In this podcast Nate talks about being young and transgender in 2012.
Summary
This abstract provides an overview of an audio recording titled "Nate (b) - Q12," which features an individual named Nate discussing their experiences as a young transgender person during the year 2012 in Aotearoa New Zealand. Interviewed by Benji Watt, the recording captures an intimate 18-minute conversation held in Wellington.
Nate hails from Auckland but has been residing in Wellington for a decade. They unpack their journey of self-discovery, revealing that they were assigned female at birth but identify as male and are bisexual. The discussion also delves into the complexities of expressing both masculine and feminine traits and the societal expectations associated with them.
The conversation transitions into Nate's process of realizing and embracing their sexuality and gender identity. Initially, Nate identified as gay before coming to terms with being transgender. They shed light on the intricate process of coming out, which resulted in differing levels of acceptance from friends and family. While friends were rather supportive and open-minded, Nate's parents struggled to accept their child's gender identity, holding a static image of Nate that didn't align with their true self. This, paired with the concern for personal safety and the fear of societal rejection, often caused Nate to deny or conceal their identity.
Nate compares the current state of acceptance within the gay and transgender communities, noting that though the gay community has seen more progress, the transgender community still faces significant hurdles. Inequality and absence of a visible trans community in certain areas, such as Upper Hutt, further compound these challenges. Nate candidly opens up about feelings of sadness upon recognizing that their path might be more difficult due to their identity; yet they also acknowledge that on a daily basis, they are often able to "pass" without issue.
Regarding Nate's romantic experiences, they mention having been in few substantial relationships which lasted over a month, with the others being short-term flings. Nate also speaks about building connections within the LGBTIQ community through local queer straight alliances and inter-community events.
The interview also touches upon practical aspects of transitioning, including hormone blockers and the eventual goal of undergoing top surgery—a process underscored by the financial and emotional weight such medical procedures entail. Nate's boyfriend is mentioned as a supportive figure in their journey through this transitioning process.
Throughout the recording, the underlying themes of acceptance, community dynamics, and personal resilience are woven together. Nate offers insights into the realities faced by transgender youth in the 2010s, including the occasional confrontations with transphobia and the struggle for self-acceptance amidst societal pressures.
The discussion concludes with Nate's thoughts on virginity, which they regard as an outdated and problematic concept, particularly in its traditional application to women. Despite occasional verbal abuse due to their sexuality and gender identity, Nate's story is one of courage and self-affirmation in the face of adversity.
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.
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Tags
2010s, aotearoa new zealand, arts, auckland, bisexual, closeted, coming out, community, family, friends, gender identity, hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy (hrt), music, nate, parents, q12 (series), queer straight alliance (qsa), relationships, school's out (wellington), sport, support, top surgery, transgender, transition, transphobia, wellington, youth
Tags (computer generated)