‘It’s worth it for every time a trans person tells me I make them feel less alone’: Aram Hosie
Image: Aram Hosie. Image: Supplied.
For this month鈥檚 Gender Whisperer column, Katherine Wolfgramme speaks with Equality Australia鈥檚 Director of Engagement, Aram Hosie.
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In his own words, Aram is 鈥渁 queer trans guy in his mid-thirties鈥�. He and him pronouns work for him, though he also happily answers to they and them. He is a parent (of both the human and dog variety), a partner, a guncle, a community advocate and a very occasional model. Aram likes lifting heavy weights while listening to loud electronic dance music, and, thanks to his son, he鈥檚 developed a nerdy enjoyment of Marvel superheroes and LEGO.
What do you do for work?
I鈥檓 incredibly lucky to be the Director of Engagement with Equality Australia 鈥� our country鈥檚 first national legal advocacy and campaigning organisation for LGBTIQ+ issues. We very much operate from the belief that after marriage equality, we have a responsibility to ensure that we protect the rights we鈥檝e won and amplify the voices of those who do not yet enjoy full equality. This of course especially applies to trans and gender diverse people, and so I feel that it is right and important for me, as an out trans person, to be deeply involved in this work.
When did you transition?
I transitioned 13 years ago, in my early twenties when I was still living in Western Australia. I was incredibly lucky 鈥� the GP that I saw at my university medical clinic had supported a number of previous patients to transition, so when I said that I wanted to, she knew exactly how to support that. My medical transition was really the straightforward part; what I hadn鈥檛 realised would be more complicated was the social transition 鈥� everything from choosing my new name to learning how to navigate a very gendered world in a now-male presenting body. I was really lucky throughout this process 鈥� my partner at the time and my friends were patient, supportive and accepting of me, as was my employer. The response of people around you when you transition is what makes all the difference.
Did you have any role models growing up?
I grew up inside a fundamentalist Christian religion that almost borders on a cult. I went through conversion therapy as a teenager, and lived a life that was pretty cut off from the rest of the world, so no I didn鈥檛 have any role models as I grew up 鈥� all the adults I could see were utterly removed from who I knew myself to be.
You鈥檙e very involved in politics and activism. What achievements in the trans community are you most proud of so far?
I鈥檓 proud of being brave enough to be really visible as a trans person. It wasn鈥檛 really my decision initially 鈥� my partner when I transitioned was Senator Louise Pratt, and so there was no hiding that she had a girlfriend who was now her boyfriend. But from that moment onwards I鈥檝e made the conscious decision to keep being really visible, especially in mainstream media, even though that means the loss of my own privacy. It鈥檚 worth it though, for every single time the parent of a young trans or gender diverse person tells me that seeing me gives them hope for their child, and for every time a trans or gender diverse person tells me that seeing me makes them feel less alone.
Do you think gender diverse people are still misunderstood, and how do you think we could help change this?
I think we鈥檙e more known than we were 鈥� I remember I spent a lot of time explaining to people that I was transitioning from female to male, and yes, that is a thing 鈥� when I first transitioned over a decade ago. I鈥檓 not sure that visibility has directly contributed to increased understanding, though. I think we鈥檝e made progress, but there is still a lot of ignorance, misunderstanding, and fear. And I think the only way to respond to this is through ongoing conversation, dialogue and education, and with more and more trans and gender diverse people standing and being visible 鈥� if it鈥檚 safe and okay for them to do so, of course.
Do you have any words of wisdom for young people who are just beginning their transition?
Don鈥檛 be afraid 鈥� it鈥檚 going to be alright. You鈥檒l find people who will love, accept and want to have sex with you, and being trans is actually pretty cool and something you can come to be proud of. Be patient and enjoy the journey 鈥� it鈥檚 going to take you longer to really arrive in yourself and your manhood then you think, so give yourself time, and let it just evolve. You don鈥檛 have to 鈥渂e鈥� any particular way, you will find out who you are over time. Look after you 鈥� you鈥檙e actually not invincible and being visible, being involved in advocacy and dealing with other people鈥檚 shitty responses sometimes will add up and take its toll. Pay attention to your mind and your body and get support, take breaks and invest the time and the effort in doing the things that keep you happy and well.
