Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models who guided or inspired you?
Andrea: I wished I had more transgender role models at the time I transitioned. I had one friend, Alaina, who had transitioned a couple of years before I did in Arkansas, and she advised me along the way and over time became a trusted friend. I also had many non-transgender women, especially my mother, who were there to guide me through the process.
Monika: Andrea, are there any transgender women today whom you admire and respect?
Andrea: There are so many amazing transgender women who inspire me, and many of them are people I know and trust. I am in awe of the work Dr. Marci Bowers does, not only on behalf of transgender people but also for women seeking surgery to recover from genital mutilation.
Monika: Are there other leaders in the transgender community who have influenced or inspired you?
Andrea: Mara Keisling at the National Center for Transgender Equality demonstrates incredible leadership, surrounding herself with immense talent to achieve positive results for transgender people. I also see the work of Andrea Bowen at Garden State Equality, Harper Jean Tobin and Raffi Freedman-Gurspan at NCTE, Danni Askini and Tobi Hill-Mayer at Gender Justice League, Brynn Tannehill at Spart*a, Courtney Gray at the GLBT Center of Colorado, and Marisa Richmond at the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, and it inspires me deeply.
Monika: Have you had a personal mentor within the movement who guided you?
Andrea: If I have had a mentor within the movement, it is Andrea Bowen. I do not think I would be doing what I am doing today without her and her ability to coach others to step outside their comfort zones and get the job done. I admire and respect transgender women who can guide others to become all they can be.
Monika: What was the most difficult part of coming out for you?
Andrea: Being away from my family. My parents live in Indiana, and I live in Arkansas. I stayed in Arkansas because I had a secure job, but I could have left for Indiana at any time. Because I kept my job, I am able to do the activism I do today.
Monika: Do you see transgender rights as a new frontier in the fight for human rights?
Andrea: It is. The next frontier, however, will be envisioning and establishing rights for non-binary persons within the transgender umbrella. The promise of non-binary rights would mean substantial freedom for all people, including transgender women. I would rather see no gender marker on a driver’s license than any at all.
Monika: What are your thoughts on how transgender stories and characters have been portrayed in films, newspapers, and books so far?
Andrea: They are getting better and becoming more fully realized characters. I loved movies about people who transformed themselves, such as The Incredible Mr. Limpet with Don Knotts or Switch with Ellen Barkin. Compared to those stories from years ago featuring a transgender character, when the transgender person was often a punchline, the difference is remarkable. I think TV shows like Orange Is the New Black, TransParent, and Glee have introduced more positive and relatable transgender characters. What an amazing time we live in today.
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Transgender Advocacy, Justice & Leadership in the South (YouTube). |
Monika: Are you active in politics, and do you participate in any lobbying campaigns? Do you believe transgender women can make a difference in the political arena?
Andrea: Yes. Yes. Yes. Transgender people need to be involved in the political process if they hope to improve the circumstances in which we currently live. In the United States, the National Center for Transgender Equality’s Trans Lobby Day is a wonderful entry point for those who are interested.
Monika: How important is love in your life, and how has it influenced you?
Andrea: I do not think I could have loved another person without loving myself first. Paraphrasing Oscar Wilde, loving oneself is a relationship that lasts a lifetime. I am a lot more open to love now because I find myself more lovable than ever before. I surround myself with friends and family who give me significant love and support, but I am still waiting for that special person in my life who will want to build something amazing with me.
Monika: Many transgender women write memoirs about their experiences. Have you ever considered writing a book about your own journey?
Monika: Many transgender women write memoirs about their experiences. Have you ever considered writing a book about your own journey?
Andrea: I would like to write a full memoir, but I am working on a creative approach for how to write it. In the meantime, I do have a piece, actually an interview, coming out this year in an anthology called “Scar Stories” for Et Alia Press.
Monika: Are you currently involved in any new projects or initiatives?
Andrea: Within ArTEC, we have a few projects coming up, including our name and gender change clinic in Arkansas, which is the first time this legal service has ever been available in the state. I am also newly on the board of RAD Remedy in Chicago, which aims to make accessing and learning about transgender healthcare resources more interactive and user-friendly.
Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls who are struggling with gender dysphoria?
Andrea: There is no better time to live your true self. The climate in America, even in places like Arkansas, will continue to improve in the coming years with greater education and awareness.
Monika: How should transgender girls approach finding guidance and support during this process?
Andrea: I know there are many great resources available, and many transgender women seek advice online from their peers, wanting to compare themselves and their progress. However, there is no replacement for listening to yourself. Listen to your heart. I found a time in my life when I was truly happy and used it as the starting point to build my life from there.
Monika: What mindset or attitude do you think is most important for overcoming gender dysphoria?
Andrea: Listen to yourself, follow what your heart tells you, celebrate the small victories in your life, and do not give the haters the time of day. Life is short, and relieving gender dysphoria is so important. Get to a point where you are okay with yourself and do not worry about what others think. If you are like me, you may have listened to what others thought you should do for years, and where did that get you? Nowhere. Move on to something more amazing, alive, and vibrant. Move on to you.
Monika: Andrea, thank you for the interview!
END OF PART 2
The main photo credits: Arshia Khan.
© 2015 - Monika Kowalska
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