusive. It’s exhausting, and disheartening, for anyone looking for real representation or inspiration.
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| Photo by Lydia Daniller. |
Monika: Your music video Transsexual Dominatrix received widespread recognition, it was screened at numerous festivals, selected for the 26th BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and won Best Music Video at New York’s CineKink Festival. What inspired you to channel such a bold and provocative persona for that piece?
Shawna: I wanted to write a song that dealt with the ways we survive in a patriarchal, gender-binary culture. So often we have to be creative and do alternative economy work or work under the table. That song is an anthem about that. It’s about reclaiming power in spaces that are often stacked against us. I wanted to reflect the resilience and ingenuity it takes to live authentically in a world that doesn’t always make room for you.
Monika: Your writing has appeared in Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation as well as in the anthologies Trans/Love: Radical Sex, Love & Relationships Beyond the Gender Binary and Take Me There. How has your transgender identity shaped your creative voice as a writer and artist?
Shawna: I am a lyric-based songwriter, and this also helps me to write prose. Being transgender is a true blessing when you’re an artist of any kind. It helps you see the world in unique ways. I wouldn’t trade being transgender for anything. It offers a perspective that constantly challenges the norm and fuels a deeper sense of empathy. That layered understanding becomes a wellspring for meaningful and honest artistic expression.
Monika: As the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, could you share a bit about how the festival began and highlight some memorable films from last year’s program?
Shawna: The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival started in 1997 and is North America’s first transgender film festival. Our last festival took place in November 2013, and we had a special screening for our good friend and festival co-founder Christopher Lee, who took his life in December 2012. Christopher was one of the first radical trans man porn filmmakers. We’ll be sending out our call for submissions for the 2014 festival later this spring. People can go to sftff.org for more information. The festival remains a vital space for amplifying trans voices through film. It continues to inspire and connect communities by showcasing stories that often go unseen.
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| "Performance Trailer" (YouTube) |
Monika: How do you describe your musical style, and which artists or traditions have influenced your sound?
Shawna: I’m part of the American troubadour tradition, from Woody Guthrie up to Lucinda Williams. My music is a mix of folk-punk and Americana. I try to write songs that aren’t too sweet. I aim for honesty and grit in my lyrics, capturing the complexity of real life. Music, for me, is a way to tell stories that resonate deeply and provoke thought.
Monika: In 2011, you joined fellow transgender artists Mina Caputo, Angelica Love Ross, Our Lady J, Sissy Debut, and Amber Taylor to record a memorable cover of David Bowie’s “Changes.” This project was part of Transbeats, a documentary by Michael A. Simon about six talented transgender musicians navigating the music industry in L.A. How was your experience participating in that project, and what impact did it have on you?
Shawna: The director Michael A. Simon contacted me and invited me to L.A. to play some music. He is a very nice guy, but I told him the song “Changes” is a bit reductive for transgender folks to sing. I suggested we do “I’m So Bored With The USA” instead. It felt important to choose a song that better reflected our complexities and frustrations. Being part of the project was inspiring, as it showcased diverse trans voices coming together creatively.
Monika: When you were transitioning, did you have any transgender role models or inspirations you could look up to or follow?
Shawna: I didn’t have any musical role models, but I came out in the 1980s and started living full time in the early 1990s. I appreciated reading the autobiographies of Renee Richards, Christine Jorgensen, and also Jan Morris. San Francisco in the early 1990s was a very open and vibrant place, with lots of artistic activity in the Dyke community, and I was invited to play at many of these shows. Sometimes it was challenging, and I experienced transphobia, but it was also a great place to express my gender in non-conventional ways. Those years really shaped how I embraced both my music and my identity. I learned that resilience and creativity often go hand in hand in navigating life as a transgender person.
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| "Tingle Tangle" (YouTube) |
Monika: What was the most difficult part of coming out and living openly as a transgender woman?
Shawna: A few things come to mind: finding a job was a challenge, and even in San Francisco the transgender communities were quite small in the early 1990s, so often you were completely on your own navigating the streets and trying to avoid violence. Also, I was usually the only transgender woman in the clubs where I played music, so that was a little odd. It could feel isolating at times, but it also made me more determined to create my own space through music. Looking back, those struggles taught me a lot about perseverance and self-reliance.
Monika: How do you perceive the current situation of transgender women in American society today?
Shawna: There are so many different transgender identities and communities in the United States, and with so many various factions and alliances, it would be hard to summarize. All the old struggles, racism, sexism, class, and more, impact transgender communities. Some people have more privilege than others, sometimes at the expense of others. Progress is being made, but there’s still a long way to go for true equality and understanding. It’s important to listen to diverse voices within the community to address these complex issues effectively.
Monika: Do you believe transgender rights represent a new frontier in the broader struggle for human rights?
Shawna: I think the transgender movement has the potential to enlarge human rights and also help us move away from so much black-and-white binary thinking in the world, encouraging us to see things more often in shades of gray. This shift can open minds to greater acceptance and complexity in how we understand identity. Ultimately, it challenges society to embrace diversity not just in gender, but in all aspects of life.
Monika: How involved are you in political activism? Do you take part in lobbying efforts, and do you believe transgender women can influence politics meaningfully?
Monika: How involved are you in political activism? Do you take part in lobbying efforts, and do you believe transgender women can influence politics meaningfully?
Shawna: I have done a lot of political activism around issues like police abuse. I consider myself a cultural activist, expressing my leftist politics through my songwriting and my writing. Politics and art are deeply intertwined for me, as both can challenge the status quo and inspire change. I firmly believe transgender women bring essential perspectives and voices that can reshape political conversations for the better.
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| "Performance Trailer" (YouTube) |
Monika: How would you describe the role that love plays in your life?
Shawna: As Shakespeare said, “When Love speaks, the voice of all the gods makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.” I’m a lucky girl and have been in a relationship with my man, Sean Dorsey, for over a decade. Sean is an amazing transgender choreographer more people should know about. Love has been a powerful source of strength and inspiration for me throughout my journey. It teaches patience, growth, and the beauty of connection beyond all boundaries.
Monika: How do you relate to fashion? What styles do you usually gravitate towards, and are there any particular designers, colors, or trends that inspire you?
Shawna: I combine elements of rockabilly, punk, and country in my stage outfits. I love what Exene Cervenka wears onstage and also Lucinda Williams. In my day-to-day life, my fashion compass veers between the traditional Parisian chic of Catherine Deneuve and the country queer vibe of Tammy Wynette. Fashion for me is a way to express different parts of my identity and mood. It’s both armor and art, helping me feel confident and true to myself.
Monika: Memoirs by transgender women have become quite popular. Have you ever considered writing your own life story in a book?
Shawna: TransGenre Press has asked me to write a book for them, and I am slowly assembling the pieces. Hopefully, it will be ready later this year. Writing my story feels like a meaningful way to share my experiences and connect with others. I want to capture the ups and downs, the challenges, and the joys of my journey as authentically as possible.
Monika: What new creative projects are you currently working on?
Shawna: I have just started working on a new album of songs and am writing a book. Both projects feel exciting and challenging, allowing me to explore new themes and sounds. I’m eager to share this work with my audience as it develops.
Monika: My pen friend Gina Grahame once told me that we should never limit our potential based on how we were born or by what we see other transgender people doing. She believes our dreams shouldn’t end at the operating table , that’s where they truly begin. Do you share this view?
Shawna: Your friend Gina sounds very wise. I completely agree. Our dreams and aspirations should be boundless, regardless of anyone’s journey or transition. For me, embracing who I am only opened new doors and creative possibilities I hadn’t imagined before.
Monika: Shawna, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story and insights with us!
Shawna: Thank you, Monika! It’s been a pleasure talking with you.
Main photo credits to Lydia Daniller.
All the photos: courtesy of Shawna Virago.
© 2014 - Monika Kowalska
Some documentaries with Shawna Virago:
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