He was born into a woman's body, now he lives a happy life as a man and his partner is a drag queen
Hello Sergio! Would you please introduce yourself briefly?
Hi! My name is Sergio, I'm 32 years old, I'm a trans man and I'm from Seville. I'm very happy to have this interview, talking about the topic of trans people is very important, so I'm happy to have this opportunity.
Traditionally, how would you describe Seville in 3 words?
Culture, passion and flamenco.
Seville is generally quite conservative, how do you think this reality translates in relation to trans people?
My personal experience is that although I am a trans man, I have always been integrated into Seville's more traditionally minded local society because my appearance does not directly suggest that I am trans. Also, because I am a man, because toxic masculinity is still very much a thing in society, unfortunately, and so these factors put me out of the spotlight in terms of discrimination, as opposed to if I were a woman, and a trans one at that.
Focusing on jobs, do you think that in general people with a gender identity that is considered minority have more complications finding employment?
If you're a trans woman, I'm sorry to say that you do. It's difficult with trans men, especially before the physical transition begins, but after that it's much easier. In my case, if I didn't mention that I was trans, no one would say so. It's sad, but it's true.
Do you think that organisations helping trans people have insufficient resources and therefore cannot organise events or help, or do you think that trans people in Andalusia have enough support?
It's absolutely true that organisations don't receive even a quarter of the money that should be allocated to them and if it wasn't for the daily struggle that we have practically all the time, we wouldn't even receive this minimal amount. The Trans Collective is, in my opinion, the most discriminated against and neglected compared to other groups in our community.
Do trans people have good representation in Spain? More and more brilliant trans artists have been getting into the media lately, but they are mostly trans women or non-binary trans people, so the representation of trans men is a bit neglected in the mainstream. What's your take on that?
It's true. The visibility of trans women is obvious. We, trans men, are often overlooked because of our appearance, which doesn't clearly and at first glance suggest that we are part of the LGBT+ community, which is why many people can get the impression that we don't really exist. It would be very beneficial to have more representatives of trans men in the media. It would help future generations, I myself have never had anyone like me to look up to.
Sergio and Skoria on the main promotional poster of Pride 2021Photo: Sergio/se svolením
Considering that your significant other is a drag queen, would you say that this changes your perspective on gender identity in any way, or do you just see it as a hobby or occupation?
That's a very difficult question to debate. It's true that my boyfriend is into drag and it's something that runs through our relationship on a daily basis, but for me personally it's just a profession or a leisure activity like any other. I would also like to point out that I admire the effort and work he puts into drag, I am his biggest fan.
The *Gender, or social gender, refers to personal identity, i.e. how one feels inside. In contrast, gender refers to the biological side of a person. Unfortunately, there is not yet a proper name for the English word gender in English, so the difference is often misunderstood.
Would you say that every trans person has to go through a transition?
Each person carries their transition the way they want to. We need to understand that hormones and physical characteristics alone do not make someone more or less male or female. There are some people who never undergo hormone treatment, but that doesn't make them less trans. Likewise, there are persons who take hormones but do not complete their transition with surgery. There are as many variations as there are trans people.
What do you think of the fight to include "trans rights" in Spanish legislation*? Would it make your life easier? If so, in what ways?
Trans law is very necessary. People think that what we are demanding is some kind of "whim", but what I don't understand is that if society treated us normally, we wouldn't even need such a law. All we are asking for is to be granted the right to be who we want to be without having to go through what other people go through just because we were born in a body that doesn't match how we feel inside.
The *Fight for La ley trans, or trans law, is an initiative that seeks to change legislation for trans people to guarantee them easier processes, such as changing their gender without having to undergo a medical evaluation, easier access to hormone treatment, etc. The approval came in the middle of last year, but there are still various transphobic controversies surrounding this issue.
To finish on a lighter note: what is your favourite place in Seville and why?
To be honest, it's impossible to pick just one, I have two places that are absolutely special and important to me. The first one is the place where my boyfriend and I first professed our love, and it is also known as one of the most famous places in Seville, and it is on the waterfront under the Triana Bridge. The second place is associated with Pride 2021, where my boyfriend and I were one of the main faces and started the parade in front of 25,000 people under the Las Setas* building. It was a moment I will never forget.
*Las Setas is one of Seville's most famous tourist attractions, see gallery.
Thank you so much for your honesty and authenticity with which you live your daily life, we wish you many successes and wonderful moments with Skoria.
