more than gender

 

Trans

Meaning "across", "beyond" or "on the opposite side".

 

 

I once read that when Alzheimer’s and dementia patients begin to lose their memories, they lose not only themselves but also their family and friends, and in return their loved ones lose them to. When our memory and identity is inextricably linked to who we are, and how we interact with other people, how do those around people who are transitioning between genders deal with this?

 

This is a work in progress series that delves into some the issues and concerns faced by the family of someone who is transgender.

This is about more than just gender

 

This is about more than just gender

(Video still)

This is about more than just gender

 

This is about more than just gender

 

The family name

Part I

This is about more than just gender

 

The family name

Part II

This is about more than just gender

 

The family name

Part III

This is about more than just gender

 

To be free of vanity. To be free of the world.

This is about more than just gender

 

This is about more than just gender

 

This is about more than just gender

 

When we were little, I forget how young, we each had a friend around to stay. We played around with our Dad’s camcorder. I don’t remember whose idea it was but we decided to recreate a chat show, it was in the days when Jerry Springer was all the rage. Using Andrew’s bedroom as the stage, I took to directing our two friends, R and S, in their scenes as two irrational, argumentative individuals. In true theatrical style R dressed up as a woman, wearing a wig my Mam had from her hairdressing days, a chap stick masquerading as lipstick was applied to his thin lips, and with little effort a high pitched voice was added for full effect. Andrew stood at the back, refusing to wear the other wig.

 

The tape was lost, written over, perhaps by us on that very night, or maybe it never actually recorded.