Transvox

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

Jenny and Gillian are joined by Dawn who is a ciswoman and staunch ally of trans, non-binary and gender questioning people.

She is the parent of a trans child and talks about how her daughter approached Dawn and talked about transition and her feelings. Dawn describes her reactions and those of her family and has a pragmatic approach that works well to handle news for her.

We also discuss the pressure and fear of announcing news of gender change to parents and consider why that is and what can be done.

We stress that this is one way of dealing with the process that was right for Dawn and her family and recognise that you will face your own circumstances and family dynamics, so there is signposting to sources of support to help you with your own process.

You can submit questions or support their work at patreon or at transvox.co.uk

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

Gillian is joined by guest Joseph Harwood, who is the new patron of the charity Beyond Reflections. They discuss his background as a makeup artist and model, as well as his experiences with gender dysphoria. Joseph also talks about how he has worked with major beauty brands to promote diversity and inclusion in their products. The conversation touches on the concept of androgyny and its history in fashion and music culture.

Social media played a significant role in Joseph's career, particularly when he went viral for his Boy to Go makeup tutorials.

Jojo talks about the benefits of social media networking for marginalised communities like trans people. They discuss the evolution of language and how it can be a challenge to keep up with changing terminology in the LGBTQ+ community. Jojo also shares their passion for makeup, where they learned techniques from video games and eventually became a go-to makeup artist for drag queens, celebrities and pop stars. The conversation touches on resilience and talent as important factors in success.

Jojo discusses the challenges he has faced, including a traumatic assault that left him blind in one eye and suffering from PTSD. Despite this setback, he credits his family with helping him regain inspiration and find meaning in other pursuits, such as earning a degree in biochemistry for cosmetic research.

Jojo is also proud of his work advocating for greater trans inclusion in the beauty industry but notes how changes to social media algorithms have made it more difficult for marginalised voices to be heard.

The speaker reflects on the impact of social media and online fame in the trans community, noting that it has incentivised extreme and combative behaviour for the purpose of gaining views and followers. They express concern about young people being exposed to misinformation about gender dysphoria and feeling invalidated by disagreement with their identity.

He encourages listening to differing viewpoints in a civilised manner to avoid alienating potential allies in the fight for transgender rights. They also criticise legislation aimed at limiting access to medical resources, arguing that such measures will harm both transgender individuals and society as a whole.

Joseph also talks about his future plans, including working on perfumery and an accessible fashion line. He has become a patron of Beyond Reflections, a charity focused on supporting mental well-being within the trans community.

You can submit questions or support their work at patreon or at transvox.co.uk

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

They talk about all things Pride - which includes the significance of Pride and how it has changed from its beginnings in the USA to the amazing Pride in Stoke….yes, you heard that right..!

They mention the debate around ‘rainbow washing’ as well as the opportunities to get involved in your local Pride through volunteering as well as attending as well.

You can submit questions or support their work at patreon/transvox

You can donate below to support the work on the podcast or to help build the ‘hardship fund’ at Beyond Reflections - to help those who are financially challenged but still need support

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

They talk about relationships in a general way - reflecting on how relationships can be affected by transition and how to build relationships after transition. This is a big subject and acts more like an introduction or reflection on some of the bigger issues.

The episode also touches on aspects of sexuality and the effect on relationships too.

You can submit questions or support their work at patreon/transvox

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

Gillian praises the cancer wards and nurses but criticises the cancer specialists for misgendering. Jenny discusses the lack of education in trans healthcare among clinicians and her efforts to provide training. The conversation moves on to sexual health services, including free testing available at Superdrug and Boots. They discuss the importance of taking care of oneself and getting tested if necessary. They then delve into hormone therapy, with Jenny sharing her positive experience with a high doses of Estrogen while acknowledging that it does not solve everything.

They also discusses the importance of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in transition and how it can be a barrier if not accessible through proper medical channels. Gillian explains how testosterone is a powerful hormone that affects physical changes differently to Estrogen, but both have significant effects on muscle tone and fat distribution. They caution against self-medicating with hormones due to potential health risks and encourage seeking medical oversight. The conversation also touches on the emotional effects of HRT for trans individuals and the challenges faced when accessing affordable healthcare services.

They stress the importance of seeking medical oversight and doing research, and mention a blood monitoring service for trans people.

You can submit questions or support their work at patreon/transvox

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

Jenny and Gillian meet regularly to discuss the various aspects of transition, including social, medical, and legal transitions. They also talk about their personal journeys and preferences in terms of transitioning.

They compare the process of transitioning in 2005 to now, noting improvements but also challenges such as long wait times for appointments with gender clinics and disparities in cost between specialist and non-specialist providers. They advise being careful when considering private treatment abroad.

They highlight long waiting times for appointments, difficulties with paperwork systems not catching up with gender changes, and tensions between protecting gender history while also acknowledging its relevance in certain medical situations. They also discuss how some doctors may attribute all health issues to being trans instead of treating patients as individuals. The speakers emphasise the importance of being proactive about one's own health and advocating for oneself within the healthcare system.

The transcript discusses the importance of self-care for trans individuals, including a healthy diet and exercise. The speakers also touch on mental health issues within the trans community and the importance of finding support networks. They briefly mention healthcare experiences within the NHS and acknowledge that it can be difficult to get an accurate view due to individual interactions with specific doctors or healthcare providers.

You can submit questions or support their work at patreon/transvox

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

Jenny and Gillian meet regularly to discuss the various aspects of transition, including social, medical, and legal transitions. They also talk about their personal journeys and preferences in terms of transitioning.

The conversation shifts to politics and free speech on university campuses. Jenny expresses her belief that while free speech is important, there should be accountability for hate speech towards marginalised communities such as the transgender community.

They debate whether controversial figures like Posey Parker should be given a platform, with Jenny arguing that some comments constitute hate speech that denies trans people's existence. Gillian believes in free speech but notes the importance of having informed conversations on both sides of an argument. They also discuss the conflation of practicality issues (like bathroom use) with questions about validity, which Jenny sees as a way to marginalise trans people. Both acknowledge the personal nature of these debates for trans individuals and express optimism for finding constructive ways forward, citing disability rights activism as an example.

They then discuss the history of trans representation in media, noting that growing up, they only saw negative portrayals of trans individuals. They mention specific examples such as Dick Emery's drag performances and movies where trans characters were portrayed as either objects of ridicule or disgust. However, they note that there has been progress in recent years with more positive representations and even casting of trans actors. The conversation also touches on personal experiences with discovering one's own identity and early exposure to media featuring trans individuals.

They also discuss the evolution of language and representation in media for trans people. They talk about the importance of seeing oneself represented, but also acknowledge pushback against progress. The conversation veers into broader social changes over time, including women's rights and politics. They end on a lighthearted note, discussing their next topic for discussion: healthcare and the legal side of being transgender.

You can submit questions or support their work at transvox.co.uk

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week:

They discuss the topic of robust assessment of trans people as opposed to selfID to help with external acceptance

The conversation shifts to the emotions of transition and dealing with fear.

They discuss the importance of taking baby steps and being ready to avoid fear.

Jenny shares her experience of transitioning and talking to people about it.

The conversation ends with a discussion on how debates can help people understand and frame an argument.

You can submit questions or support their work at transvox.co.uk

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

Today I'm talking to publlshed author Ellen Mellor who has written a diverse range of books including 'Ghostkin' and Tea, Comics and Gender: Yet Another F***ing Trans Memoir

We chat around a range of trans issues and discuss her work - why not pop over to her amazon page and take a look at her work! Link below

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ellen-Mellor/e/B00BBTA3GK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1682153059&sr=8-2

You can submit questions or support their work at transvox.co.uk

Gillian and Jenny are Transgender friends talking about the process of transition and living their best lives. Gillian is new into the transition process and Jenny has been transitioned for many years and acts as a type of mentor, sharing experiences and thoughts about the trans community and useful specific subjects.

Their conversations are wide ranging and they hope to help others on the same path.

This week the conversation ranges around subjects like confidence, neurodiversity and travel.

You can submit questions or support their work at transvox.co.uk