Kai was just nine years old when he came out as transgender. Since then, he and his mother have been documenting his transition journey in collaboration with activist and filmmaker Fox Fisher and their My Genderation project. Over the past 10 years, they have released a number of short videos on YouTube, and this year, the project will culminate in the release of a long-form documentary, “Life of Kai.”
For Kai, the project has been life-changing. He speaks of the joy he feels in knowing that his story has helped people, and of the opportunity to reflect on his journey throughout the years. The film covers various topics, including the power of puberty blockers, the importance of love and support from family, and the struggles of growing up as a trans person in a society that is increasingly hostile toward the community.
One of the major struggles Kai has faced is dysphoria. He has been wearing binders for years, which have provided some relief, but he feels he has lived with the physical discomfort and limitations they impose for too long. Now that he has turned 18, he is pursuing top surgery.
In the UK, top surgery is available to adults through referral from a gender identity clinic, but waiting lists can span years. Faced with this obstacle, Kai and his mother have created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the surgery. Their goal is £9,000, and they have already raised half of that amount.
Kai hopes that his documentary will bring hope and happiness to LGBTQ+ people, especially trans folk, who watch it. He emphasizes the importance of having support from just one person in overcoming obstacles, and he speaks of the overwhelming sense of unity and celebration he experiences in the trans community.
Unfortunately, trans lives are under attack in the UK. Transphobic hate crimes have surged in recent years, and the media has been complicit in fueling the so-called ‘debate’ on the lives of trans people. The murder of Brianna Ghey, a trans teen who was stabbed to death in a Warrington park earlier this year, has shocked and saddened the LGBTQ+ community. Conservative politicians have added fuel to the fire by using trans rights as a culture war issue, denying the existence of trans people, and even pushing for trans people to be banned from same-sex spaces.
Kai’s story is an important reminder of the challenges that trans people face, but also of the resilience and courage they possess. “Life of Kai” is a powerful testament to the importance of documenting and sharing trans stories, and to the hope and happiness that can come from doing so.