I think that slowly it’s getting
better but what I’d like to see is
more trans people in the media,
but not about them being trans.
For example, if I’m a filmmaker, I
want to be known as the
filmmaker who happens to be
trans. I think that would help
people recognise that we’re all
normal, and that we’ve all got
ambitions, hopes and dreams.
because I’ve never needed it. I tell
a lie, in fact I’ve been to an LGBT
group once when I was at Salford
Uni and everyone just assumed I
was a gay guy when I was there. I
think there’s still work to be done
with people realising that LGBT
isn’t just about being gay. I’ve
never felt the need to be part of
that though as I don’t see myself
as any different. I’m a straight
guy and I don’t feel the need to go
to LGBT groups.
There is still prejudice and it
needs to be tackled directly.
Also there are not many
trans men in the media. I
know that there are a lot
of people that don’t
think trans guys exist,
like my girlfriend
thought, before she
watched My
Transsexual Summer,
that a transgender
person was a man
changing into a woman,
she didn’t realise that it
could be the other way
round.
How do you feel about the
representation of the trans
community within the
supposedly ‘LGBT’
organisations?
There is the debate that the T
shouldn't be with the LGBT
because LGB refers to sexuality
and transgender isn’t sexuality.
I’ve never been involved or been
to an LGBT group for support
I should reveal that the size is
smaller but there is still full
sensation. There is one more
stage and I’m hoping after that
things will look a lot better. I am
really happy that I had the female
organs removed.
It’s good that they’re not in me
anymore .
What has the reaction
been from other trans
people? Have you had
a lot of people come
up to you?
We received a lot of
online messages from
other trans people that
have said the show has
really helped them to come
out to people and to
understand themselves, and
thanked us for being brave and
educating the public. That was
really nice to know that we’ve
helped other trans people.
How do you feel about the
gay media’s representation
of trans people?
I think in the media that there is
too much focus on surgery and
things like that and it’s good to
educate people but it's not good if
someone were to ask someone if
they’ve had surgery or not, to just
be nosey. It’s not like people who
aren’t trans are going around
asking others what their bits are
like. Why should that matter?
I’ve gone with a different type of
surgery called the metoidioplasty.
It’s where they work with what’s
already down below and it means
you don’t have to get skin graft
from your arm and for me it feels
more natural.
Could you explain more
about the surgery that
you’ve had?
Well before the surgery, you have
to have had your name changed
and have been living a whole year
as the new gender. It sounds
weird to say as I’ve been living
my whole life as this gender,
except for that time in high
school, as a guy. I then got on the
hormones for a few years before I
had the chest surgery because I
had to raise the money myself. I
applied for the lower surgery and
everything was straight forward
and within a few weeks they said
did I want to come in for my first
stage. There are two different
types of surgery. There’s the
phalloplasty, which was featured
in the show with the guy who had
the skin graft from his arm, but
When I did the show I had this
fire inside me that I need to show
the public that there’s nothing
weird about trans. I need to show
them that I’m just a normal
young guy that’s into skating,
drawing and other things and it’s
not a big deal that I’m trans. ∎
Check out Lewis Hancox’s films at:
www.youtube.com/mygenderation
www.youtube.com/MrLewzer
www.lewishancox.com
www.luckytoothproductions.com
www.mygenderation.com
All photos by permission
Sophie Moore
45
THEGAYUK FEB/MARCH
How do you feel about the
representation of trans
people in the media?
2014
INTERVIEW