Interview with Georgia Lee McGowen

Georgia Lee McGowen is a writer, blogger, and the author of the autobiographical book Dear Mom and Dad: You Don't Know Me, But … published in 2012, a work that reflects both her courage and her devotion to sharing her personal journey with honesty and heart. At 71 years old, she continues to work full-time as a Kitchen and Bath Designer in Mesa, Arizona, approaching life with curiosity, energy, and a deep appreciation for every opportunity that comes her way. Georgia’s journey into living authentically as a woman began in her mid-sixties, making her transition a gradual and deeply personal process rather than a sudden revelation, and her story highlights the complexities and rewards of embracing one’s true self later in life. A devoted Christian and passionate historian of famous lives, she reflects on her experiences with honesty, compassion, and a wry sense of humor, offering insights that resonate not only within the transgender community but also with anyone navigating the challenges of identity, acceptance, and personal growth. Her memoir and public speaking explore the delicate balance of gender identity and spirituality, emphasizing acceptance, perseverance, and the pursuit of meaningful relationships.

 

Georgia shares practical wisdom for transgender women, from coping with societal expectations to understanding the duality of the soul, while also addressing the realities of love, loss, and self-discovery. Beyond her own story, she actively inspires others through seminars and workshops, answering questions openly and providing guidance on navigating family dynamics, faith, and self-expression. Georgia continues to work on multiple literary projects, including a companion book tracing the development of her Christian faith alongside her gender identity, a sequel to her memoir titled Dear Mom and Dad, P.S., and a biography of Regina Gazelle, a pioneering trans woman who founded the first tax-exempt home for homeless and transitioning transgender people in Phoenix. She also has several film and television producers considering her memoir as a potential adaptation, signaling that her voice and story are reaching ever wider audiences. Through her writing, public engagement, and personal example, Georgia Lee McGowen remains a source of encouragement and empowerment, showing that it is never too late to embrace one’s authentic self and live a life of purpose, faith, and joy. 

 

Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Georgia Lee McGowen, writer, blogger, and author of the autobiographical book Dear Mom and Dad: You Don't Know Me, But … published in 2012. Hello, Georgia! 

Georgia: And a grateful hello to you as well, Monika. This is indeed a pleasure and honor.

Monika: Could you tell us a little about yourself and your background? 

Georgia: Oh Monika, I could say far more than a few words about myself, as the original draft of Dear Mom and Dad would attest. If it had been published as originally written, it would have run to over seven hundred pages. Thankfully, my publisher, iUniverse, convinced me it was far too wordy. 

 

With her book - Amazon.

 

Monika: What are some of your interests and passions?

Georgia: As for a few words about myself in the context of your blog, I am a history buff, particularly interested in the lives of famous people. As a child, I was fascinated by what made someone famous enough for their life to be recorded. Since I had not done anything that would cause another person to write about me, it became necessary for me to do the writing myself. I am a late-blooming flower, seventy-one years old, and thoroughly enjoying my life. I still work over forty hours a week as a Kitchen and Bath Designer at Home Depot here in Mesa, Arizona. I am widowed and a devout Christian, a fact my book also attests to.

Monika: What inspired you to write your autobiography?

Georgia: There is a passage in the Bible that talks about how three servants used the talents they were given by their master. The one who was given the least buried it for safekeeping and failed to put it to work, which did not sit well with the master upon his return. I did not want to have that conversation with my maker at all.

Monika: How did your writing process for the book begin?

Georgia: I had prepared a manuscript that was a collection of previously published essays written for various LGBT publications, but I realized they would have little, if any, value beyond our community if no one knew the backstory. That realization naturally led to Dear Mom and Dad. When I was discouraged beyond belief and doubted that what I had to say had any value, my dear friend, the late Doug Benton, encouraged me to finish what I had started.
Monika: What lessons from your experience do you think could help other transgender women?

Georgia: The first thing I would say is to accept that society is not going to welcome you with open arms. For most of us, we do not get much beyond looking like a man in a dress. Here is a secret: put on a big smile and get on with your life. Doing so will make life far more enjoyable, and you will become far more accepted.

Monika: How has your understanding of gender identity evolved as you became more involved in the trans community? 

Georgia: It is important to acknowledge that altering your body does not eliminate the possibility that the male spirit may continue to exist within your soul. One of the most striking things I learned as I became more involved in the trans community was the tragically high number of suicides among us. One study put the rate at nearly eleven times that of the general population. Up to that point, I had personally known only one person who had taken their own life. Within less than two years of becoming active in the community, three people I knew personally had ended their lives. A surgeon’s scalpel will not remove any part of your soul.

 

"George" and Marilyn in Colorado, 1986.

 

Monika: Did you face particular challenges in reconciling your dual-gendered identity?

Georgia: I was constantly told that although I initially considered myself a cross-dresser, I would eventually “cross that threshold.” As alluring as life as Georgia was, I could not comprehend the idea of telling George that Georgia was going to “kill him off,” or telling my children that I was going to end their father. A variety of experiences, which I describe in my book, led me to the realization that I was blessed with a soul inhabited by two clearly identifiable spirits, one male, George, and one female, Georgia.

Monika: How did you ultimately decide which aspect of your identity would be predominant in your life?

Georgia: I realized I did not have to make a choice other than deciding which of those personalities would be predominant at this point in my life. George had lived in this body for over sixty-five years; now it was my turn. The short answer is that whatever you do with your body, do not deny the existence of a spirit that is a God-given part of your soul.
Monika: At what age did you begin your transition into a woman?

Georgia: As I mentioned, I was a late bloomer. I began transitioning in my mid-sixties, which is not considered a typical transition by community standards. Up to that point, everyone I knew who had transitioned described a moment in their lives when they simply could not continue living as they had.

Monika: Was there a moment when you felt an irresistible need to transition? 

Georgia: One person described it as an impenetrable brick wall that only their female soul could penetrate. That was not the case for me. My transition was gradual, facilitated in large part by a fellow cross-dresser. I really dislike that term, as it implies the process is only about clothing, which it is not, even for those who do not transition fully.

Monika: How did your professional life intersect with your transition? 

Georgia: I describe the process in detail in my book, but the short version is that I was hired with the understanding that I would work in both capacities, Georgia and George, with business cards for both identities. Later, even though I had not fully transitioned, I, Georgia, was hired into a full-time position because everyone I would be working with knew me only as Georgia. If George had shown up, it would have blown their minds.

Monika: How did the final stages of your transition unfold?

Georgia: At that point, everything began to fall into place. I was hired as a full-time Kitchen Designer at Home Depot in late 2013, and my transition was completed just before my seventy-first birthday when I underwent GRS under the capable hands of Dr. Marci Bowers.

 

"George" and Marilyn at the Family cabin, 1995.

Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models whom you looked up to or tried to follow?

Georgia: Actually, I did not. I suppose it was a matter of arrogance on my part, so I will own up to it. I guess I felt I had a corner on understanding what it was really all about and thought I was so unique that there was no one else like me. I still feel special, but the arrogance is gone. However, there were two “real” women that I admired enormously and that I endeavored to emulate above all. My wife was the first. She was an amazing woman and one whose life I still strive to pattern mine after. The other woman is Julie Andrews who I believe is the essence of a lady.
Monika: Are there any transgender women you currently admire or respect? 

Georgia: I have found someone whom I can openly admire and respect. That person is Caitlyn Jenner. I find much to relate to in her story, and I truly admire her courage in transitioning in such a public and open manner. 

Monika: Looking back, what was the most difficult part of coming out for you? 

Georgia: Like many of us, telling my children was the most difficult and challenging part. I have to confess that I did not handle it very well. As a result, the oldest two have not spoken to me in over four years. 

Monika: The transgender community is often grouped together with the rest of the LGBT population. Do you think it is possible for transgender people to promote their own cause within this broader group?

Georgia: You are touching on a subject that is very dear to my heart. I believe that separating our cause from that of the gay community should be at the top of our goals. Let them have their LGB, and let the cause of the “T” be handled by those of us who belong to that portion of society.

Monika: How do you think the gay community perceives transgender people? 

Georgia: The gay community is often happy to have us for the sake of numbers, but for many of them, we appear to be an embarrassment, gay men in particular. Most of them appear on the surface to be “normal” men. In other words, if you saw one on the street, you would not give them a second look. Therefore, they can go about their lives without attracting undue attention unless they choose to make a point of their sexuality.

Monika: Does the same dynamic apply to the lesbian community? 

Georgia: The same is true for a large segment of the lesbian community. But as entirely too many of us can attest, we do not exactly blend in. As a result, the gay community tends to keep us at arm’s length unless we are needed for the sake of numbers.

Her first professional portrait, 2004.

Monika: How do you feel transgender people have been represented in news stories, films, and books so far?

Georgia: Until Caitlyn Jenner came out, there was very little supportive or complimentary coverage of our community. I think much of that is because we tend to associate mainly within our own kind, with the exception of accepting family. We are never going to be fully accepted by society until we learn to step out into the worlds we live in and believe in our hearts that we belong there. It requires one of two approaches.

Monika: What can transgender individuals do to help society accept them?

Georgia: As individuals, we need to act as if we belong, or we need to simply endure the slings and arrows, the looks and snickers that come with appearing different, put on a big smile, and get out there. News stories will continue to be uncomplimentary and degrading until society realizes that the only difference is that our bodies do not match the set of emotions we were born with. 

END OF PART 1

PART 2

 

All the photos: courtesy of Georgia Lee McGowen.

© 2016 - Monika Kowalska

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