A trans teen has been documenting his transition journey for almost a decade, and now that he’s turning 18, he’s almost ready to release a long-form film about it!
Kai was only 9 when he first came out as trans. Since then, with the help of his mom and activist and filmmaker Fox Fisher and their My Genderation project, they embarked on a 10-year project which documented his journey. Short clips were released on YouTube, but this year, the long-form film titled aptly ‘Life of Kai’ will be completed.
Kai described the project as a “life-changing experience.” In an interview with PinkNews, he said that it makes him happy “having the opportunity to document and reflect on my journey throughout the years, while also knowing that my story has helped people over the years.”
In this documentary, Kai talks about many things he discovered about himself and how he finds strength to carry on with the journey. This includes having access to puberty blockers, the support he got from his mom, and the life of living as a trans person when the UK media and the government are growing hostile by the day towards trans people.
Kai also talked about dysphoria and his struggles with it. He has worn binders for years which “provided some relief” as he waits for access to gender-affirming healthcare in the UK. However, he feels that the “physical discomfort and limitations they impose” have been too long, so he’s pursuing top surgery, especially now that he’s 18.
It is not easy though as top surgery, although made available to adults through the NS, the wait list can span years. Faced with this hurdle, he and his mom created a GoFundMe campaign to fund his surgery. So far, they have raised around half of their £9,000 goal.
Kai wishes that those who would be able to see his film to “experience a sense of hope and happiness” and that “despite the numerous challenges, the support of just one person can be enough to overcome any obstacles.”
