Interview with Jerrine Jeffries

The world of drag and pageantry is often synonymous with glamour, sequins, and dazzling performances, but behind the glitz lies a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and an unyielding spirit. In this special interview, we have the privilege of speaking with the remarkable Jerrine "Jerrine Jeffries" Kaiulani Madayag, a legendary showgirl and an influential figure in Hawai’i's LGBTQ+ community. Her story is one of survival, transformation, and triumph. From her early childhood in foster care to navigating a complex family dynamic, Jerrine's life has been a testament to perseverance. Born on May 1, 1953, in Wahiawa, Oʻahu, she faced adversity from an early age. Raised by loving foster parents until the age of seven, she was later introduced to her biological father and an unfamiliar household where she encountered hardship and abuse. Yet, through it all, she remained steadfast in her identity, even as she faced ridicule for being "mahu" (a term used in Hawaiʻi for gender nonconforming individuals). Jerrine's teenage years were marked by struggles with schooling, identity, and finding a sense of belonging. By the age of 17, she had discovered a world that would change her life forever, the vibrant, captivating world of showgirls. Her first visit to the Glade Cocktail Show Lounge was an awakening, igniting a dream that would eventually become her reality. 

 

However, the journey to self-realization was not without challenges. From navigating military life as an openly feminine individual to facing personal battles with self-worth and acceptance, Jerrine's resilience shone through. By her mid-twenties, Jerrine was embracing her true self. Her journey took her from military service to the heart of Hawaiʻi's drag scene, where she found her calling as an entertainer. In 1989, she won her first pageant, marking the beginning of a successful career as a performer. Over the years, she graced countless stages, won prestigious titles, and became an integral part of Hawaiʻi’s Imperial Court System, where she dedicated herself to community service and mentorship. Jerrine's contributions extend far beyond the stage. As a leader within the LGBTQ+ community, she has used her platform to uplift and support younger generations, ensuring that the legacy of love, acceptance, and advocacy continues. From being crowned Queen of Queens at the Hawaiʻi Boa Arts Ball to serving as an Empress in the Imperial Court of Hawaiʻi, Jerrine's impact is immeasurable. In this interview, Jerrine shares her incredible journey, offering insights into the challenges, victories, and defining moments that shaped her into the icon she is today. Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Jerrine Jeffries, a trailblazer, a mentor, and a true queen of queens.

Interview with Emma Roebuck

Emma Roebuck is a transgender activist from the United Kingdom whose life brings together community activism, science, broadcasting, and a lifelong love of music. As Chief Officer of Gay Advice Darlington/Durham (GADD), she is involved in supporting LGBT people in the North East of England, helping to ensure that members of the community have access to advice, support, and a place where they can be themselves. Her work reflects a commitment to improving the lives of others and creating a society in which people can live with dignity and without fear of discrimination. Emma's professional journey has been anything but conventional. Before taking on her role in LGBT advocacy, she worked as a pharmaceutical chemist and as a roadie for rock groups, combining two very different worlds: the precision of science and the energy of live music. She has also been involved in radio broadcasting on Pride Radio North East, bringing her interests and personality to a platform serving the LGBT community.

 

Her commitment to LGBT advocacy is rooted in an understanding of the challenges faced by people who are marginalised because of their gender identity or sexuality. Through her work with GADD, Emma has contributed to efforts to challenge prejudice, improve access to support, and make life safer for LGBT people. She has also been involved in work addressing homophobic and transphobic hate crime, helping to ensure that discrimination is taken seriously and that those affected are not left to face it alone. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Emma is a self-confessed science-fiction geek and nerd, with a particular enthusiasm for progressive rock and rock music. Her experience as a former roadie adds another dimension to her story, revealing a woman whose interests range from the scientific to the imaginative and musical. As a broadcaster on Pride Radio North East, she has also been able to connect with the wider LGBT community through radio.

Interview with Kathy Anne Noble

 

Kathy Anne Noble is an Australian transgender activist, the founder and president of Agender Australia and Changeling Aspects, a support group for transgender people based in Brisbane. Born in London, she moved to Australia in 1980 and became an Australian citizen in 1988. After spending most of her working life in the financial sector as a financial adviser in both the United Kingdom and Australia, Kathy began her transition in November 2001, at the age of 65. Her family, including her children and grandchildren, eventually accepted her, and she found support among friends and members of the transgender community. Kathy is actively involved in advocating for transgender rights, working with the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission, and government departments at both state and federal levels. She has also served on the boards of Queensland Healthy Communities and Open Doors, an organisation supporting young people questioning their gender identity or sexuality. 

 

Through her advocacy, she campaigns for better legal recognition, protection against discrimination, and greater understanding of transgender people's experiences. In 2014, she is also working towards establishing a national transgender organisation that could represent the community's needs and concerns before the Australian Parliament. In 2011, Kathy published her autobiography, Two Lives: A Transsexual's Story and the Fight for Recognition, in which she shares her personal journey while addressing the challenges transgender people face in everyday life, including family relationships, social acceptance, access to medical care, and legal recognition. She hopes that her book will help governments and society better understand transgender people and recognise them as human beings deserving of dignity and respect. Kathy is also passionate about preserving the history of the transgender community, regretting that so many personal stories from earlier generations have never been recorded. Through her writing, advocacy, and support for younger transgender people, she continues to work towards making their journeys easier and ensuring that their experiences are understood.

Interview with Tiina Miettinen

Tiina Miettinen is a transgender woman from Finland who became one of the main characters of the documentary Sukupuoli X (Gender X), released in 1996. With a lifelong awareness of her gender identity, Tiina began secretly cross-dressing before her tenth birthday and later discovered the stories of pioneering transgender women such as Lili Elbe and Christine Jorgensen. After coming out as a teenager and facing rejection from her parents, she eventually began her physical transition and became involved in Finland's LGBTIQ movement. During the 1990s, she worked for Seta, Finland's national LGBTIQ organization, contributed to the development of its Trans Support Centre, and briefly chaired Trasek, a national organization primarily representing transgender people.

 

Her participation in Sukupuoli X reflected her wish to challenge the depressing and stereotypical portrayals of transgender people in earlier Finnish documentaries, showing instead that trans people could live happy, ordinary lives. Later, Tiina worked at the National Board of Antiquities, producing detailed drawings of predominantly prehistoric artefacts. Her interest in history also inspired her fascination with the ancient Roman worship of the goddess Cybele and the historical place of gender-diverse people in different cultures. Thoughtful, independent-minded, and deeply interested in the relationship between gender, history, and society, Tiina brings a distinctive perspective to questions of identity, acceptance, activism, and the freedom to live authentically.

Interview with Nicole Garcia

Nicole Garcia is an American transgender activist whose work brings together transgender visibility, racial justice, and religious inclusion. Born into a Mexican-American Roman Catholic family, she spent much of her early life trying to reconcile her gender identity with the expectations of her family and church. In 2003, she began embracing her identity and eventually discovered a welcoming spiritual home in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Her own journey to self-acceptance has become an important part of her advocacy, as she works to demonstrate that being transgender and being a person of faith are not mutually exclusive. Nicole has devoted much of her activism to making religious communities more welcoming to transgender and gender-nonconforming people. A founding member of Trans* Lutherans, she has worked to promote the full participation of transgender people in the Lutheran church and to challenge the exclusion they often experience within religious institutions.

 

She has also facilitated workshops on gender identity and gender expression throughout the United States, helping congregations better understand transgender people's lives and experiences. Her advocacy pays particular attention to the challenges faced by transgender people of colour, whose experiences of discrimination can be shaped by both gender identity and race. Beyond her work within the church, Nicole has contributed to several LGBTQ and interfaith initiatives, including serving on the boards of the Interfaith Working Group and the One Colorado Education Fund. She has also been involved with the Trans People of Color Coalition, supporting efforts to improve the lives and visibility of transgender people from marginalized communities. Her commitment to this work is reflected in her professional life as well. With a master's degree in counseling from the University of Colorado Denver, she works as a mental health counselor in private practice in Longmont, Colorado, offering support to people navigating personal and emotional challenges. At the time of this interview, she is also pursuing a Master of Divinity at Luther Seminary, continuing to explore the relationship between her faith, professional experience, and advocacy.

Interview with Vikki-Marie Gaynor

 

Vikki-Marie Gaynor’s story is an inspiring example of a woman who makes her living in a profession traditionally dominated by men. As an English truck driver featured in the British Channel 4 documentary MotherTruckers, she offers a glimpse into the demanding world of long-distance trucking and the women who choose to make their careers behind the wheel of heavy goods vehicles. Behind her appearance on television, however, lies a much more challenging personal story. Vikki-Marie has spoken openly about her experiences as a trans woman, the prejudice she encountered during her transition, and the determination that helped her rebuild her life. In 2007, she became involved in an employment discrimination case against DHL/Exel and the recruitment agency Blue Arrow after losing her regular truck-driving work amid mistreatment by colleagues. In 2008, an employment tribunal ruled in her favour, awarding her compensation.

 

Rather than allowing these experiences to define her future, Vikki-Marie pursued education and developed new professional skills. She qualified as a beautician, nail technician and massage therapist, including as a level 4 sports masseuse. She also trained in equality and diversity and became an activist speaking out against transphobia and hate crimes. Her earlier appearance in Transition, a 2011 documentary directed by Tim Brunsden and Andy McCann, had given her another opportunity to share her experiences and reach people who might be struggling with similar feelings. In MotherTruckers, Vikki-Marie brought visibility to transgender women in a profession where women were still a small minority. Her story is not simply about driving trucks, but also about standing up for oneself, pursuing new ambitions and insisting on the right to live and work with dignity.