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In this month’s issue of The Weekly, on sale Thursday, journalist Sue Williams finds that within the trans community, along with the triumphs and heartbreak, there are also plenty of laughs.
Jasmin Taylor-Scott was once a man working in Australia’s rugged mining industry and who transitioned to a woman … working in Australia’s rugged mining industry.
“It was pretty full-on, but having said that, it was isolated in Queensland’s outback and so, in some ways, it was easier,” Jasmin says.
“The mine bosses were fine and the more I transitioned, the easier it got. The boys were good. I introduced myself slowly with a bit of make-up on and having [Keeping Up With The Kardashians star] Caitlyn Jenner come out as such a high-profile person helped people to understand, too.”
Years ago, transgender people – whose gender identity differs from the one they were born with – would often not make the change they felt they wanted, or needed, for fear of public ostracism. Others did it discreetly, equally worried about the risks of rejection and discrimination.
While exact figures are not known, The Gender Centre estimates that there are around 5000 Australians who have undergone gender reassignment surgery, here and overseas.
Today, many feel much more confident about being able to pursue their true lives thanks to trans advocates like Caitlyn Jenner, as well as Australia’s own transgender identities like performer Carlotta and Catherine McGregor, who was Australia’s most senior ranking transgender military officer until she retired this year.
But while there is more awareness, the journey of transitioning is not an easy one. In this month’s issue of The Weekly, we tell Jasmin’s story, as well as the stories from other Aussies in the transgender community who open up about their transition to live as their true self.
To read this moving story about the transgender community, pick up a copy of The Australian Women’s Weekly November issue on sale Thursday.
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