Interview with Ar’lene D. Lafferty - Part 2

Monika: You played a significant role in changing California's birth certificate law in 1978, alongside Joanna Clark. Was it a challenging battle?

Ar’lene: In my autobiography, which I’m currently writing, I have dedicated an entire chapter to California AB 385: The Fight for Birth Certificate Change. This effort originated from the Los Angeles “TS Rap Group,” led by Joanna Clark.

At the time, I was the group's facilitator, and we carried out a massive letter-writing campaign to state legislators. Around six people and a senior group were actively involved in the campaign. The bill passed, though there was an attempt to block it with another bill, SB 2200, which was ultimately voted down. As a result, the original bill stood, and California AB 385 became law in 1978, serving as a model for other states.

Since then, the law has undergone several changes. We now follow Illinois, where I was born. Today, three states, Tennessee, Ohio, and Idaho, have yet to update their birth certificate laws. Additionally, some states, such as Texas, have unclear policies regarding transgender birth certificates.

Ar'lene in Florence, Italy.

Monika: What are your thoughts on the current state of transgender women in American society?

Ar’lene: The best I can say is that, for the most part, parents are recognizing their child’s needs and supporting the timely use of blockers (such as Spironolactone) at the right stage in their child’s life.

Doctors are generally more knowledgeable about transgender healthcare, though there are still exceptions, particularly some Canadian psychiatrists who attempt to circumvent the DSM-V. Additionally, there are still instances of quackery, with certain doctors promoting outdated and harmful beliefs. Some of these individuals wrongly believe that both transgender and gay people can be “changed” through faith healing or so-called "reparative therapy," as advocated by groups like the Family Research Council.

Monika: Such surgeries must have been very expensive.

Ar’lene: My advice, in simple terms: work for a company that provides medical insurance covering most of your surgeries and/or HRT. If you're lucky enough to work for the City of San Francisco, their health insurance covers HRT, psychotherapy, and GCS. Kaiser Permanente, under many policies, covers psychotherapy, speech therapy (for a female voice), HRT, and some GCS (SRS).

When it comes to FFS, body procedures, and breast surgeries, coverage is rare. Those fortunate enough to live in countries with national healthcare (like the NHS) may have access to HRT and GCS, but often face long waiting periods before surgery. It’s still uncertain whether the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) covers these treatments, and in my state, “California OneCare” (upcoming) is also still unclear.

“Don’t let it control you, control it yourself!” In other words, “No” is not an answer. Keep pushing, find a way around the obstacles, and navigate the system as best you can.

Look, if you really want these surgeries and treatments, take the best possible route and go for it! Many people, especially insurance companies, will try to stand in your way. Push past them, and my best wishes to all of you!

At the Hotel Bar in Atlanta, Georgia.
At the Southern Comfort Conference.

Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models to look up to? How much knowledge did you have about transgender issues at the time?

Ar’lene: My Role Models started with, Coccinelle and Bambi (Marie-Pier Ysser). Bambi started as an entertainer and later became a university professor. I cannot forget Christine Jorgensen and April Ashley, who married Lord Arthur Corbett in 1963 and adopted a son. All of them underwent GCS (SRS) in Casablanca.

My knowledge was still in its learning stage at the time. If you mean people I knew personally, that would be Joanna Clark, Canary Conn, and Christine Konda, who was my maid of honor and was tragically murdered in 1989.

Monika: What was the most challenging aspect of your coming out?

Ar’lene: The stubbornness and misunderstanding of my parents. My sister was the first to know. Things are very different today. I can also say this: “I would have loved to begin transitioning as a child, or better yet, to have been born 100% female.”

Monika: How did you feel when you finally became the woman you were meant to be?

Ar’lene: "Check it off with a big checkmark!" I felt incredibly lucky and happy—Happy-Happy-Happy!!!

Monika: What do you enjoy the most about being a woman?

Ar’lene: Cosmetics, stylish clothes, dating hot men (in the past), being married to a sweet man (currently), and my work as an Electrologist and Cosmetologist. Also, my HRT. Traveling is easy for me, especially going through airport security. I even traveled for five months through Europe on a Rail Pass in 1986 and have visited the United Kingdom many times since then.

Monika: You're married to a man. Was it challenging for him to accept you as a trans woman?

Ar’lene: Only at the beginning of my transition. For the most part, it wasn’t difficult during the marriage, except for the first few years when the Newsweek article caused trouble at his work. He was fired because of one of the photos in the article showing both of us at our wedding. The stress affected our finances and led to irreconcilable differences. We divorced in 1980, but after nine years, we remarried in Las Vegas in 1989. We're still married today, but occasionally, I "flirt with hot guys!"

Southern Comfort Conference - Seminar 2009
"Our Trans-History, the Heroes" - Ar'lene (standing),
Yvonne Cook-Riley, Monica Helm,
and Jamison Green (the three sitting).

Monika: We are seeing more and more transgender women coming out, and unlike in previous years, some of them are gaining celebrity status or becoming well-known figures in their respective fields. For example, we have Lana Wachowski in film directing, Jenna Talackova in modeling, Kate Bornstein in academia, Laura Jane Grace in music, and Candis Cayne in acting. Do you think we will continue to see more women like them emerging in the future?

Ar’lene: In our history, I’ve seen a few of the “Matrix” films and V for Vendetta by the Wachowskis (Lana and Andy). Also, Laura Jane Grace, Lisa Jackson, Jane County, Dana International, and Canary Conn (who was also an author, whom I knew) are among the successful singers who recorded music.
As far as acting: Candis Cayne, Alexis Arquette, Aleshia Brevard, and Alexandra Billings are some of the famous ones. Two of the models are Isis King and Jenna Talackova. Authors include Jennifer Boylan, Lynn Conway, Jan Morris, and Kate Bornstein among many others. I love that our community shows its strength.
Yes, we are not done; we as a community have created a library full of books, music, and successes. Indeed, more of us will be known, because of the public fascination with us and their desire for more. We are entering a new era of civil rights for our community. We look toward the future of things to come, such as new laws in our favor, changes in schools and education, textbooks, the global internet, and innovations yet to come.

Monika: At the same time, we often hear heartbreaking news about transgender women being killed or assaulted, such as the infamous case of Chrissy Polis, who was beaten by two teenage girls at McDonald's simply for using the ladies' restroom. What steps can we take to prevent such violence?

Ar’lene: As for the attack on Chrissy Polis and others who are assaulted or murdered, I call it sheer lunacy, what I refer to as 'The Jerry Springer Syndrome.' It stems from the ignorance of poorly educated, twisted individuals who are heavily influenced by misguided faith and gun-crazed beliefs. These people think violence is the solution, destroy and it will go away. These are the true 'sickos.' It’s also why many of us avoid businesses that fund organizations blocking progress in Congress.

These organizations are the main obstacles preventing states from creating laws that benefit us, such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), state-by-state restroom laws, and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Unfortunately, restroom laws vary by state. However, most states have laws that are in our favor. The incident with Chrissy Polis took place in Maryland, where the law is actually written to protect us. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Most McDonald's locations are okay with us, and the two young women who attacked her were prosecuted, while the manager lost his job, justice was served.

As for the people and organizations that interfere with our rights, the list is long. Some members of the Republican Party (for religious reasons) and businesses like Chick-fil-A, Domino's Pizza, and Carl's Jr. (Hardee's and Green Burrito) are examples of those driven by their own personal religious convictions.

Christine Konda (left) and “Ar”lene (right)
Post-Wedding.

Monika: Do you think that in our lifetime, we could see a transgender woman become President of the United States?

Ar’lene: We are already present in various branches of government. For example, we have two judges: The Honorable Judge Phyllis Randolph Frye of Texas and The Honorable Victoria Kolakowski of California. Amanda Simpson, appointed by President Obama, serves as the Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce. We also have a small-town mayor in Silverton, Oregon: The Honorable Mayor S. Rasmussen (Trans).

There was the case of Susan Ashley Stanton in Largo, Florida, who was fired as City Manager but later secured a new position as City Manager in Lake Worth, Florida. As I mentioned, we are already in government. America doesn’t have a monopoly on trans people in politics; for instance, Georgina Beyer, a trans woman from New Zealand, served as a Member of Parliament and is also a published author.

As for the possibility of a trans woman becoming President of the United States, let's be real: it’s unlikely in our lifetime. However, the more probable scenario is that trans people, whether female or male, could serve as First Lady, members of Congress (including Congresswomen and possibly Congressmen), or as State Legislators or State Senators. Unfortunately, the idea of a trans person, male or female, becoming a U.S. Senator or President is questionable and may be hindered by the Religious Right, Corporate America, and the Republican Party (if they still exist at that time).

END OF PART 2

PART 3

 

All the photos: courtesy of Ar’lene D. Lafferty.

© 2013 - Monika Kowalska