Interview with Georgia Lee McGowen - Part 2

Monika: How do you view the portrayal of transgender characters in films specifically? 

Georgia: Regarding motion pictures, when the industry reaches the point where it casts men to portray men who were born in the wrong body, as was the case with Normal, rather than having a woman play a transwoman, as in Trans-America with Felicity Huffman, and when the reality of who we are becomes normalized, then and only then will society begin to adjust to us as different, but normal.
Monika: Do you personally participate in lobbying campaigns, and do you think transgender women can influence politics?

Georgia: I have never participated in any lobbying campaigns for a couple of reasons. I still work for a living and simply do not have the time.

Monika: How do you view the current approach of lobbying for transgender rights? 

Georgia: I have found that those campaigns are often about forcing our cause on society through elected representatives rather than convincing people gently and compellingly to understand our point of view. When people feel as though something is being forced on them, they react negatively. When they are presented with an idea that allows them to voluntarily join the cause, they will fight fiercely. Personally, I want someone fighting passionately for me rather than reluctantly giving in to an unappreciated idea. 

Monika: What would meaningful acceptance of transgender people in society look like to you?

Georgia: The day a transgender woman steps up with ideas not rooted in gender identity, but rather in genuine concern for all of society, that will be the day transgender people have truly arrived. The day one of us participates as a normal concerned citizen wanting to contribute to the world she lives in without reference to her gender issue, that will mark the real beginning of acceptance.

 

Getting moved into her townhouse, 2006.

 

Monika: You often give seminars to students. What kinds of questions do they usually ask, and how do you handle them?

Georgia: I usually take questions at the end of my presentation by challenging the students to ask me a question that I will refuse to answer. So far, I have not refused to answer any questions. The questions I normally get are like, "How does your family accept you?" "Are you attracted to men or women?" "Have you had GR surgery?" To that question, I always ask why they want to know. Other common questions are, "Do you have any regrets?" and "Are you in a relationship now?" There are usually one or two questions that have not been asked before, but to be honest, I cannot remember any at this moment.

Monika: You are very open about your faith and how it has shaped your life. Can you share a key insight about that aspect of your journey?

Georgia: One of the things that struck me most as I became more involved in the LGBT community is the large percentage of people who are strongly anti-religion or anti-faith of any kind. It did not take long for me to realize that much of this attitude is rooted in what I call hyper-conservative Christian beliefs and dogma. For example, taking Deuteronomy 22:5 literally is often used as a tool for rejection. I write about its effect on me, and for me, the antidote is listening to God rather than his self-appointed representatives. 

Monika: How did this understanding of faith influence your personal sense of peace and identity?

Georgia: I came to the conclusion that the primary message of the New Testament, aside from the general value of love, is to view God as a father, a perfect father, something none of us has fully experienced and therefore find nearly impossible to comprehend. When I embraced this perspective, I realized that a perfect father would never abandon a child because they were different, and certainly not when He was responsible for creating that child differently, in my case, me. Coming to this understanding freed me in ways I could never have imagined and brings me immense pleasure.

Near family cabin in Montana, 2005.

Monika: Some people believe God is merciless toward transgender individuals for placing their minds in bodies of the opposite gender. What is your perspective on this?

Georgia: God is not merciless toward transgender people. Societies are merciless toward transgender people. Hyper-conservative Christians are merciless toward transgender people. God is not. All of the three or four verses in the entire Bible that are often used to condemn us are taken completely out of context. The original context was an admonishment to abstain from participating in the perverted practices of pagans.

Monika: How did your personal acceptance of your identity affect your faith and sense of peace?

Georgia: Each of us is entitled to accept or reject the form and mind that we were given. When I eventually embraced the way I was created, I found an amazing peace. For me, the solution was acceptance first and then allowing God to show me, through inspiration, why he made me this way and what he wanted me to do with it.
Monika: Many people say that transgender individuals are among the least likely to participate in religious institutions because they have often been rejected by Christian families, friends, or faith communities. Would you agree with this observation?

Georgia: Of course I agree. As I shared in Dear Mom and Dad, I was rejected by the leadership of the very church in which I, or rather George, was originally baptized when they learned of my dual-gendered nature. However, it was people who rejected me, not God. I first found one church that welcomed me with open arms, then another, and then another, and so on.

Monika: How did finding accepting churches affect your spiritual journey and sense of belonging?

Georgia: Eventually, I, Georgia, was baptized. Being able to worship with others was the most important goal for me; worshiping with people who accepted me was secondary icing on the cake. When I worship God in the form he created me, I can feel a palpable sense of His pleasure, and that gives me immense joy. My next book will be a parallel to my memoir, exploring how my Christian faith developed in relation to my gender identity.

At Alpha Zeta chapter Christmas 2006 banquet.

Monika: How would you describe the general attitude of Christian churches toward transgender individuals?

Georgia: There really is not a single "general" attitude that I can detect. A large portion of mainstream Christianity is beginning to modify their perspectives toward us. I want to point out something about appearances and the effect they have on the very people whose acceptance we seek.

Monika: How can transgender people navigate these attitudes to feel accepted in a religious environment?

Georgia: It does not matter where a person is trying to fit in; no one is going to truly belong with a scowl on their face. If you want to be accepted anywhere, especially at church, smile. A smile communicates, "I am happy because I like myself, and you will like me too, so let’s get to know each other." That is the most effective way to overcome any negative attitude, particularly that rooted in Christian religiosity.
Monika: Are there any passages in the Bible that reference transgenderism, and how are they commonly interpreted?

Georgia: Deuteronomy 22:5 states, "Women shall not wear that which pertains to men and men shall not wear that which pertains to women. The Lord your God detests those who do this." On the surface, it sounds very straightforward, does it not? The problem is that the context is often completely ignored. According to one translation, Moses was instructing the Hebrews to refrain from participating in or approving the pagan practices of temple cult prostitutes, both male and female, who switched roles in their temple ceremonies and rituals, with men dressing and performing sexually as women and women dressing and performing sexually as men. 

Monika: Is there any alternative interpretation of this passage that might clarify its meaning?

Georgia: The only other widely accepted interpretation is that women should not be expected to take up arms against Israel's enemies, while the men should, in essence, "grow a set," leave domestic duties to the women, and do the fighting to protect them.
Monika: How do you feel about fashion, and what types of outfits do you usually choose? Are there particular styles, colors, or trends that you especially enjoy?

Georgia: Oh geez, how I do love clothes. Unfortunately, up to now, I have been forced to shop at resale and bargain stores due to financial constraints, which tends to put me a year behind in the fashion field. I generally love casual wear, with denim being my favorite, another trait I share with George. That said, like any woman, I enjoy dressing to the nines for a formal occasion. Most of all, I just want to look like any other woman with taste.

After her speech in Yucaipa CA, April 2016.

Monika: What is your perspective on transgender beauty pageants? Some activists argue that these contests promote an unhealthy focus on youth and physical appearance.

Georgia: Considering that criticism, I believe we are very much part of the female society around us, are we not? I personally have never had much appreciation for beauty contests because, despite the fact that they include aspects of intellect and talent in addition to appearance, let’s face it, the individual’s appearance is the predominant factor in the entire event.
Monika: How significant has love been in your life, and how has it influenced the decisions you have made?

Georgia: Wow, how much space do I have here? Fully sixty to seventy percent of Dear Mom and Dad contains elements of our love life and how it shaped the decisions we made. So indeed, love has been extremely important in my life. We spent an incredible amount of time and energy searching for love, and with one exception, that search was in vain. But that one exception, the love we found with Marilyn, was worth all the disappointments.

Monika: How did your experiences with love earlier in life shape your understanding of it?

Georgia: When I was young, I could not comprehend how our grandmother, Granny, was never able to find another man she could love after Grandfather died at a very early age. When Marilyn passed away, I thought I would soon find love again, but I did not. I found myself comparing every woman I met to her, and the magic was just nowhere to be found.

Monika: At this stage in your life, how do you approach love and relationships?

Georgia: At this point in life, I am content to be alone. However, if God sees fit to place another woman in my life, one that I could genuinely love in the context of what I still feel for Marilyn, then so be it.

Students who wanted a pic with Georgia after Yucaipa presentation.

Monika: Are you currently working on any new books or creative projects? 

Georgia: Oh gosh, yes. I have one book half done, which is a companion to my memoir that traces the development of my Christian faith in parallel to the development of my gender identity. I am also laying the groundwork for a sequel to Dear Mom and Dad, You Don’t Know Me, But … The title of that book is Dear Mom and Dad, P.S., which will chronicle everything that has happened since the point where Dear Mom and Dad ended.

Monika: Are there any other projects or collaborations you are involved in right now?

Georgia: In addition to those projects, there are several, as many as eight or nine, motion picture producers considering Dear Mom and Dad as a possible acquisition for film or television. I am also working on a book based on the life of Regina Gazelle, one of the most inspiring trans women I know and the founder of the first 501(c)(3) tax-exempt home for homeless and transitioning trans people here in Phoenix.
Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls who are struggling with gender dysphoria and thinking about transitioning?

Georgia: I have one main recommendation, and it is this: if you aren’t sure, if you’re contemplating transition, explore all the options thoroughly and don’t rush into a major change until you are, without a doubt, unequivocally positive of your choice. 

Monika: Are there any common misconceptions about transition that you think young trans women should be aware of?

Georgia: As Jennifer Finney Boylan describes in her autobiography She’s Not There, love is not the answer. Love of a woman will not supplant the woman within. She has always been there, and she is not going away, ever. In short, figure out who you really are first, then get on with your life in that context.
Monika: Georgia, thank you for the interview!

END OF PART 2

Back to PART 1

 

All photos: courtesy of Georgia Lee McGowen.

© 2016 - Monika Kowalska

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