America Heard: Transitions
My friend Maureen Maloney asked to document my reaction to the 2016 election, as part of the America Heard film series:
Our goal is to feature at least one film from each of the 435 congressional districts and show the diversity of political perspectives throughout the United States.
Working with Dana Forsberg and Katie Cook, we put together this short documentary — talking about trans rights, and completing one step of my legal name change. Thanks to Teacup Gorilla and Erin Rollman for joining in the fun!
Related ‘transition’ Articles
Trans Vagina Monologue: My Body, My Gender
I was invited to write and perform my own Vagina Monologue for the 2018 It Grows Wild production.
Read the script »Rejecting Maleness: An Apology to the Revolution
Interviewing a trans man, the reporter writes: But surely the revolution is in re-defining what feminine or female attractiveness means rather than rejecting femaleness?
Is your gender part of the revolution?
Chosen Family (Thank You)
Yesterday, I shared an article about my impending surgery, and a request for help — both social and financial — as I go through this. I was embarrassed to ask, and not sure what to expect, but your response has been swift and overwhelming. I can’t thank you enough, but I’ll keep trying.
Mia’s Medical Upgrade
Denver Health has started offering vaginoplasty in addition to their other trans medical services. While I’ve been on the waitlist for various surgeons around the country, Denver Health called me this week to give me a date: September 10, less than two months away.
Sex, Love, & Romance
I don’t have many guy friends, but my guitarist is one. Parting, I lean in for the cheek-kiss but he plants a good one right on my lips.
—Allison Washington
(Mis)Gender
Reflections on the instinctive act of gendering, how it can go terribly wrong, and what happens next.
Shifting Nouns
I’ve seen myself in the mirror. I find me… disorienting. What do they see that I don’t? Why aren’t they laughing at me?
—Miriam Suzanne
Mothers, Fathers, Husbands, Wives
Mother finds me at her wardrobe, in her pumps and pearls. What are you doing? Being a mommy. Are you, then? She clips on the earrings (they pinch!), reaches for her lipstick.
—Allison Washington
Body & Gender Fragments
I wasn’t born in the wrong body. I was born, a body. Without my body, I don’t exist.
Some Clarifications on Trans Language
There’s a lot of language that gets thrown around, but much of it comes loaded with over-simplified baggage and misconceptions. Here are a few that have been on my mind – from gender identity to biological sex, transition, passing, and visibility.
Miriam: A How-To Guide
There are some questions that come up again and again if you are trans. A few of those questions are terrible, but most of them are well-intentioned. I’m lucky to have a supportive community around me, so I thought I’d write down my most common answers to help ease your stress about getting it right, and ease my stress about answering the same questions over and over.