The trans ‘queen mother’ reclaiming Fiji’s third gender

[Davie]

The trans ‘queen mother’ reclaiming Fiji’s third gender.  She says until she was 25, ‘I never knew transgender people existed, apart from the old stories.

Reggie Mcgoon has taken inspiration from vakasalewalelewa – a traditional term for transgender women which was nearly erased by colonial rule.
“I was one of the first trans people to walk around Suva city in high heels in the daytime. Everyone would look at me and say, ‘Oh my God, what are you doing?’ And I would say, ‘This is my life.’ We actually opened the doors for lots of people, and they still remember that. Ah, we had so much fun!"

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/20/the-trans-queen-mother-reclaiming-fijis-third-gender-photo-essay

[KathyLauren]

Lovely!  Thanks for posting that, @Davie.

[Ivy]

From what I've read, many indigenous cultures had 3rd genders of some sort that were repressed by the European colonizers.  Transgender people are not anything new.  We have always been here.

[Charlize]

She certainly seems a wonderful person.  Reading about the sexual violence is certainly difficult but seeing folks live as themselves, knowing they're helping others is beautiful.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize