Interview with Jossy Yendall

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Jossy Yendall, an inspirational performer from Gateshead, UK, and beauty pageant queen. Hello Jossy! 

Jossy: Hello Monika!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Jossy: I’m an aspiring model and actress from the North East of England. I also love to belly dance and sing jazz standards. I love R&B music, vampire mythology, and animal print.

Monika: You hit the headlines this year when the British media covered your participation in Miss Transgender UK. Did you like the contest?

Jossy: All in all, it was a good experience as I do believe that the pageant has opened a few doors for me. What drew me to this pageant was the fact that it wasn’t based on looks, but was more about how, as transgender women, we are able to be positive role models and contribute to society.

Interview with Angelique Munro

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Angelique Munro, an American entertainer, TV Talk Show Host, show director, and transgender - HIV/AIDS advocate, and motivational speaker. Hello Angelique!

Angelique: Hello Monika, Pleasure to meet you!
Monika: You look fantastic, Angelique. What is the secret of your beauty?
Angelique: Awe you're too kind, I really eat healthily and sleep as much as I can. No smoking or drugs and I do not sunbath.
Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Angelique: I was born an only child on 5-27-70 in Chicago, IL. I am a survivor of child abuse because my Mom didn't understand what transgender was and used to beat me so bad because I would say "I am a girl".

Interview with Reena Gibson

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Reena Gibson, a British writer and author of her new biographical book titled “The Long Road Ahead” (2015), as well as lead singer and guitarist of the Birmingham rock band Milestone Road. Hello Reena!

Reena: Monika, thank you so much for the interview, I’m overwhelmed that you’ve asked me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Reena: How long do you have? Seriously, I could chat for England! I’m just over three years into my second transition as a woman, I first came out when I was 24 which was 21 years ago, and a time which was still very unaccepting for people to come out to society as trans. This time around has still met with some rather difficult challenges, I have a family now which has added strain on all sides, there have been times of self-doubt and indeed there have been a few times where I’ve just wanted to give up on life altogether. But really though, I’d call myself just a “normal” woman, trying to find her way through life like anyone else.

Interview with Brittney Kade

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Brittney Kade, a young video blogger that documents her life transition on YouTube. Hello Brittney!

Brittney: Hello Monika, thank you for having me!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Brittney: Well, my name is Brittney Kade, I am sixteen and transgender. I started my transition when I was fourteen, and have been on hormones for over a year now.

Interview with Katherine Cummings

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Katherine Cummings, an icon of the Australian transgender movement, librarian, sailor, activist for transgender people, award-winning author; she works at Sydney’s Gender Centre – an organization set up in 1983 to help people with gender issues – and is the information worker and edits the Centre’s quarterly magazine Polare.

Hello Katherine!
Katherine: Hello Monika. I am honored (and flattered) by your introduction. You could just have said, as Deirdre McCloskey did in her book, Crossing, that I am a gender saint (please don’t guffaw too loudly).
Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Katherine: If there is such a thing I’d say I am a fairly typical transgender. My wish to be female goes back as far as memories go but I only found out that my impossible dream could be a possible dream when I was seventeen, in my first year at university, when Christine Jorgensen was outed. Up to that point I had known about gay people, female impersonators, and intersex (although we didn’t call them intersex in 1952) and knew I was none of those things.

Interview with Katie Bainbridge

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Katie Bainbridge, a Scottish writer, blogger, and the author of the autobiographical book titled “Flowers and Tightropes” (2015). Hello Katie!

Katie: Hi Monika! Thanks for asking me to do this interview.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Katie: I'm a 47-year-old, transgender woman. I was born in Scotland and I now live in Cornwall. I am a writer, author and I also work part-time as an administrator.

Monika: Why did you decide to write your autobiography?

Katie: Well, I didn't just decide. It sort of evolved. Every Monday, Anja, my friend, and housemate, have a creative evening (her idea originally) and we produce and perform pieces of work for it. Anja started the evenings because she wanted someone to perform to and I wanted to take part so, I started writing pieces about my life. After a year and a half of these evenings, I found I had myself a book.