True Trans

Episode 01

Growing Up

Oct 10, 2014 · 10 min

No stranger to being different, Laura Jane Grace always felt like an outsider in the posh Florida suburb where she grew up. It was only in the rebellion of the punk scene and playing music that she found a home. After surviving years of struggle, things finally seemed to be taking off when her band inked its first major record deal. On the inside, though, Laura was buckling under the pressure of being someone she wasn't.

Episode 02

Gender Dysphoria

Oct 10, 2014 · 10 min

Being a teenager is difficult even under the best of circumstances. Add gender dysphoria to the mix and it can be nearly unbearable. Laura Jane Grace and others discuss how they turned to drugs and alcohol as ways to cope and find a temporary escape.

Episode 03

Finding Trans

Oct 10, 2014 · 10 min

It was only when Laura Jane Grace came across an article about being transgender as a teenager that she realized what she was feeling had a name. She compares how she first identified as transgender with the experiences of others -- and how popular culture's portrayal of trans people at the time influenced that discovery.

Episode 04

Not Alone

Oct 10, 2014 · 10 min

At one point, the loneliness, frustration, and despair proved too great for Laura Jane. She reveals she is among one of the many with gender dysphoria who attempted suicide. Only after hearing stories about other people's transgender experiences did she begin the difficult process of accepting who she really is.

Episode 05

Coming Out

Nov 3, 2014 · 10 min

On Facebook. In a Walmart. Laura did it in a bedroom. Some are still waiting. The only thing possibly more difficult than coming to terms with being transgender is telling someone else. When Laura decided to come out to her band, she didn't know what their response would be. But once it was done, she knew nothing would be the same.

Episode 06

Transitioning

Nov 3, 2014 · 10 min

It all gets real with the decision to go forward with gender reassignment. When Laura started hormone therapy, she knew it was a significant step in her journey. But what she also discovers is that the physical changes of transitioning are just the beginning.

Episode 07

Resilience

Nov 3, 2014 · 10 min

Laura Jane has seen firsthand how becoming trans didn't just affect herself, but everyone around her as well. From friends to complete strangers, Laura and others have experienced sexism, resentment, and threats of violence as they continue their journey.

Episode 08

Relationships

Nov 24, 2014 · 10 min

As Laura transitioned, so did her relationships with others. Members of the transgender community and Laura discuss how family, friendships and dating dynamics can change over time.

Episode 09

Transparenting

Nov 24, 2014 · 10 min

There are a lot of challenges that come with the transition process, but one of the hardest can be explaining it to your kids. As Laura's relationship with her daughter evolves, she also has to face her concerns about the future and deal with the perception of other parents.

Episode 10

Acceptance

Nov 24, 2014 · 10 min

As society becomes more and more accepting of trans people, Laura and others are becoming more and more accepting of themselves, and hopeful for the future.