Interview with Victoria Masl

Victoria Masl is a remarkable young transgender woman from Russia, recognized as the first known deaf Russian T woman and the first LGBT Russian disabled and deaf refugee in the West, officially granted refugee status in 2012. Currently living in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Victoria has faced extraordinary challenges throughout her life, from growing up in small military towns in the USSR to navigating a society deeply hostile toward transgender people. She began her transition at the age of 31 under incredibly difficult circumstances, overcoming both systemic obstacles and personal dangers to become the woman she always felt herself to be. Victoria’s journey has taken her from the scrutiny of Russian media and the dangers of daily life as a deaf transgender woman in her home country, to the hardships of adapting to life in Spain as a refugee, and finally to finding a sense of safety, respect, and normalcy in Northern Ireland. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of authenticity, intertwined with moments of profound love, personal discovery, and hope for a future where the positive image of transgender people can be recognized and celebrated in mainstream society.

 

Victoria’s life continues to be an inspiration, showing the strength it takes to survive adversity while remaining true to oneself. Throughout her journey, Victoria has faced isolation not only from the broader society but also from the communities she might have expected support from, demonstrating her remarkable inner strength and perseverance. Her experiences highlight the intersection of disability, gender identity, and refugee status, offering a unique perspective on the struggles faced by marginalized individuals worldwide. Despite these challenges, Victoria has maintained a commitment to personal growth, education, and advocacy, seeking to help others navigate similar paths. She has also found profound joy in moments of true love, which have shaped her understanding of human connection and self-acceptance. Looking ahead, Victoria remains determined to contribute positively to society, raising awareness about transgender issues and inspiring future generations to embrace authenticity and resilience.

 

Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Victoria Masl, a young transgender woman from Russia, recognized as the first known deaf Russian T woman and the first LGBT Russian disabled and deaf refugee in the West, officially granted refugee status in 2012. She now lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Hello, Victoria!

Victoria: Hello, Monika, and hello to all your readers!

Monika: I have to admit that when I read your story in the latest issue of Frock magazine, it moved me to tears.

Victoria: The world is very cruel, especially to not typical people and we know this. I never lived a secure or privileged life. Maybe, my parents belonged to a Soviet semi-privileged class, circle, but I have been deprived of it since my childhood.

Monika: You were born in Russia and spent your early years there. Could you tell us a little about your childhood?

Victoria: I was born in the USSR. They were two different countries. I spent my childhood on a trip with my parents, living in small special military towns.

In a planetarium.

Monika: At what age did you begin your transition, and what was that experience like for you?

Victoria: In November 2005, at 31. It was a very hard, almost impossible process. The Russian officials began to perceive me negatively, and they could have blocked my SRS because I am deaf. It was incredible.

Monika: Considering how difficult it must have been in Russia, how did you manage to complete your transition there?

Victoria: Still now, I cannot believe that I managed to do it. Of course, I was a woman inside since my earliest childhood thoughts about “who am I, of which gender?” But to correct it physically was almost impossible for me. My guess is that the medical institute needed “voluntary patients” at the time, and they offered surprisingly low prices, around 1000-2000 USD. Over time, their operations turned out to be rather good. Probably, I was lucky to become one of those patients purely by chance.
Monika: You first made headlines in Russia in 2000 when the media revealed that you were a transgender woman. How did that experience feel, and what was the public reaction like?

Victoria: Actually, there was not such a word as an “outing” in Russia. Many Russians considered such people as “interesting, fantastic creatures or funny harmless freaks”, though it was an offensive view on us too, even it was not for long. When time passed such attitudes turned to be solemnly negative. Frankly, Russians have a very anti-LGBT climate in their society. The modern Russian government even does anti-LGBT society as an official doctrine.
Monika: After the media attention, did life become more difficult for you in Russia?

Victoria: It was a time of intense pressure, especially psychologically. Sometimes it even turned physical, with attacks from reckless youngsters trying to imitate “cool gangsters” from movies on the streets at night. There was rudeness in shops, in official buildings, and constant laughing and bullying in public spaces.

Monika: How did this treatment affect your daily life and your relationships?

Victoria: I was forced to live outside of human society as an outcast. Being deaf made it even harder, and the Russian deaf community treated me no differently from the hearing society. I lived very alone. Even if there were some friends in my life, they were “advised” by other bullies to leave me alone. Sadly, they listened to them. It was a nightmare.

Walking on a street.

Monika: Did these difficulties in Russia lead you to move to Spain, and how did that come about?

Victoria: Actually it happened by a chance, all of a sudden. I never thought of Spain before. Only I knew that there is such a country on the world’s map. I was invited as a “mail-order” bride by a Spanish man from Galicia. My situation was dangerous in Russia and I ran to Spain without a second thought.
Monika: How did you find life in Spain after leaving Russia?

Victoria: It was strange, not like the rest of Europe. Even people’s appearances were more like Middle Eastern or Latin American, and their way of life and interests were very different from mine, not very European. For curious tourists, it might be interesting, but living there was harsh. I suffered and was upset most of the time.

Monika: Did anything about Spain appeal to you when you first arrived? 

Victoria: At first, I liked the country and was impressed with its subtropical climate and the lack of winters. Unfortunately, there were too many factors that made living in Spain nearly as dangerous as in Russia. In addition, it turned out to be nearly impossible for me to integrate into Spanish society and their way of life, especially because I speak only English and no Spanish. 

Monika: Were you able to find support or community while living there? 

Victoria: While living in Spain, I met some American, British, German, and Canadian tourists, and their company was much better for me than that of the local people. I realized that it would be easier to integrate into an English-speaking society, which turned out to be true. Though, my refugee case looks probably too complicated. Having the Spanish refugee status, I am trying to transfer it to the UK now. Such cases have happened before, but rarely. I can only hope for the best.
Monika: Now that you are living in Belfast, how has your life changed compared to your time in Spain?

Victoria: Belfast is a city with a unique history, you know. And I am a unique person, probably, a joke. Thus we both met each other. Of course, my life is very different from what it was in Spain. I can even pass easily here for a usual local woman, because my look is Northern European, as I am, like them. Surely, I prefer to live as a usual woman here. I lead a rather normal life.

Northern Ireland, Atlantic Ocean.

Monika: You have said that Belfast has become a very special place for you. What makes this city stand out compared to all the places you have lived before?

Victoria: Belfast is the best place I have lived in before. Maybe many people would not agree with me, but it is true for me. It is better than Spain for me. Moreover, I feel like a respected person here, with full human rights. I have never felt like this before, not in Spain, nowhere. And I like it. The locals are nice people in general, very friendly to me.
Monika: From your perspective, how would you describe the current situation for transgender women in Russian society today?

Victoria: I can give only one reply: I know nothing for certain. But I can guess that it is even worse than when I left. Every day there is news about attacks on LGBT people in Russia, even murders, or bullying that drives LGBT people to suicide. I do not follow Russian news closely, but such reports appear very often in the international media.
Monika: When you were beginning to understand your own identity, did you have access to any information or role models related to transgender women? 

Victoria: This kind of information was always concealed in the USSR. I first discovered it at the age of 15 through a magazine article about SRS operations in Australia. Those women were described as extremely beautiful, with long legs, luxurious hair, and model figures, and the sensational journalists added that Australian men married them quite willingly.

Monika: Did any particular individuals or stories inspire you personally at that time?

Victoria: After my first shock and delight that it was real and that I was one of these women, I even wished to run to Australia, ha ha. But it was such a long journey, and it is still a road. I knew about one famous Western transgender woman, Caroline Cossey, also known as Tula. Being thrilled by her story, I even tried to take my first female hormones from birth control pills at the age of 19 or 20, but I stopped soon because I had no information and was scared by urban myths that hormones would kill you. It is not even funny to recall now.
Monika: Are there any transgender women today whom you particularly admire or feel a strong sense of respect for?

Victoria: I admire and respect Donna Keyes from Texas, my online friend for the last two years.

Monika: How would you describe the presence or absence of transgender stories and characters in contemporary Russian culture, including films, newspapers, and books?

Victoria: Modern Russian culture has no transgender characters. Except me, joking. But I already belong to the West, or maybe to both. I was told that after me there was another hard of hearing transgender person from a privileged Moscow family, probably a copy and paste project meant to imitate me. But I know nothing about it, and it is not interesting for me. I am only me.

The Mediterranean Sea, 2011.

Monika: What role does fashion play in your life, and how have you personally related to clothing over the years?

Victoria: Strangely enough, I had no interest in clothes. I know that many transgender people went through a “crossdressing” stage, but that was not the case for me. The issue of money was important too, of course. Many so-called “primary TS”, using Benjamin’s medical terminology, do not go through that stage and move directly to later steps.

Monika: How do you feel about your style today, and has your relationship with clothing changed over time?

Victoria: Sometimes I regret missing that step, because with a figure like a model, I often do not know what to wear. At times I choose old-fashioned or unisex clothes, and some pedestrians react with a smile just by looking at me. Some people have even said that I need a good tutor when it comes to clothing.
Monika: What place does love hold in your life, and have you ever experienced it in a truly meaningful way?

Victoria: I can tell you that I have experienced real and mutual love in my life. It was a unique story again. It happened in Spain, in a refugee camp near Madrid. I suffered there from constant sexual abuse or offensive behavior from other refugees and from negligence by Spanish workers.

Monika: How did this relationship begin under such difficult circumstances? 

Victoria: A young African man appeared toward the end of my time there. He had tried to speak to me many times before, but I rejected him because I was fed up with the terrible behavior of other refugees toward me. One day I agreed to talk to him, and he turned out to be a very good person who truly respected me as a woman and as a white lady.

END OF PART 1

PART 2

 

All photos: courtesy of Victoria Masl.

© 2015 - Monika Kowalska

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