"I have a Queery about...Being Trans, Part 1" Ft. Kayden Taylor

"When did you know you were trans?" "What hardships have you experienced as a transgender person?" "Have you experienced transphobia within the Queer community?" "How can we all work to be more inclusive of TGNC (Trans Gender Non-Conforming)?"

On this week's episode, I'm joined by Kayden Taylor (he/him), the host of the Transcaster Radio, a podcast about trans life and all the things that go along with it. In a recent study done by GLAAD, 80% of Americans say they don't personally know someone who is transgender. That means most of what audiences learn about transgender people comes from the media. And, unfortunately, most of the representation of Transgender people has often been portrayed in an offensive/incorrect light. So, if you have nothing but misinformation and bad representation presented to you, then what are you supposed to do and think about someone who is transgender? Or, if you are transgender, how are you supposed to find the confidence to come out and lead the life you want? Kayden shares how he created his podcast to combat this problem in two ways: provide positive representation of transgender people and to ask the questions that some people are uncomfortable to ask trans folk. He shares how it came from an initial need for himself when he was researching what being transgender was on his own coming's out journey; he only found incorrect or negative information and rarely found informative first-hand accounts or saw positive representation. This led to increasing internalized transphobia for Kayden which he shares is a common thing for many trans people. Kayden shares though that it was through the acceptance and love of his chosen family that eventually led him to come out and now work towards helping other at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. 

On the episode, we discuss Queeries such as:

Some of the most extreme instances of transphobia existing in medical institutionsTransphobia within the Trans communitySocially Transitioning vs. Medically TransitioningThe need for Queer people to keep fighting, using our voices, telling our stories, because not all of us live in these progressive hubs.Kayden's experience of being female presenting in the world to now being male presenting and having to check his now white male privilege.

Queer Glossary:

Living stealth: where a fully transitioned person lives completely as their new gender and doesn't reveal they are transgender

Follow Transcaster Radio:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transcasterradio/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TranscasterRadio/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Website: https://www.transcasterradio.com

The Transgender District in San Francisco:
Learn: https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com
Donate: https://www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/donate

Resources For Further Learning:
ALSO Youth (Advocacy Leadership Support Outreach): https://www.alsoyouth.org
Disclosure: 100 years of Trans representation on Screen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysbX6JUlaEc
Amateur: A True Story About What Makes a Man a Man by Thomas Page McBee: https://www.thomaspagemcbee.com/amateur

Show Produced by Nick Eibler

Edited by Addison McKissack

Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard 
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard

Logo Design by David Pavón