The past couple of years have seen transgender visibility grow immensely. Thanks to high-profile transgender icons, trans issues have traversed the whispers and ignorance of the unknown and landed slap bang in the middle of your living room, on your smart phone, in the newspapers, and on the streets you walk down every day. Trans voices are being heard louder and clearer than ever. But who’s representing the voices of segregated minorities? Step forward 23-year-old Tschan Andrews, a trans model who has been fighting her battle 24/7, long before #callmecaitlyn trended. She may have worked with huge names like Juergen Teller, Nick Knight and David Bailey, but Tschan never lets the gloss of the shoot mask her struggles with racism, homelessness, attempted rapes and abuse. For Tschan, this is not a trend or a society phenomenon; it’s an ongoing fight.
When did you first become aware of gender?
To be honest I have always been aware of gender. I think anyone who’s on the gender spectrum, particularly trans or intersex, are aware of it almost immediately. Why? Because they’ve acted different to the gender that they were assigned at birth. I was aware of it from the earliest age as I was told, “No, don’t do this: boys don’t do that.” You can ask any trans person and I’m sure they will be able to say the same thing. You know how they say guys think about sex every five seconds? I think about my gender every five seconds. From how you talk, to how you move, and what you’re like, gender expression is everywhere.
How did it affect your childhood and coming of age years?
Being trans affected my childhood completely. I wasn’t allowed to have one. In primary school parents would collect their children and tell them, “Don’t hang out with Tschan, Tschan is weird.” I remember there was a Jamaican mother telling her son that I was a “batty man”. It’s like I was stuck in a capsule and as time got longer I started to believe what I was told. Up until three or four years ago, I thought I would never be able to have friends because no one would ever like me for who I truly am and I should be ashamed of myself. I had such deep, internal homophobia and transphobia. I wasn’t allowed to experience a life.
What was your family’s role in such difficult time?
I didn’t get a lot from my family at all. My mum is a single mum, so she worked all the time and my Nan would look after me, my sister and my brother.
You eventually left your family home and were taken in by foster parents. How did you find them?
My trans friend recommended a charity organisation called the Albert Kennedy Trust. They help find housing and support for young LGBT people who are made homeless. They helped me find my gay foster parents and the experience literally saved my life. They made me realise I am a human being, gave me a voice and taught me that my opinion mattered. They provided me with a warm loving home and got me into university, nursed me and allowed me to bloom as a person. When I finished my foundation at Camberwell I was so happy that I couldn’t stop crying, because I realised for once in my life, I actually have a life.
What is the reality of being trans like?
There are people who are privileged enough to have access and means to fully transition and not have to worry about where they will be next month or how they will afford their hormones. I can understand why a lot of people get angry at Caitlyn Jenner, because she is massively privileged and she is able to transition and be welcomed into the world as a hero, and that isn’t the case for 99.999% of trans people, especially trans people of colour. Most trans people can’t even get a basic job or access to the right health care. When trans people try to find housing, a lot of people won’t accept them as possible tenants, because they assume being trans comes with prostitution, which is often the case, but only because society has pushed them to a point where they believe the only way to provide for themselves is through sex work.
It’s also disturbing when a company, organisation or a media outlet claims to be of the moment and non-transphobic when they only cover one specific kind of trans story. It’s great that positive trans stories are allowed to be heard, but all aspects need to be covered and exposed to readers, as they should be aware of the false truth – we are not all just fine and privileged.
The black community in general don’t deal with, or even acknowledge trans. When I was younger, I got rejected by my black peers at school. They used to say that being trans was a form of white disease and I was trying to imitate white people. I am someone who is experiencing not only transphobia but also racism. I believe it is not only important to broadcast trans people who are of white privilege but also to get the voices of people from my community out, because they are the ones who need help the most.
What can be done to encourage progress?
There is something I would love to do myself. I read that there are a lot of young LGBT people committing suicide for being confused and discriminated against. I would love to go into the educational system with other LGBT people as a panel to discuss being trans, to share our experiences and reassure struggling kids that it does get better. I don’t want these children to believe that being themselves is something wrong or devious, and having the opportunity to help them would make my life so happy and content.
Credits
Text Georgina Yi Wan
Photography Juergen Teller
Styling Poppy Kain
Barneys Menswear spring/summer 15