Monika: Are you currently involved in any LGBTQ+ groups or community initiatives in your area?
Diana: Not as much as I want to, but I do go out with a local LGBTQ women’s meetup group when I can. It always feels refreshing to connect with others who understand your experience.
Monika: The trans cause is often linked with the broader LGBTQ+ movement. Do you think the transgender community is able to advocate effectively for its own issues within that umbrella?
Diana: I think so. Many of the battles we fight and the victories we have are thanks to the work done by all of the letters in the acronym, issues like discrimination, the hardships of coming out, and the struggle with the law to give us the same rights as everyone else. The T is usually the last of the group to have our rights validated in law, and since it has to do with identity rather than orientation, our cause also has its own voice, motivation, and identity within the community. It’s important that we stay both united and individually empowered.
Monika: How would you describe your relationship with fashion? Do you follow trends, or do you have your own sense of style?
Diana: I’m not big into fashion. If I follow trends, it’s usually an accident or a coincidence. I used to mainly wear jeans and t-shirts early in transition, but as I become more comfortable with my body and my expression, I’m trying to expand my wardrobe. Fashion is becoming more of a playful experiment than a source of stress for me.
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| This is my sense of humor. |
Monika: How has love influenced your journey and your sense of self? What role does it play in your life today?
Diana: Very important. Love is one of the key points in my life, whether it’s romantic love, family love, or friendship. I was hesitant to transition because I feared losing the love I had or the possibility of finding love in the future. Fortunately, I feel much loved at the moment, and that support has made a huge difference in my confidence and happiness.
Monika: Many transgender women choose to share their stories through memoirs or books. Have you ever considered writing your own story?
Diana: Not in a serious manner. I’m very bad at telling stories, so I’ll leave that to other people who would surely do much better than I ever could. However, I do enjoy sharing bits of my journey informally, especially when it helps someone feel less alone.
Monika: What advice would you give to transgender women who are afraid to begin their transition because of fear of discrimination or hatred?
Diana: If they’re reading this, that’s a great start. I didn’t know transition was for me until I found other trans women with stories similar to mine, so go out and find someone you can identify with. We are so many that whatever your conditions or starting point, someone out there has transitioned with a similar story, and if they can do it, so can you. Remember, you don’t have to face this journey alone.
Monika: What are your current goals, and where do you see yourself in the next five to seven years?
Diana: I’m trying to have more things to do professionally, so I recently took a freelance job in addition to my 9-to-5 and side projects (which very rarely make any profit). I just want a healthy, normal, well-adjusted life. In 5-7 years, I want to be married, as I’m engaged at the moment, and feel more satisfied with my professional life than I currently am, and maybe have a few more surgeries under my belt. I’m also hoping to continue growing personally and emotionally during that time.
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| I really like needing a fake mustache now. |
Monika: My pen friend Gina Grahame once told me that we shouldn’t limit our potential based on how we were born or by what we see other transsexual and transgender people doing. She said our dreams shouldn’t end on an operating table, they should begin there. What are your thoughts on this idea?
Diana: Yes and no. Yes, in that it’s better not to view transition as an end goal but rather as a step toward living our lives to the fullest. No, in that we should never say that dreams start at the operating table, because not all trans people want or are able to have surgeries, and their individual experiences are just as valid as everyone else’s. Everyone’s journey is unique, and what matters most is finding fulfillment in whatever path feels right to each person.
Monika: Diana, it has been a real pleasure to interview you today. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Diana: And it was a pleasure to be interviewed by you. Thanks for doing what you do. I hope our conversation helps others feel seen and empowered.
END OF PART 2
All photos: courtesy of Diana Garcia.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
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