Diversity Rules Magazine

8 Diversity Rules Magazine November 2019 Sophie - Con't from page 6 good friend and local filmmaker. She was supposed to work the last day of shoo ng but had some prob- lems. Two weeks a er we finished shoo ng, she commi ed suicide. This ripped the heart out of the project. Because I realized that was almost or could have been me if my family had treated me the way her family treated her. And now the project lingers in a box wai ng on the comple on of post-produc- on. I wish I would have picked up on the clues that she was that bad off. However, Hum- mingbird has sent me on a journey of a life me and for that I am grateful. One of the biggest things that have helped my transi on is sharing my stories and struggles with others. While each journey is different, most stories share so many common themes. However, the film community portrays the trans- gender female as a person wearing a dress. In Hummingbird, Sophie's transi on has never been about a dress; it's about how the world sees her and, most importantly, about how she views herself. Her desire to share her journey will hopefully show others that there is hope, and they are not alone. I just hope one day I can get the courage up to complete the movie and make the feature. JRK: What advice and empowering words can you give to those who are s ll struggling with their secret of being transgender? What resources can you suggest to help those contempla ng coming out as the person they truly are? SW: Take control of the narra ve don't let others tell your story. This is your life, embrace it, figh ng it only screws with your head. Find that friend that is transgender that you can talk to. That one person that truly gets it. Where you don't have to explain or jus fy that you are special. For me it was two different friends one on the east coast and one on the west coast. But when we talk it's wonderful. Our journies are so similar that it's almost scary. I mean it's like looking in a mirror and seeing myself. Also just don't take their me become a true friend and give your me. That has made the biggest impact on my life in transi on. The next thing gives people- me. It can be a shock for them. For me, it took 58 years to finally accept who I am. It might take some of them just as long to accept you and that's okay. Just be you, because no one else can do it but you. Don't live or die for other people. JRK: The LGBTQ community, and more specifical- ly, the transgender community, are targets of the current administra on's efforts to roll back hard- fought rights and privileges that everyone else is privy to. What can we as a society, that cares about the rights of all ci zens, do to ba le the prejudice, bigotry and hate that has been unleashed because of the reprehensible policies of Donald Trump? SW: When I first thought of transi oning I thought about just disappearing and popping up some- where else as Sophie. But then I thought, 'How does this help my commu- nity? People will find out no ma er what.' The best way to fight anything is by having a seat at the table. Don't run away sand up for how you are. Let them get to know us is the only way to change minds. If they never get to know us we remain the boogi- eman. But when they get to know us they can start to under- stand our journeys. It's so hard to be mean to people you know. They will also start to understand that we are no different than they are. JRK: You have a couple of upcoming guest spots on television on NBC, and TNT. Can you tell us about them? Sophie - Con't on page 10

• Cover