Abby
Abby is a young trans woman who recounts the handful of things that contributed to her transition. Abby considers gender and sexuality, keeping in mind the recent social and political developments that allowed her to pick and choose her various options around transition. Her choices extend way beyond the binary of male and female. Abby expresses her gratitude for being trans at this point in history. She talks about being criticized for not being “trans enough” and considers what signals might have brought her gender issues forward somewhat sooner. Ultimately though, it’s the idea of ‘being yourself’ that resonates with her.
Abby’s story is one of a series of stories collected at the Moving Trans History Forward Conference, put on by the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria in March of 2016. The MTHF conference provided onmyplanet.ca with a space to record stories on site during the conferences of 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Velvet
Velvet is an activist and an early pioneer in getting the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) to pay for transition (corrective) surgeries. She is a fetish sex worker in Vancouver, and has been an activist for sex workers for years (esp. prior to the investigation of the Picton murders) in BC and across Canada. She was a founder of Westenders Against Violence Everywhere (WEAV) in Vancouver and lobbied extensively to challenge the prostitution laws in Canada.
You can find Velvet online at: velvetsteele.com/
Velvet’s story is one of a series of stories collected at the Moving Trans History Forward Symposium, put on by the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria in March of 2016.The MTHF conference provided onmyplanet.ca with a space to record stories on site during the conferences of 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Chase, Part 2
For some time now, Chase has been on the front line of all things Trans in the Yukon Territory. He was part of the long and persistent lobbying that lead the Yukon Territorial Government to include Gender Identity and Expression in their Human Rights Code (2017). He was the first Yukon resident to receive funded gender affirming surgery. He was also the catalyst for the Whitehorse Women’s Hockey Association to establish a trans inclusive policy. Chase is a trans educator, activist and public speaker. Catch up on the latest from Chase at: chaseblodgett.com See Chase’s first story with onmyplanet Here
Chase’s story is one of a series of stories collected at the Moving Trans History Forward Conference, put on by the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria in March of 2016. The MTHF conference provided onmyplanet.ca with a space to record stories on site during the conferences of 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Mo
Mo is a queer filmmaker and wants to start a queer RocknRoll band. Mo talks about being in the music scene in Montreal in the 80s, coming out and making their first film. Mo is now a tenured professor at UVic, and has recently completed their first feature film Two 4 One, a trans themed film set in Victoria, BC. Mo was also on the Steering Committee for the Moving Trans History Forward conference at UVic, 2016
Mo’s story is one of a series of stories collected at the Moving Trans History Forward Conference, put on by the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria in March of 2016. The MTHF conference provided onmyplanet.ca with a space to record stories on site during the conferences of 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Liz
Liz, talks about growing up in a small town in Saskatchewan and the process of coming out. Liz was working at the Avenue Community Centre where we recorded most of the stories from Saskatoon, and helped orchestrate the day. Thank you Liz for all your help and all the great work that you do.
Liz’s story is one in a series of videos recorded in conjunction with Out Saskatoon, in 2014. Heart felt thanks goes to the sponsors of this series: media-net.bc.ca in Victoria, BC and Out Saskatoon in Saskatoon, SK. Special thanks to Liz Senecal at Out Saskatoon.
Kelly
Kelly, a trans woman, came through quite a lot to recognize herself and come out. She talks about some of the more dramatic and sometimes violent parts of her process and her eventual transition. This video was recorded in 2014 – lately things have been looking up for Kelly; she’s engaged, has opened a new sewing and upholstery business in Winnipeg; Trans Canada Sewing and Upholstery and is a partner in a hot rod car shop: The Low Co Garage
Kelly’s story is one in a series of videos recorded in conjunction with Out Saskatoon, in 2014. Heart felt thanks goes to the sponsors of this series: media-net.bc.ca in Victoria, BC and Out Saskatoon in Saskatoon, SK. Special thanks to Liz Senecal at Out Saskatoon.
Sarah
Sarah is an artist in Toronto. Having grown up in a very homophobic home she talks about coming out in her forties. She found support at the 519 Community Centre and eventually started a women’s coming out group there. You can find more about Sarah’s artwork here.
Sarah’s story is one in a series recorded at World Pride in Toronto, Ontario in 2014. Heart felt thanks go to the sponsors of this series: Media Net in Victoria, BC, Trinity Square Video in Toronto and The Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, Lynch History Grant. Special thanks to Milada Kovacova at Trinity.