Riki

In the podcast "Riki - Beyond Rainbows," the speaker delves into the personal journey of grappling with gender identity and the intricacies of transitioning within Māori society. Recorded in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, the content spans the volatile transformations from the 1990s through the 2010s. Riki identifies as a 25-year-old trans individual who began experiencing gender incongruence around the age of 12. Riki's upbringing in a Māori community, anchored in strong gender-specific roles, complicated the internal realization that something about their gender identity did not align with societal expectations.

Without educational resources or community support, Riki turned to art as a medium of self-expression, drawing predominantly female figures which more closely resonated with their internal identity. It wasn't until the previous year, through Facebook and the broader expanses of the internet, that Riki found an outlet to discuss transgender-related topics. This ability to explore gender and change online eventually led Riki to understand and affirm their transgender identity more fully.

Family dynamics played a significant role in Riki's experiences, where acknowledgment from the family was yearned for yet met with considerable difficulty. After coming out, the family's reaction was a typical struggle to adapt to the new understanding of their child's true self, internalizing feelings of having done something wrong in Riki's upbringing. Parental perceptions of how they raised their children come face-to-face with their own lack of education on gender diversity, often resulting in a challenging journey of acceptance.

However, amidst the conflicting emotions within the familial context, there have been elements of support. Riki's participation in martial arts and the relationship with their instructors, who are a gay couple, have been a vital source of societal acceptance and understanding. The podcast reveals that their instructors, one person who works for Women’s Refuge and another who knows the endocrinologist assisting Riki, have become a secondary family, offering the understanding and connection that is sometimes missing elsewhere.

The community and friends played differing roles in Riki’s transition journey. Some friends provided a sense of normalcy post-coming out, while others needed a break due to tensions arising possibly from the changes Riki was experiencing. Riki stresses the importance of having a supportive environment but also advises trans individuals to build their confidence and not to dwell on negative thoughts, as this can attract transphobic reactions from others. Facing transphobia is a reality for Riki but is approached with humor, confidence, and an assertiveness that disarms tense situations effectively.

The podcast encapsulates the complexity of living as transgender in a society still learning to accept gender diversity. It highlights the courage it takes to express one's authentic self, the importance of community and support groups, and the need for strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The message to parents and loved ones is one of unwavering support and love, which can provide a transformative impact for those transitioning.

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.

1990s, 2010s, aotearoa new zealand, arts, beyond rainbows (series), coming out, community, confidence, creativity, facebook.com, family, friends, gender, gender expression, gender identity, grandparents, internet, jo jackson / grizz, love, martial arts, māori, parents, scene, school, support, takatāpui, transgender, transphobia, tranzform (wellington), wellington, whakapapa, women's refuge, youth

advice, agenda, aggression, attitude, basketball, bottom, broken, bus, change, children, class, courage, data, endocrinologist, fear, feelings, funeral, gay, grief, growing up, heritage, inclusive space, kindle, normal, other, people, queer, questioning, race, rainbows, reading, rugby, running, safety, space, straight, stuff, time, tough, trans, treat, understanding, video, video games, walking, work