Interview with Pam Bennett

 

Pam Bennett’s life reads like a testament to resilience, public service, and the quiet courage of showing up as oneself in spaces that were never designed with you in mind. A military veteran shaped by discipline and a sense of duty, she later stepped into politics with the conviction that representation is not just symbolic, it changes what becomes possible for those who follow. Her years in Colorado and now Maryland have been marked by advocacy, community work, and a willingness to take risks even when the odds were stacked against her. What makes Pam compelling is not only her political experience but the emotional clarity with which she reflects on it: the loneliness of being one of the first, the pressure to carry a community’s hopes, and the joy of discovering unexpected allies along the way.

 

She speaks openly about the challenges facing transgender Americans, yet she never loses sight of progress, whether in media portrayals, workplace protections, or the growing number of trans people stepping into public life. Away from politics, she is grounded by the simple pleasures of her Chesapeake Bay home, her beloved sailing cat Boo, and a life that has taken many turns but always returned to service, honesty, and connection. Her voice is warm, candid, and often disarmingly funny, shaped by decades of navigating institutions, rebuilding herself, and helping others do the same. Introducing Pam means introducing someone who has lived boldly, questioned deeply, and continues to believe that visibility and leadership matter, not in theory, but in the everyday lives of people who are still searching for a path forward.

Interview with Maki Yamazaki

Maki Yamazaki is a Japanese-British musician, producer, artist, games developer, trans-feminist, and advocate for queer and disabled people’s rights, Maki has spent her life turning creativity into a way of expressing identity, challenging stereotypes, and creating space for others. Her artistic world is wonderfully unconventional. Through her music and her Silvana Studio, she has explored sounds that seem to emerge as much from curiosity as from composition. Through projects such as Dr. Carmilla, her retrospective-futurist cabaret about a lesbian vampire in space, she has combined music, performance, storytelling, and a deliciously imaginative sense of the unexpected. She has also created events such as Trans-script and Transistor Cabaret, helping build platforms for trans performers and voices at a time when such spaces were far less common. But behind the music, games, cabaret, and activism is a deeply personal story. Maki came out at just 17, at a time when transgender role models were considerably harder to find and reliable information was nowhere near as accessible as it is today. Her journey was not without pain. She experienced abuse and discrimination, and learned that sometimes changing your surroundings can be an important part of reclaiming your life.

 

Yet her story is not defined by those difficulties. It is also a story about creativity, resilience, love, and the freedom that comes from finally being able to live as yourself. What I find particularly moving about Maki is the way she refuses to separate her identity from her creativity. Music, art, games, feminism, activism, and her experiences as a transgender woman all seem to feed into one another, creating a life that is wonderfully difficult to put into a single box. And perhaps that is precisely the point. In our conversation, Maki talks about transfeminism, music, Dr. Carmilla, activism, representation, coming out, discrimination, love, creativity, and the importance of learning to love yourself. Her advice to transgender women struggling with gender dysphoria is simple but powerful: patience, confidence, and keeping people who treat you without respect at a safe distance. It is a pleasure to jave this conversation with a woman who has always understood that sometimes the most powerful way to change the world is to create something that did not exist before. 

Interview with Naomi Fontanos

 

Naomi Fontanos is a Filipina transgender rights advocate, educator, writer, and one of the leading voices in the struggle for transgender equality in the Philippines. A graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she earned a degree in education, she is a licensed teacher who has worked as an education consultant. Her journey into activism led her to become, in 2008, the first transgender co-coordinator of Task Force Pride Philippines, the network of LGBTQ+ organizations responsible for organizing the annual Metro Manila Pride march. In 2011, Naomi joined Juliana Giessel and Rio Moreno in submitting a communication to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, calling attention to the discrimination and difficulties faced by transgender Filipinos. The following year, together with Princess Jimenez, Yasmin Lee, and Seanel Caparas, she co-founded Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas, a transgender-led human rights organization that places gender equality and transgender advocacy within the broader context of social justice, economic development, and the Philippines' cultural and political realities.

 

As the organization's Executive Director, Naomi has worked to challenge the structures that marginalize transgender people and to build a movement grounded in dignity, community, and equal rights. Her activism has also brought her into the public conversation about gender-based violence and the representation of transgender people in Philippine society. Following the murder of Jennifer Laude in 2014, Naomi wrote a deeply personal article for GMA News Online about the fear of being misidentified and denied dignity even in death. She challenged the tendency to impose traditional Filipino gender labels on transgender women and argued that lasting change requires confronting the patriarchal attitudes, sexism, and machismo that sustain discrimination and violence. Her work has continued to explore the connections between gender, colonial history, feminism, and human rights, including through her writing for Outrage Magazine. Outside her activism, Naomi enjoys languages, fashion, music, art, travel, reading, writing, films, and singing karaoke. Through her public work and personal voice, she continues to call for a society in which transgender Filipinos can live openly, safely, and with the dignity and recognition they deserve.

Interview with Miranda Yardley

Miranda Yardley is a British chartered accountant, music magazine publisher, blogger and businesswoman whose professional life brings together finance and a deep interest in alternative music. Born in Manchester, she studied Accounting and Finance at Bangor University, graduating in 1990, before moving to London and qualifying as a chartered accountant. In 2000, she established Yardley & Co., an independent accounting business, and in 2002 she took over the publication of Terrorizer, a magazine devoted to extreme music. She subsequently became associated with other music titles, including Dominion and Sick Sounds, and expanded her activities in the music publishing world. Beyond her business career, Yardley became a prominent and controversial voice in debates about feminism, sex and gender, and the politics of transgender identity.

 

In 2014, she attracted wider media attention through the debate surrounding her invitation to appear on BBC Newsnight, where she was expected to discuss transgender issues alongside other trans commentators. She wrote for publications including New Statesman and Morning Star, contributed to discussions about feminist theory and freedom of expression, and developed her own blog, where she published essays and commentary on music, personal interests and political questions. Yardley has expressed views on transgender identity and women's rights that differ sharply from those of many transgender activists, making her a divisive figure in public discussions about the trans community and feminism. Her career therefore spans two quite different worlds: the business of publishing extreme music and the often contentious arena of social and political debate.

Interview with Sarah Brown

Sarah Brown made history as one of Britain's few openly transgender elected politicians, bringing her experience as a transgender woman into local government and campaigning for greater equality and recognition. A member of the Liberal Democrats, she represented Petersfield ward on Cambridge City Council from 2010 to 2014, becoming a prominent voice for transgender visibility in British public life. Her work for LGBT rights, both within her party and beyond it, earned her repeated recognition on the Independent on Sunday's Pink List, which celebrated influential LGBT people in the United Kingdom. In 2011, she was ranked 28th, the highest-placed transgender person on that year's list, followed by 34th place in 2012 and 27th in 2013. During her time in office, Brown combined equality campaigning with practical work for the people she represented. As Executive Councillor for Community Wellbeing, she oversaw leisure and community services and later recalled two achievements of which she was particularly proud: establishing a fund to help disadvantaged children learn to swim and securing unanimous council support for introducing a 20-mph speed limit on residential streets throughout Cambridge. Her approach to public life also reflected her commitment to making transgender people more welcome in everyday institutions. In 2010, she helped Cambridge City Council adopt a policy intended to protect transgender people from discrimination in employment and access to appropriate single-sex facilities.

 

Beyond local government, Brown became involved in national campaigns for transgender rights. As an executive member of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats and chair of its Transgender Working Group, she worked to increase understanding of trans people's experiences and challenge discrimination. She created the hashtag #TransDocFail, which drew attention to reports of mistreatment and difficulties experienced by transgender people within healthcare. She also campaigned against the spousal veto in the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, a provision that could require a married transgender person to obtain their spouse's consent before receiving legal gender recognition. Brown contributed to efforts to remove this requirement, including co-authoring proposed amendments to the legislation. Her public visibility came with challenges, and Brown spoke openly about the discrimination she had encountered as a transgender woman, including the overlapping effects of transphobia, homophobia and misogyny. She also declined an opportunity to appear on Big Brother, explaining that she did not believe the programme would benefit the transgender community. After losing her council seat in May 2014, she reflected on her four years in office with pride in the practical improvements she had helped achieve and respect for the democratic decision of the electorate. 

Interview with Katie Leone

 

Katie Leone is an American writer, former stockbroker, teacher, preacher, and wrestling champion who has devoted much of her literary work to transgender fiction. The author of 25 transgender novels, she uses storytelling to promote transgender equality, challenge misconceptions, and show readers that being transgender is about far more than sexuality. Drawing on her own experiences, she creates complex characters whose struggles with identity, acceptance, faith, and self-discovery reflect some of the challenges she has faced in her own life. In particular, her experiences growing up in an intensely masculine environment, first as a world-class wrestler and later among conservative Christians, provided inspiration for stories about the conflict between outward appearances and inner truth. Katie began her transition at the age of 37. Although she had expected greater resistance because of the traditionally masculine image she had cultivated, many people around her proved supportive. She credits the encouragement of friends and the example of other transgender women, including Joyce Melton, the founder of the transgender fiction website Big Closet, with helping her believe that she, too, could build a life as her authentic self.

 

Her God Bless the Child series explores the importance of acceptance from several perspectives, from a foster parent learning to understand a child's gender identity to a young transgender woman fighting to preserve her sense of self in the face of prejudice. In novels such as Wrestling Against Myself and The Transsexual and the Cross, Katie also examines the relationship between Christianity and transgender identity. Her own faith remains an important part of her life, and she firmly believes that being transgender is not a sin. Beyond her fiction, Katie is passionate about changing public perceptions of transgender people. She has argued that transgender fiction deserves recognition as a literary category in its own right, rather than being reduced to biography or erotica. Through her writing and public speaking, she seeks to demonstrate that transgender people are ordinary human beings whose lives encompass love, faith, relationships, and personal ambitions. At the heart of her message is a simple but powerful encouragement to embrace oneself, practise self-love, and have the courage to live truthfully.

Interview with Kimberly Luciana Dias

 

Kimberly Luciana Dias is a Brazilian transgender activist, artist, beauty pageant queen, blogger, and creator of Mundo T-Girl – Travestis e Transexuais. Originally from Fernandópolis, in the state of São Paulo, she has dedicated much of her life to promoting the visibility, rights, and dignity of Brazilian transvestites and transgender women. Since the early days of social networking, she has used the internet as a platform for activism, creating influential online communities where trans people could exchange experiences, find information, and discuss issues affecting their lives. Her communities on Orkut, including Mundo T-Girl and Travestis e Transexuais Brasileiras, became important meeting places for the community and helped pioneer online transgender activism in Brazil.

 

Kimberly’s work extends beyond the internet. She has participated in LGBT rights initiatives and demonstrations against discrimination, supported efforts to enforce anti-discrimination legislation in São Paulo, and contributed to social projects assisting vulnerable trans people with food, clothing, and access to treatment. Her artistic career includes stage performances, modelling, beauty pageants, and a role as a nightclub singer in the film Chance for Love and Truth. Having represented the state of São Paulo at the Miss Brazil pageant, she also competed in the 2005 Miss World America pageant, where she finished as first runner-up. Through her combination of activism, artistic expression, and online publishing, Kimberly has worked to challenge prejudice and promote a more positive representation of Brazil’s trans community.

Interview with Petra De Sutter

Petra De Sutter is one of Belgium’s most respected figures in both medicine and politics, admired for her intellect, integrity, and commitment to social justice. Born in Oudenaarde in 1963, she built a distinguished career as a gynaecologist and academic long before entering public life. After earning her medical degree and PhD from Ghent University, she became a professor of reproductive medicine and later headed the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Ghent University Hospital. Her scientific expertise and ethical insight led her to address complex issues such as surrogacy, fertility treatment, and biomedical ethics, always guided by compassion and respect for human dignity. Her transition in 2004 marked a deeply personal milestone, but also inspired countless people who saw in her a role model of courage and authenticity.

 

When Petra De Sutter entered politics with the Flemish Green Party in 2014, she became the first openly transgender candidate on a Belgian election list. As a senator and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, she worked tirelessly on matters of public health, refugee protection, and human rights. Her advocacy extended across national borders, and her contributions helped shape discussions on genetic technology, surrogacy ethics, and the rights of vulnerable communities. Petra De Sutter embodies a rare blend of scientific precision and human empathy. Whether in a laboratory, a lecture hall, or a parliamentary chamber, she has continued to promote fairness, equality, and evidence-based policy. Her journey reflects the power of authenticity and the belief that one’s identity should never limit one’s ability to serve and lead.

Interview with Ahya “Yah-Yah“ Nicole

 

Ahya “Yah-Yah” Simone is a talented young woman from Detroit, Michigan, whose diverse interests encompass music, fashion and the performing arts. A model, aspiring make-up artist and accomplished harpist, she brings together artistic talents that allow her to express herself in different ways. Although modeling introduced her to the fashion industry, music remained an important part of her life, and she described herself first and foremost as a harpist. Simone’s musical journey began with singing in church choirs and school ensembles. Her path took an unexpected turn at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where a scheduling decision introduced her to the harp. What began as an opportunity to explore a new instrument developed into a serious musical pursuit. She went on to study classical harp and voice at Wayne State University, where she also played with the university’s Wind Symphony.

 

In 2014, Simone gained wider recognition through Barneys New York’s Brothers, Sisters, Sons & Daughters campaign, which celebrated transgender people and brought their stories into the world of fashion. The campaign featured transgender models and helped draw attention to the importance of visibility and representation in an industry that had often excluded them. For Simone, modeling offered another opportunity to explore her creativity while contributing to a broader conversation about diversity and acceptance. As a young woman pursuing several artistic ambitions, Simone represents a generation of transgender women determined to be recognized not only for their identities but also for their individual talents, dreams and accomplishments. Her interests in music, beauty and fashion reflect the many possibilities open to a woman willing to follow her passions. In our interview, we talk about her beginnings as a musician, her discovery of the harp, her modeling experience, her aspirations as a make-up artist and her thoughts on the growing visibility of transgender women.

Interview with Jennifer Lydon

Jennifer Lydon is an American transgender activist and senior account executive at Metro US, a newspaper serving major American cities including New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Alongside her professional career, she has devoted herself to supporting the transgender community in Pennsylvania, organizing the Mid-Atlantic Transgender Community (M.A.T.C.) and hosting transgender pride events at The Raven in New Hope. After spending many years struggling with her gender identity, Jennifer began her medical transition in her forties and found the courage to live openly as herself while continuing her career.

 

Her decision to come out at work attracted media attention and offered encouragement to other transgender people who wondered whether they could transition without sacrificing their professional lives. Through community gatherings, social activities and her own example, Jennifer discovered that helping others find acceptance could also help her embrace herself. A mother of four adult children, she believes that finding a good therapist, building supportive friendships and learning to love oneself are essential steps towards a more fulfilling life. In our interview, Jennifer shares her story, speaking about workplace acceptance, transgender visibility and the need for stronger representation and leadership within the transgender community.

Interview with Naomi Ceder

Naomi Ceder is an American Python programmer, systems architect, blogger and transgender activist whose professional career combines technical expertise with a passion for teaching and helping others. A Fellow of the Python Software Foundation and author of The Quick Python Book, she works as a lead software architect and developer and has experience working in London and Düsseldorf. Despite the male-dominated nature of the IT industry, Naomi has established herself as a successful woman in technology and believes that her skills and experience have helped her navigate the challenges of working in the field after transitioning.

 

Naomi began her transition in her 50s, finding that coming to terms with her identity was more difficult than the transition itself. Although she was fortunate to receive support from friends, colleagues and the wider technology community, the experience also brought uncertainty and fears of losing people close to her. Married to the same woman for nearly three decades, she found strength in the fact that their relationship had survived her transition. Beyond her professional work, Naomi is passionate about transgender visibility, the power of the Internet to connect isolated individuals, and the importance of sharing positive coming-out stories. She is also involved in initiatives that bring transgender people and their allies together through technology, including plans for Trans*Code, a UK hack day inspired by Trans*H4CK. In our interview, Naomi discusses her life as a transgender woman in the technology industry, the progress of transgender rights, the importance of representation and the need to build supportive communities.

Interview with Jessica Vorster

Jessica Vorster is a young South African transgender woman who documents her transition journey on YouTube. Initially, she started sharing her experiences in the hope of raising money for gender-affirming surgeries, but soon discovered that people were also interested in the personal story behind her transition. Living full time since December 2013, Jessica was happy with the changes brought about by hormone therapy and looked forward to the next stages of her transition. A cheerful, talkative person who enjoyed helping others, she hoped that sharing her story would encourage other transgender women to embrace themselves and find the courage to live authentically.

 

Jessica is also outspoken about the challenges facing transgender women in South Africa, including discrimination in the workplace and difficulties navigating the legal process of changing one's name and gender. Although she is not directly involved in politics, she believes that transgender women can make a real difference by entering political life. She also recognizes the importance of transgender representation in the media, both in helping cisgender people understand their experiences and in reassuring young transgender people that they are not alone. Supported by her loving fiancé, Jessica dreams of completing her surgeries, running her own business and establishing a nonprofit organization to help transgender people who cannot afford gender-affirming care.

Interview with Alice Denny

 

Alice Denny is a British poet and transgender woman from Brighton, England, whose writing explores the joys and challenges of womanhood, identity, love and social injustice. Having transitioned later in life, after raising her children, she found a renewed sense of energy and freedom to express herself through poetry and performance. Rather than defining herself primarily through her transgender identity, she sees herself first and foremost as a woman, a parent and a poet. Through her work and participation in Brighton’s transgender community, she has helped bring personal experiences of transition, prejudice and self-acceptance into public view. Born in Hertfordshire, Denny studied at university in Devon before moving to Sussex, where she worked as a psychiatric nurse. She eventually settled in Brighton, initially to be closer to her son and friends and to gain better access to the services she needed for her transition. The support she found through the LGBT Switchboard and the Clare Project helped her navigate this new chapter of her life.

 

In July 2014, Denny participated in Brighton Trans*formed, an exhibition celebrating the lives and experiences of 23 transgender, genderqueer and intersex people through photography, oral histories and installations. She also took part in Brighton's Trans Pride celebrations, embracing opportunities to share her experiences and connect with others. Although she did not consider herself an activist in the conventional sense, she believed in the importance of meeting people, exchanging experiences and challenging prejudice. Her poetry became a particularly personal way of contributing to that effort, giving voice to the complicated emotions of transition, the pain of discrimination and the joy of finally living authentically. In her poems, Denny draws inspiration from her own experiences, relationships and strong feelings about social injustice. She writes not simply to describe the difficulties faced by transgender women, but also to celebrate womanhood, love and the freedom to be oneself.