In this podcast Ryan talks about growing up and transitioning from female to male. This podcast was funded by a generous donation from Roger Smith.
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This recording, titled "Ryan Kennedy profile," is an interview conducted by Wai Ho in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, on April 13, 2010. The subject, Ryan Kennedy, discusses the personal experiences of growing up and undergoing a female-to-male transition. The content of the interview primarily encapsulates the 1990s. Kennedy details the collaborative process with Australian author Hazel Edwards in writing a young adult fiction book called "F2M: The Boy Within." The book, published by Ford Street Publishing, was borne out of a transnational exchange with manuscripts being sent back and forth between Wellington and Melbourne.
Kennedy recounts familiarity with Edwards who knew Kennedy before the transition. The motivation for creating the book came from Kennedy's positive transition experience and subsequent perceived happiness noticed by Edwards. The book draws heavily on Kennedy's transition journey which was meticulously documented in online journals. The protagonist in "F2M: The Boy Within" mirrors Kennedy's experience, depicting an 18-year-old who has recently left school and is transitioning from female to male.
The book, while not strictly autobiographical, reflects aspects of Kennedy's life, interlaced with fantastical elements like superpowers. Kennedy shares that the main character's earlier transition is a parallel to a what-if scenario for Kennedy's own life, highlighting a desire to have had the resources and realization to transition at a younger age. Personal experiences from the punk music scene and medical processes are woven into the narrative, though some aspects were altered for story continuity.
Prior to transitioning at 27, Kennedy talks about an overwhelming feeling of unhappiness and frustration due to the incongruence between their gender identity and external life, stemming from years of trying different roles and jobs with no fulfilling outcome. A pivotal moment came after learning about other's transition stories on the LiveJournal site, which resonated deeply and initiated Kennedy's journey to transitioning.
When discussing the social dynamics, Kennedy describes the inclusivity within the punk scene allowing for more fluidity in gender roles but also touches upon the childhood feeling of alienation when conventional gender groups formed. Additionally, Kennedy reflects on the professional ease encountered after the transition compared to the struggle of fitting in before the change.
Kennedy candidly shares the multifaceted difficulties encountered during the transition, including the constant reminders to others about their new name and pronouns, struggles with medical professionals over treatment plans, and the physical discomfort from binding. Quitting smoking and taking control of weight were also significant aspects of the transition process for Kennedy. The social adjustment to a new gender role, especially in male-dominated spaces, is mentioned as a notable aspect of the transition experience.
On the subject of sexual orientation, Kennedy identifies a pre-transition alignment with being a lesbian due to the lack of a better fit. Post-transition, however, there was a surprising reawakening of attraction towards men, attributed to the hormonal changes experienced.
The interview concludes with a reflection on the adjustment of friends to Kennedy’s transition and a mention of the book "F2M: The Boy Within."
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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