Hands
“I am wearing two rings – my old wedding ring, for the last time, and the ring Alex has given me – it was his mother’s. His father gave it to her. The old and the new. My hands look pretty but they’re bloodied…Bloodied with betrayal and deceit and cowardice. We can’t choose how we’re […]…
Going Shopping
“Paddington Markets on an autumn Saturday morning. Alex and I are old hippies. It’s so good, oh! so good to be able, finally, to look at, to touch, to buy the simple, beautiful things I love instead of pretending I’m not interested in case someone thinks I’m weird; finds me out. I bought a little […]…
Peace March
“All my life I’ve yearned – secretly, desperately, hopelessly – to dwell wholly within women’s space, speak solely with women’s voice. On the morning of March 8th 2003 International Women’s Day I swung out onto George Street behind our legion of women drummers, proud, defiant, joyful; lending my woman’s voice to the voice of other […]…
Sisters
“Easter 2004. My sister and I clown around; in the background my nephew and my boyfriend talk computers. My sister and I have always been very close. Soul mates. Kindred spirits. When she found out what I was doing she got angry, trotted out all this separatist, feminist transphobia. She was mourning the loss of […]…
Friends
“I’d had very few friends in my life before transition. The effort of concealing my condition kept up an impenetrable barrier to any intimacy or trust. You can’t come close, you’ll find out who I am. I so value my friends now – they’re precious. They’ve got me through the long, hard days and the […]…
Beach Baby
“This is one of the first images Belinda took of me. Coogee beach in Autumn. It was bloody cold! She likes the counterpoint with the guy. He’s so very much a guy. I felt so vulnerable, in my cozzie – I was pre-operative then, tucked away – but exposed to the world, no padding, no […]…
At Work
“I work for Telstra. The work is varied, challenging. The people are great. I’ve been there fourteen years. Telstra has very robust Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity policies. They actively promote workplace diversity, harmony and the advancement of women. Management gave me their wholehearted support from the beginning. My work colleagues have been wonderfully accepting […]…
Bus
“Everyday is a journey. One day at a time. I bear my reality through the day-to-day – catching the bus to work, shopping, paying bills, coffee with girlfriends. What do people think? Do they?Children stare: “Mummy, look, that lady’s very tall!” – Paula Kaye 2003…
Blouse
“I can be analytical, forthright, get my hands dirty…But I love pretty and lacy…Cleave to the feminine with my heart of hearts, naturally, like breathing. The effort of denying one’s nature every day, every moment, all down the long, long years is exhausting, wearying to the spirit.” – Paula Kaye 2003…
All Woman
“Now, if you look closely, you’ll see I was pre-operative here, too. That’s the counterpoint in this image – everything says “woman” and then, “Hey! Is that what I think it is?” This is the challenge the condition of transsexualism presents: are you going to trash everything else about me and fixate on one thing […]…