Interview with Pauline Park

 

Pauline Park is a pioneering transgender activist whose life and work have left an enduring mark on both local and global movements for equality. Born in Korea in 1960 and adopted by European American parents, she grew up in Milwaukee before embarking on a distinguished academic path that took her from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to the London School of Economics and ultimately the University of Illinois, where she earned a Ph.D. in political science. Her scholarship was recognized with a Fulbright fellowship to France, where she conducted research on the Maastricht Treaty and met Senator William Fulbright himself. In New York City, Park became one of the most visible and influential voices in advancing transgender rights. She co-founded Queens Pride House, Iban/Queer Koreans of New York, and the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy, playing a central role in securing funding, drafting organizational bylaws, and building networks of support. Her leadership was instrumental in the passage of New York City’s transgender rights law in 2002 and in shaping guidelines for its enforcement, as well as ensuring that gender identity and expression were included in both citywide and statewide safe schools legislation.

 

Park’s activism has extended far beyond legislative efforts. In 2005, she made history as the first openly transgender grand marshal of the New York City Pride March. She has been recognized as one of the most influential LGBT Asian icons, a leading transgender advocate in New York, and a role model celebrated on Transgender Day of Remembrance. Her visibility and advocacy have also been documented through films such as Envisioning Justice: The Journey of a Transgendered Woman and Coming Full Circle: The Journey of a Transgendered Korean Adoptee. Her work has taken her across the globe, from speaking at the Queer Korea Festival before a crowd of more than 35,000 to joining the first US LGBTQ delegation tour of Palestine. Whether through activism, scholarship, or public visibility, Pauline Park continues to stand as a vital figure in the ongoing struggle for human rights, bringing together her experiences as a Korean adoptee, a transgender woman, and an advocate for justice.

Interview with Jennell Jaquays

Jennell Jaquays is a legendary figure in the world of role-playing and video games, whose creativity and vision have shaped the landscape of both tabletop and digital gaming for nearly five decades. She first rose to prominence in the late 1970s with groundbreaking Dungeons & Dragons modules such as Dark Tower and Caverns of Thracia, adventures that remain celebrated classics for their depth, innovation, and storytelling. Her career quickly expanded into the emerging video game industry, where she became a pioneering designer and artist at companies like Coleco, TSR, id Software, and Ensemble Studios. Along the way, she contributed to some of the most iconic titles ever produced, leaving an indelible mark on the medium and helping to define the role of game designers as creative visionaries. Jennell’s professional path has been extraordinary, moving seamlessly from pen-and-paper adventures to the digital worlds of Doom, Quake, and Age of Empires. She built and led some of the earliest multidisciplinary teams in video game development, demonstrating not only her artistry but also her ability to innovate at a structural level within the industry.

 

Her influence has inspired generations of gamers, developers, and artists who continue to draw from her ideas and creative spirit. Her personal journey is equally inspiring. Later in life, Jennell embraced her identity as a transgender woman after decades of inner conflict and private struggle. Her transition at age 54 became a turning point, allowing her to fully align her personal truth with her public life. Through honesty and courage, she has become a role model not only for transgender women but for anyone seeking to live authentically, even when that path requires reinvention. Her advocacy extends into her professional work, as she has spoken and written about the importance of respectful and authentic representation of transgender characters in games, highlighting how gaming can be a powerful medium for inclusivity and empathy. Today, Jennell continues to create, inspire, and mentor through her company Olde Sküül, a women-led studio founded with other veteran game developers. Their projects honor the spirit of classic role-playing games while embracing new technologies and audiences. Beyond her current work, she remains a storyteller at heart, sharing insights from her decades-long career and her life experiences with honesty, warmth, and wit.

Interview with Micheline Montreuil

 

Micheline Anne Hélène Montreuil is a remarkable Canadian lawyer, professor, writer, radio host, trade unionist, and politician whose life and career reflect both intellectual curiosity and resilience. Born under the sign of Gemini and the Dragon, she pursued extensive studies in law, management, and economics in Quebec, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Paris, eventually establishing herself as a lawyer, management consultant, professor, and lecturer. Alongside her academic and professional work, she authored numerous books and articles on law, business, and management, showing her wide-ranging expertise. Micheline also became known as a speaker on finance and banking, a radio hostess, and a member of many boards, while continuing her teaching career at the University of Quebec in Rimouski. Her personal journey has been no less extraordinary. Since 1998, she has lived openly as a woman, fighting tirelessly for transgender rights in Canada.

 

Her legal battles, which went as far as the Supreme Court, eventually contributed to reforms that made it easier for transgender people in Quebec to change their legal names and gender markers without being forced into medical requirements. She has also challenged discrimination in the workplace and was the first transgender woman to be nominated as an electoral candidate for a major political party in Canada, representing the New Democratic Party in 2007. Outside of her professional and activist commitments, Micheline embraces life with vitality and passion. She enjoys sports such as swimming, diving, tennis, and badminton, while also cherishing cultural activities like theater, museums, and cinema. Known for her elegance, humor, and determination, she proudly calls herself the “Princess of Gemini and the Daughter of the Dragon,” a reflection of both strength and spirit. Her story is not only about breaking barriers but also about living authentically and encouraging others to do the same. Today it is my great pleasure and honor to speak with Micheline Montreuil.