In Out & Proud, Trevor Keegan chats to four prominent people from the LGBTQIA+ community about how they've embraced their identity and are living their lives.
In this episode of the new RTÉ Radio 1 series, Trevor Keegan meets activist and archivist Sara Philips who talks about the value of support networks, the importance of gender recognition and trans-joy.
Sara and Trevor began their conversation by talking about trans-representation in Ireland the 1960s and 70s. What little representation there was, was inevitably presented in a negative way and left Sara feeling that even if changing her gender were possible, life would no doubt be really tough.
Having initially come out to her father, Sara was listened to and supported, but encouraged to focus her energies on other aspects of her life and move on with those. Over the coming years she worked, studied, fell in love, got married and had children. Although these things helped her to cope for a period of time, the knowledge that she wasn't living in her full identity was always there and becoming more intense as time went on.
Once she decided to transition, she was intent on bringing as many of her family with her as she could. She managed to bring many of them with her and to this day considers their support as 'critical’ to her successful transition and continued well-being.
As their chat continued, Trevor and Sara discussed the challenges of transitioning at work, what it feels like to have your gender affirmed by the state and the abundance of trans-joy that Sara experiences living life as her true self.
"The really great thing is that the world sees me for who I am and I can be comfortable in that and therefore I can enjoy all the other things that I like in life as myself, without carrying this burden of who I am and trying to hide it."
Listen to Out & Proud, Tuesday nights at 10pm on RTÉ Radio 1 and the RTÉ Radio app or anytime wherever you get your podcasts.
