OUR FRIEND, KEVIN
A buck kangaroo banished from his mob showed up at Margaret’s home one day.
who accessed gender-affirming care needed to move to another part of the country to get it.
Many others report experiencing financial barriers, long wait times and a lack of information about what healthcare they can access.
Despite being very open about his experience, Press says he is quite guarded about his emotions. Photographing and journalling his experience allowed him to lean in to his own vulnerability and strength. “I wanted to challenge myself with what I was willing to reveal,” he says. “It was also about helping other trans men by seeing their experiences, and sharing them with others who may have no knowledge of what it’s like to be trans.”
UNDERGOING SURGERY
It took six weeks for him to make a full recovery from the surgery. At times it felt strange, the tightness of the bandages creating a sensation that his chest was sliding off, but the strangeness subsided to an immense sense of relief. “It feels so natural now. Every time I see myself in a shop window I think I must have looked so strange before.” Press says the surgery has given him back a sense of freedom. “I hadn’t gone swimming in so long; now I can go to the beach and swim.”
Press is grateful to have the love and support of his family and Hannah, throughout his transition. “Hannah has always been open minded. We started dating when we were 14 and I talked to her about the possibility of being gender fluid when I was 15. She was really supportive when I decided to transition and was there throughout the whole surgery to help with the recovery.”
Press’ parents and extended family have been just as supportive. “My mum and dad love having a trans son. They’ve always treated me the same, even after I transitioned. Even in the older generation, I see it’s becoming more acceptable. My grandma, who grew up in a really conservative Catholic family, loves it. I think as soon as you know someone who is trans, it changes things.”
A self-described optimist, Press says he’s learnt how to deal with everyday prejudice and transphobia with an unapologetic attitude. “If anyone tries to offend me for being trans, it’s just not going to work. I’m not going to be trodden on because of my gender identity.” For those who struggle to understand, he likes to explain in simple terms. “I look at it in terms of biology. There are so many things that can go wrong in the first few weeks of pregnancy. The only thing that went wrong with me is that I had the wrong body to brain. Things go wrong all the time in nature, and we have this ability to change so why not do it?”
DISCRIMINATION
While positive, he doesn’t ignore the fact that trans New Zealanders still face many discriminations and challenges, be it in the healthcare system or through the way they are represented in the media. “Often what you see in the media about trans people, and trans men in particular, is really negative. I don’t think it helps anyone. Trans men are often underrepresented and when you do hear stories, they paint us in such a horrible light. They tell us that taking testosterone and giving up the femininity of ‘womanhood’ turns us into horrible, aggressive, nasty men, which is just not true.
“I don’t have anger issues. Often, it’s the other way around. People are angry because they’re hiding who they are, and when they start to transition they become much happier,” he says. “I think those messages can be especially harmful for parents. They might think that if their kid is trans, they’re going to have all these issues, and push that fear onto the child for wanting to transition. That would do a lot more harm than testosterone ever would.”
By taking control of his own story and putting his transition out there for the world to see, Press hopes to push back against stigma and rewrite the narrative. “Telling positive trans stories is so important. I love who I am. I think being trans and happy is my own act of protest.”
“I LOVE WHO I AM. I THINK BEING TRANS AND HAPPY IS MY OWN ACT OF PROTEST.”
THEO PRESS