When your name becomes a Matryoshka doll
Most of my friends are called by their names, while with me something strange occurs: either people call me the way they understand my name, or they call me the way they want.
Zooming in on the zine
To learn more about what zines are exactly and what they can mean for people who identify as trans, I had a chat with seasoned zinester James Rae Parnell. Turned out in a conversation about 'community' and 'unlikely allies'.
My eighteenth birthday turned into the start of a new life
For a long time, he had been looking forward to the day he would be of age and would no longer need permission from his parents for all sorts of affairs. He barely endured his family situation and was determined to choose his own path as soon as he could. 'They have told me on occasion that ‘transgenders’ deserve the
How T made me realise I am ace
Like many trans people, I existed mostly in my head, only aware of my body when I was working out in the gym. So being more of a thinker than a feeler, it made sense I lacked the urge to make my body do something with other bodies.
My Children Are Trans
'They call me ‘Mama Barb’. It’s always a full house here. We have lgbtiq+ identifying friends of my kids over daily. They sometimes also come by when my kids aren’t home, to come talk to me.'
From Doggy Style to Doggy Styling
‘I used to be a passionate sex worker, and now I am the proud owner of a dog grooming salon in Amsterdam.’ Nayra tells about her history: from working in the streets of Madrid in the eighties to her recent career switch.
Thorn de Vries about representation, privileges and hope
'It’s necessary to talk to each other about our needs. I don’t have an all-seeing trans-eye. I don’t have the same experience as a trans woman and I can’t pretend I have.'
My Body isn’t Mine
Despite all the work I had been putting into healing my relationship with my body, the years of body dysmorphia and internalised fatphobia hid that what I truly hated deep down was that it was perceived as a woman’s body.
Mavi Veloso – from country girl to performance artist
Mavi Veloso's work is shown in the underground scene as well as in museums. Ana Paula Lima talks to Mavi about the background of her comprehensive project Travesti Biológica.
How to find your own, new name
What’s in a name? A lot, especially to trans people. The letting go of the old, ‘dead’ name is to them an important step in self-development. A long process of thinking preceded the choosing of my own, new name.
‘Latinx queer migrants and refugees are here to stay’ – Meet Papaya Kuir
'The needs of our communities consist of much more than emergency help, we know this. But, we also know that while bigger organizations and policymakers are busy discussing abstract policies, there are people caught between the intersections of life and who cannot wait to get help. That's why we are here.'
