Interview with Kristine Holt

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Kristine Holt, a transgender activist from the USA, speaker, author, lawyer, graduate of Temple University School of Law, a former judicial clerk at the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, successful litigant in civil-rights cases. Hello Kristine!

Kristine: Hello!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Kristine: Sure. I’m a parent, a grandparent, a spouse, an attorney, and a musician. I lean far-left on most political and social issues – a throw-back radical hippy freak, if you will. I transitioned in 1992 when there were just enough of us out and about to make people uncomfortable. I’ve had a fun and sometimes frightening life, and I hope to be around for a while longer.

Interview with Jessica Bussert

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Jessica Bussert, an American emergency room nurse, firefighter, professional photographer, inventor, and former IT professional. Hello Jessica!

Jessica: Hi Monika! Sorry for taking so long in getting this together. I've recently had a few major surgeries and have been laid-up with recovery.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Jessica: "A few words about myself" *grins*.

Monika: It has been almost 10 years since you were demoted from your senior IT job at Hitachi Data Systems after you started your transition. Are you still bitter about it? 

Jessica: Well, just to set the record straight, the company claimed that I was not demoted. It was their assertion that everyone else had been promoted above me. Yeah... Right... Am I bitter? Yeah, a little bit when I'm having a bad day. That said, I try to focus on the positives instead of dwelling on the negatives. If things hadn't turned out the way they did then I would have never discovered nursing. And I -love- being an ER nurse!

Interview with Nicole Bray

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Nicole Bray, an inspirational transgender woman from the USA, the main character of the documentary “Untitled Documentary – Nicole’s Story”. Hello Nicole!

Nicole: Hello, Monika! Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me to learn more about my story and about the documentary I am producing.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Nicole: Sure! I am an independent filmmaker currently focusing on documenting my unique life story on film. I observed that my sense of humor is my greatest asset in making my way through the transition. Furthermore, I really enjoy traveling and wish that I had endless funds to do so. Additionally, when I’m not filming movies, I love to watch them encompassing a range of genres. I’m also an avid researcher and spend a great deal of time educating myself about particular topics.
By the way, the title of the documentary, “Untitled Documentary – Nicole’s Story” is temporary. Once we have acquired a Director/Producer/Writer team, we will determine a fitting title for the documentary.

Interview with Jerrine Jeffries

The world of drag and pageantry is often synonymous with glamour, sequins, and dazzling performances, but behind the glitz lies a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and an unyielding spirit. In this special interview, we have the privilege of speaking with the remarkable Jerrine "Jerrine Jeffries" Kaiulani Madayag, a legendary showgirl and an influential figure in Hawai’i's LGBTQ+ community. Her story is one of survival, transformation, and triumph. From her early childhood in foster care to navigating a complex family dynamic, Jerrine's life has been a testament to perseverance. Born on May 1, 1953, in Wahiawa, Oʻahu, she faced adversity from an early age. Raised by loving foster parents until the age of seven, she was later introduced to her biological father and an unfamiliar household where she encountered hardship and abuse.

 

Yet, through it all, she remained steadfast in her identity, even as she faced ridicule for being "mahu" (a term used in Hawaiʻi for gender nonconforming individuals). Jerrine's teenage years were marked by struggles with schooling, identity, and finding a sense of belonging. By the age of 17, she had discovered a world that would change her life forever, the vibrant, captivating world of showgirls. Her first visit to the Glade Cocktail Show Lounge was an awakening, igniting a dream that would eventually become her reality. However, the journey to self-realization was not without challenges. From navigating military life as an openly feminine individual to facing personal battles with self-worth and acceptance, Jerrine's resilience shone through. By her mid-twenties, Jerrine was embracing her true self. Her journey took her from military service to the heart of Hawaiʻi's drag scene, where she found her calling as an entertainer. In 1989, she won her first pageant, marking the beginning of a successful career as a performer.

Interview with Emma Roebuck

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Emma Roebuck, a transgender activist from the UK, Chief Officer Gay Advice Darlington/Durham GADD, ex-rock group roadie, and ex-pharmaceutical chemist radio broadcaster On Pride Radio North East. Sci-fi geek progressive rock, rock music,  and all-around nerd. Hello Emma!

Emma: Hi Monika!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Emma: Just me I suppose. I am lucky enough to be paid to do something I am passionate about and as a result, make a difference in people’s lives. I am a post-op trans* woman who transitioned over 12 years ago but had been living a 50/50 life for years before that. I am 52 years old and looking back I have no idea where the time went of how I got here.
I have lived with the same guy for over 10 years but still identify as Bi despite it finally occurring to me about 2 years ago I was in what looked to the outside world to be a straight relationship. It was bizarre that I was presenting a role that almost conformed to a stereotype. This was something that I had been railing against for my whole life. I run an LGBTQI charity which is the vehicle for much of my work and the foundation for the good practice we seek to do.

Interview with Kathy Anne Noble

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Kathy Anne Noble, a transgender activist from Australia, the founder, and president of Agender Australia, and Changeling Aspects, a support group for transgender people located in Brisbane and Australia. The author of “Two Lives: A Transsexual's Story and the Fight for Recognition" (2011) now out of print. Hello Kathy!

Kathy: Hi Monika, good to catch up at last.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Kathy: Oh dear, that is rather a problem, as I have done so much in my nearly 80 years. I was born in London, lived through the Blitz, married twice, to sisters, served 2 years of National Service in the RAF. Spent most of my working life in the financial field, as a financial advisor both in the UK and Australia.

I Moved to Australia in 1980 and became a Citizen in 1988. I have 4 kids from both marriages still living, 7 grandkids and 8 Great grandkids. My kids are spread across the world, in Australia, the UK, and America. I finally transitioned in November 2001 on the Gold Coast, 45 minutes South of Brisbane. This year sees my 13th birthday as Kathy. Both of my wives are now deceased, and I miss them both.