This month we meet two University students who have transitioned from one gender to another and they tell us about the decision they’ve had to make, and challenges they’ve faced since announcing to their friends and families that they identify as a different gender.

Twenty one year old Perth woman Isla Rose (pictured) has been sharing her transitioning journey with the world.

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The university student regularly posts videos to YouTube detailing her thoughts, challenges and experiences, she’s also appeared recently appeared on breakfast radio chatting to 92.9’s Heidi, Will and Woody about being transgender.

In the process Isla is educating her friends and followers about transgender rights and challenges. Taking a moment out from the cover shoot of this month’s OUTinPerth magazine Isla reflected on her journey so far.

“I’ve been very open, but I live my life like an open book and in some ways I do think I can help educate people” Isla said. “By telling other people they can learn, part of living so openly means it harder for people to dig anything up, you don’t have to protect yourself and worry about people finding out.” Isla said.

The video blogger is upfront about what she gets out of making her confessional videos ‘I like the attention!” she laughs. “Everybody likes a bit of attention, and I’ve always liked getting people’s attention but I’ve started trying to steer myself getting attention for something more beneficial.”

Isla said the biggest thing she’d learned since began transitioning is that the process doesn’t solve every challenge in life.

“When I first started the expectation was my life is going to be so different, but it’s really not, it’s still my life. While I look back and see someone else, it’s still me. The only difference is things I’ve chosen to do.” Isla said.

“Life will always have obstacles, and sometimes when something bad happens we want to say it’s but because we’ve transitioned… but whether I’m transgender, of gay, or black, or just a woman – there is always going to be someone who doesn’t like you for some reason.”

“Sometimes people think I’m a man dressing up as a woman, but for me, before I was always dressing up as someone else. Not necessarily dressing up a boy – but I was always trying to be something that other people wanted. Now I don’t care anymore, it’s very liberating.” Isla said.

Isla said she’s really grateful for the support her family has given her; ‘They’ve always been supportive, they were worried that people would laugh at me for being different – but I’ve always been different. I’m very lucky to have my family.”

Sports Science student Max considers himself a bit of a late starter when it comes to transitioning.

“I’d always known that something was astray growing up, but never really knew what.” Max shared.

“I was always different as a kid, I was never a girly girl – I was a tomboy and rough and tough. My best friends growing up were all guys. I was always set apart as a kid.”

Max said he had vivid memories of being bullied in primary school and often felt left out in High School.

“I’ve always felt a bit like an outcast socially.” Max said.

It was only when Max met another trans guy back in 2012 that he was able to label how he felt. Max describes himself as a lucky because he’s had great support from family and friends.

“There were a few stumbles”. Max said, “But eventually everyone came around. The important people in my life have come onboard but some others have drifted away.”

Max said that trans people’s greatest challenge is getting society to just accept them for they are.

“We need to get people to realise that trans people are just normal people, they’re dealing with problems just like everyone else, they’re problems might be a little different but at the end of the day they just wat to be accepted just like everyone else.” Max said, ‘[trans people] just need access to the health services, and other services that they need, they don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.”

Max said he was very lucky that his family were very supportive, but it was also the support of his friends, sister, parents and other transmen that made a big difference.

The Facebook group Transmen WA run by Nick Lawrence is something that Max has found to be a constant help. The group has also allowed Max to give back, the sports enthusiast recently met up with a young trans guy to teach him some Tai Kwon Do.

Max said that it’s important that people get the support they need.

“People who are identifying that they are trans need to know that they are not alone, there is a lot of support. It’s important for people to follow their hearts and do what’s right for them.

“I think sometimes it’s really hard to get your head around that when there’s lots of people telling you what you need to do. At the end of the day you just have to make choices that are true to yourself, it takes a lot of strength not to give society.”

Max’s message for everyone is “Keep your head high and be true to yourself.”

Graeme Watson

Photography: Alice Chapman
MUA: Loren Sadik