LEAH PAO: I remember when I was about four or five years old,
that I used to dream and imagine myself as the woman I am now.
Since I can remember, it's always
been natural for me to gravitate towards feminine energy.
I identify as myself, Leah Pao, a proud trans woman
living in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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I've always pictured myself as I am now.
When I was 10 years old, I remember
hating school swimming sports.
I loved the water, but I hated wearing shorts
without a top covering my chest.
I used to try and wear a T-shirt but got told to take it off.
My mom is a very liberal person, so my household
was very safe and free for a girl like me.
My mom was the best op shopper as well
and always bought me the coolest clothes.
She never bought dresses, but she
would buy amazing tops, shorts, and jeans
that were unisex, so I could style them the way I wanted.
I love that strangers would say, excuse me, miss,
or what does she want?
When referring to me.
As I got older, I became more courageous
and started dressing up in miniskirts and little tops
in my spare time.
I started off dressing up in front of my friends.
Then I decided to go out in public wearing
them to see how people reacted.
I got the reaction I wanted, and no one second
guessed me at all.
I decided to show my mom.
And I remember walking in the lounge with my skirt and polo
shirt, and my mom said, wow, Tiggy, beautiful!
So are we going to do this for real?
Let me know and we'll go see whoever we need to.
Both mom and I went to my amazing GP,
and he directed us to the right people.
We completed the session, and I started hormone therapy.
I have been taking hormone therapy since.
I still have the strong support and love from my family
and friends and believe that without them I
wouldn't be where I am today.
I still remember my mom yelling to all my family,
Tiggy's name's Leah now and she's a she.
I remember one of my aunties, saying,
we're not surprised at all sweetie.
And I was grinning from ear to ear.
This is the environment I've been raised in my whole life.
This is the environment all of us should be raised in.
My experience was really positive,
and I think I want this to be a normal experience for most
trans women, because I've never--
not once has any of my family told me no,
that I couldn't be the person that I wanted to be.
They've always supported and loved me for who I am.
Being transgender in New Zealand has been really positive
for me.
This is not the case for a lot of trans people in New Zealand.
There is still a long way to go for transgender rights,
specifically around employment opportunities and access
to medical care.
I am 29 years old, and I am the woman I used to dream of.
I am unapologetically myself.
I have navigated my way through spaces that
aren't here for girls like me.
I 100% acknowledge the privilege I possess by being passable.
And I've used it to my advantage,
so I can get to a position of power and change the system.
I have never doubted the woman I am, this is me.
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