Kennedy

In the podcast "Kennedy - Beyond Rainbows" recorded in Nelson, Aotearoa New Zealand on November 1, 2013, Kennedy speaks about pan-sexuality and being genderqueer. Over the course of 16 minutes, this narrative addresses internal divisions within the queer community, examining the hierarchy that sometimes imposes arbitrary criteria on what it means to be considered "trans enough." Tensions described include the hurdles of transitioning, including hormones and surgery, and the stigma attached to non-binary and genderqueer identities within both queer and mainstream communities.

Kennedy discusses the varying levels of acceptance faced depending on geographical location, noting a stark contrast between the more accepting atmosphere of larger cities like Wellington as opposed to smaller communities like Nelson. Identity, Kennedy asserts, is complex and expansive, yet even within the queer community, there is often a lack of understanding and acceptance towards those who identify as non-binary or genderqueer. There is a common misconception that being part of the queer community equates to a comprehensive understanding of all gender and sexual minorities, leading to a lack of willingness to learn and accept new perspectives on identity.

One poignant aspect Kennedy touches upon is the struggle with pronouns. This is underscored by the desire for recognition of non-traditional pronoun preferences such as 'they/them' which are often dismissed or disrespected even among fellow queer individuals. The podcast highlights the significance of accepting and using the pronouns individuals identify with as a basic form of respect.

A personal and often challenging aspect for Kennedy has been the process of renaming, a liberating step towards aligning their identity with their external presentation to the world. Changing one's name is underlined as a powerful element in the journey of those in the trans community, aiding in their self-realization. However, this process can be fraught with difficulties, such as the dilemma of not being 'out' to one's family and the need to navigate different aspects of life with varying degrees of openness.

The discussion further addresses the fears and potential repercussions of coming out as part of a gender minority to unsupportive families. Kennedy illustrates the burden of living a 'double life,' wrestling with the need to maintain secrecy in certain environments for self-preservation.

Kennedy calls for a radical shift in the queer community, advocating for genuine listening, respect for people's chosen names and pronouns, and ceasing invalidation of others' gender identities. Advocating for understanding rather than fear, they stress the importance of the community taking itself seriously in order to foster true inclusivity.

The conversation ends with Kennedy's reflections on interpersonal relationships and the mixed levels of acceptance from different spheres of their life. They convey hope for a future where being authentic to one's identity does not require navigating hardships, and where understanding and acceptance are the norms.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

2010s, aotearoa new zealand, beyond rainbows (series), coming out, discrimination, employment, fear, friends, gender, gender identity, gender-neutral, genderqueer, heteronormativity, hormone replacement therapy (hrt), jo jackson / grizz, mana, minority, nelson, non-binary, parents, pronouns, queer, queer straight alliance (qsa), relationships, school, single sex schools, stigma, surgery, transgender, transition, wellington

binary, choice, community, diversity, double life, drama, education, face, family, growing up, hit, identity, listening, mainstream, oppression, other, people, rainbows, respect, skirt, space, stuff, time, trans, treat, understanding, water, work