CARIMAC Times 2016: The JREAM Edition Journalists Reviving Awareness of what Matters | Page 111

“People really feel inspired because the products,
the services, and the health care that they need
is really, really important for trans people,”
he said.
Coming of age
Wanliss began his transition four years ago,
and now, in his 20s, he has no regrets about
transitioning.
“I’ve enjoyed the changes, I’ve enjoyed my life
now. I feel like I hit puberty now. I felt like I
was 12, and now I’m grown,” he said.
Wanliss said those who learn about his
transition now are often surprised or struggle
to understand and accept it.
“Sometimes it’s the people who you expect to
support you the most that actually turn around
and they’re quite aggressive towards you, but
that just comes from a place of love. They love
you so much that they don’t want you to be so
different. They want you to be like them, and
that’s scary. They think about all those bad things
that are gonna happen to you, and ultimately
they project that badness unto you. And the
people who you don’t expect to be supportive
tend to be the ones who are supportive.”
This was true for Wanliss when his family
responded to his transition. Most of his siblings
became aware due to social media, and now
he describes their relationship as close. He
said his mother, in particular, has become
very supportive, despite their initial dispute.
But his sister still has mixed feelings.
“My younger sister was a bit conflicted... She

has this strong belief that it’s [transgender]
wrong. But because I’m her sibling, she’s like
‘Well, I still love you, but it’s wrong’,” he said.
Wanliss was much more apprehensive about
meeting his father this year. Accompanied
by his friend, Wanliss took part in the British
Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Newsbeat
documentary, “Transgender: Back to Jamaica”,
and travelled to see his father and stepmother
for the first time in a decade.
“I thought maybe I would be met with aggression
… But it turned out they were actually really
remorseful,” he said.
Wanliss said he and his father are now on
speaking terms, but rebuilding their relationship
will take years of repair. The physical distance
also makes it more difficult, but he believes the
worst has passed.
“That conversation has allowed me to heal,
and I’m forever grateful for that opportunity,
and I know in the future I will have a better
relationship … It’s just something that will take
a lot of time, but the hard work is over in the
sense that we’ve now addressed the elephant
in the room, and now we can all start to move
forward as a family.”
Wanliss plans to move forward with his life as
well, making music, and working in media, but
most of all, he hopes to take his social cause
to Jamaica soon.
The path to change
Even with efforts to provide health care,
education, and resources by J-FLAG and Colour

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