Alana Joy is a woman of many passions and talents, weaving together the lives of a commodity trader, musician, photographer, hiker, writer, and dreamer. Her creativity and love of nature are deeply connected to her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she often finds peace and inspiration on the desert trails that surround the city. Music, photography, and the art of charting and trading have all shaped her outlook on life, but it is her personal journey of self-discovery that defines her most. In 2015, Alana shared that journey with the world through her autobiography Dreamy Morning, a book that blends raw honesty with a deep sense of hope. By telling her story, she wanted to challenge the harmful misconception that being transgender is a choice, and she hoped to reach young people, parents, and anyone who might feel lost or alone. Writing her book was not easy for her, as she had long been a private person, yet her desire to make a difference outweighed her fears. Her reflections reveal not only the courage it takes to live authentically but also the compassion she feels for others navigating similar paths.
Alana speaks openly about the struggles of growing up with feelings she could not yet name, about the challenges of transitioning later in life, and about the loneliness and depression that sometimes accompanied her steps forward. At the same time, she always emphasizes resilience, urging others to take one step at a time, to never give up, and above all to love themselves. Her life is also marked by gratitude, whether for supportive friends and family, the sisterhood of other trans women who guided her, or the opportunity to finally live every day as herself. Through her words and her example, Alana embodies the belief that authenticity is worth every challenge and that even small acts of openness can help change the world for the better. She admires the trailblazers who came before her, yet she also strives to leave the path smoother for those who will follow. Her story reflects not only her own perseverance but also a deep appreciation for community, unconditional love, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. It is with great joy and honor that I introduce Alana Joy, a woman whose voice carries both strength and tenderness, and whose journey continues to inspire.
Monika: Today I have the great pleasure of speaking with Alana Joy, a commodity trader, musician, photographer, hiker, writer, and dreamer, as well as the author of the autobiographical book Dreamy Morning (2015). Hello Alana!
Alana: Hi Monika, thank you so much for inviting me to take part in this interview. It truly feels like both an honor and a privilege to be here. I also want to thank you for creating such a wonderful website. It offers a wealth of knowledge and insight, enriched by the shared experiences of so many remarkable women.
Monika: Alana, how would you describe yourself and the life you are living today?
Alana: I am a 60-year-old transwoman. As a nature lover, I am fortunate to live in Phoenix, Arizona, where the city has preserved many hundreds of acres of natural desert land within the city limits. There are many hiking trails, which I often explore to keep in shape. I am a very artistic person who loves music, photography, and the art of charting and trading.
Monika: Could you share a little about your early feelings of identity and how they shaped your journey?
Alana: As a small child, I felt I should be a girl, and I wanted to be. At 13 or 14 years old I knew I needed Sexual Reassignment Surgery, although I still did not understand the root of these feelings. So, I dreamed of actually being a girl, having surgery, and living every day of my life as that girl. Today, Alana is living that dream. Is life easy now? No, but I am me, and there is not a day that goes by that I am not still amazed and thankful to be living 24/7 as Alana.
Monika: What motivated you to share your life story with the world?
Alana: I was, and still am, so tired of people accusing us of “choosing” to be transgender. I just had to tell my story, in the hope that it might help at least a few people, perhaps parents of trans kids, to better understand.
Monika: Did you also hope to reach others who might be struggling in silence?
Alana: I also knew there were still people out there who thought they were the “only ones.” So I decided I had to really open up and try to describe my experiences as accurately as I could. This was not an easy decision. I was actually terrified to tell my secrets to the world, as I was always a very quiet and private person. But I wanted so badly to make a difference that I eventually knew I just had to tell it all.
Monika: What role did your childhood experiences play in your decision to write the book?
Alana: The bathroom issue was, and still is, extremely important to me, especially for school children. As a small child in elementary school, I was scared to death of school restrooms. I don’t remember wanting to use the girls’ room, but I was terrified of the boys’ room. Though I didn’t understand why, I knew those parts down there were not right. I was very embarrassed by them and had many long school days of holding it until I could get home. This then led to many urinary infections. It breaks my heart that fifty years later, little has changed for trans children.
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Monika: Were there any other issues you felt compelled to address in your autobiography?
Alana: Those three issues were my main reasons for writing. I also wanted to add a bit about drug and alcohol abuse, as I do not want to see any young people take that dead-end road. I made a lot of wrong turns myself. I also wanted to attempt to portray my life the way it really was, as there were sometimes long periods of time in between thinking about being a girl. But it always returned.
Monika: Based on your journey, what guidance would you offer to other transgender women who are just beginning their path?
Alana: First off, just know that you are not alone. There have been many before you, and there will be many after you. All of the feelings you are experiencing, you can be sure someone else has also experienced. Take baby steps. A lot of us want to transition overnight, but it is really better to take it one step at a time. You will get there a lot quicker than you think.
Monika: What advice would you give about medical transition and surgery?
Alana: Don’t be afraid to have surgery in Thailand. They have very modern facilities, and the hospital care I received was as good, if not better, than what I have experienced here in the United States. I fell in love with the nurses and the ladies who cared for me. They were so very good to me. But do your own research and pick the surgeon that is best for you. Of course, if you don’t go to Thailand, you’ll miss out on all of that wonderful Thai food.
Monika: What final message would you like to leave for those who may be struggling along the way?
Alana: Never, ever give up. Today may be a cold, dark, dreary day with seemingly no hope for tomorrow. But tomorrow truly is a new day, and sunshine is just around the corner. Love yourself, I cannot say this enough. I hated myself for most of my life, as I did not understand why I had these feelings of being a girl. I believe this has caused more damage to me than probably anything else. Always, always love yourself.
Monika: At what point in your life did you begin your transition, and how would you describe that experience?
Alana: I started transitioning at 58 years old. Really, it was a pretty easy process for me overall. I am fortunate to have a wonderful therapist and supportive friends and family. I was very lonely at the beginning, which was probably the hardest part for me. But as far as actually transitioning, everything pretty much just fell into place.
Monika: What kinds of challenges did you face after surgery?
Alana: My biggest difficulties have come since being post-op. Part of that has been post-op depression, as I was so focused on that surgery for such a long time. I also had a very hard time getting my hormones balanced after surgery, which was very stressful.
Monika: How have other aspects of your life been affected since then?
Alana: I have had major setbacks in my business, which has caused deep worries, and now my old unwanted partner’s depression has reemerged. So I just need to get my personal life back on track, and then all will be great. Finally being post-op is simply beyond wonderful. But you still have life to deal with.
Monika: When the time came for surgery, how did you go about deciding where to have it performed?
Alana: I researched everything I could find on all of the North American and Thai surgeons and contacted all of them. The cost was a big factor, but so were experience and, of course, results. I just slowly narrowed it down to PAI, Preecha's Aesthetic Institute in Bangkok.
Monika: What ultimately convinced you that PAI was the right choice for you?
Alana: Dr. Preecha is the most experienced SRS surgeon on the planet and trained many of the other surgeons. The total cost, including travel expenses, was half that of the North American surgeons. Then when I met Michelle, who had just returned from PAI, I was totally convinced.
Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models who inspired or guided you?
Alana: My dear personal friend Michelle, who blazed the trail to Thailand a few months before me, helped me to verify my decision to go to PAI. Erica Keppler, who has done more than anyone I know locally in fighting for our rights, and Michelle, ex-military and now a commercial pilot, were also important figures. These three ladies helped me immensely in preparing for my SRS. I would not have been prepared without the help of these wonderful sisters.
Monika: Was there anyone who gave you more personal or practical guidance during those early days?
Alana: Yes, my dear friend and sister Lynn, who at the beginning of my transition pulled me aside and told me that if I wanted to blend in with society, I should dress a bit more my age and wear slightly longer skirts. And she kept reminding me of this! (smiles)
Monika: Today, are there transgender women you admire and respect?
Alana: Oh, so many, in addition to the friends I just mentioned. Honestly, I consider every transwoman who transitioned before me a heroine. Every one of them, whether known or unknown, blazed the trail for me. I just hope that I can leave that trail a little easier for the ladies who follow me.
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Monika: Could you mention a few women whose work or stories had a strong influence on you?
Alana: Becky Allison, whose blog and website were a huge factor in my finally coming out and transitioning. Nathine Goldenthal, a model, and probably the most knowledgeable person I’ve ever known about the physical side of transitioning.
Monika: Were there also writers or artists whose voices resonated with you?
Alana: Yes, absolutely. Donna Rose, author of Wrapped in Blue, which is an excellent book I want to read again, and Annah Moore, musician and author.
Monika: How about women who inspired you through activism and community leadership?
Alana: Regina Gazelle, who blazed the trail for us thirty-some years ago under unbelievably harsh conditions, then founded a shelter for homeless trans people here in Phoenix. Antonia D’Orsay, who has done so much work with homeless trans people and is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge on transgender subjects. And Miss Millie, whom I just recently met. Millie blazed the trail for us forty years ago, and what an honor it was to meet her.
Monika: Do you also admire women you’ve met personally through support groups and friendships?
Alana: Very much so. My friends JJ, whose transition was halted by cancer but who still runs the long-running support group TG Harmony. Sharon, who transitioned thirty years ago, lost her entire family, and then also lost her career because of it. Stephanie, who had the unbelievable courage to come out while working as a police officer and now leads the Trans-Spectrum Women’s Support group. Dana, who formerly led Trans-Spectrum. Briana Sandy, who became widely known after being refused service in a local bar because she was trans and then was publicly scrutinized by the media. Raven, a musician, songwriter, and dancer. Kristina Bachman, author. Eileen, Billie, Mandi, Jenna, Shirley, Cassandra, Paula, Katie, Diana, Laura, Jessica, I could go on! Kristin Beck, Jenny Boylan, and many more. All uniquely talented and wonderful women. I am blessed to call so many of them my sisters and friends.
Monika: Looking back, what was the most difficult part of coming out for you?
Alana: Writing, and then sending off, my coming out letter. I put it off until I worried so much I was experiencing migraines, which I hadn't had in years. My oldest first cousin, an entomologist, was the first to respond. He said, “Well, you're just going through a metamorphosis.” I thought that was a classic response.
Monika: Beyond writing the letter, were there other challenges that made coming out difficult?
Alana: I had it so much easier than most, though. My parents were gone, as were my aunts and uncles. So it was just cousins, who mostly live far away, and a handful of longtime friends that I had to come out to. I was also self-employed, so that was one huge worry I did not have to face.
Monika: Within the LGBT community, the transgender cause is often connected with the struggles of others. Do you feel the transgender community is able to promote its own cause while being part of this larger group?
Alana: This has been a popular subject lately, with some on both sides wanting us to break off from the LGB. My personal view is mixed. There is strength in numbers, and we are better off united. But with the LGB being about sexual orientation, and the T being about gender identity, there is a lot of confusion among cis people who do not understand the differences. It's hard to know which is really best for all, but for now, at least, I am for staying together. Personally, I have had total support here locally from those on the LGB side, of which I have many friends. PFLAG is a great organization, which I just heard has officially opened its doors to also include everyone beyond the T.
Monika: Beyond community unity, what are the most urgent challenges you see facing transgender people today?
Alana: It looks like we have the fight of our lives coming up here in 2016. Many states have anti-LGBT and anti-trans bills. My home state of Indiana has a bill that would fine us $1000 and give us up to a year in jail for using the proper restroom for our gender. So, if I visited my family that I haven't seen in five years, and I used a public restroom, I could end up doing a year in jail if this bill passes. It's these things that make me so emotional. I just don't understand the cruelty of these people.
END OF PART 1
All photos: courtesy of Alana Joy.
© 2016 - Monika Kowalska
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