Hi.
Hi!
OK, so I feel ridiculous, but I just recently
became more aware of you.
I was listening to a podcast that Oprah does,
SuperSoul Sunday, and it was one of the ones that you spoke at,
and it was unbelievable.
It was just-- it was so incredible.
And I said, I need to meet her.
I don't know why we haven't met before.
Oh, thank you.
Thanks for being here.
Thanks for having me.
You know, I was only able to do that work because of what
you've done in this space--
you know, living authentically, living your truth.
Choosing to take the risks that you took by living your truth
authentically, publicly, really laid the groundwork
for so many of us LGBT youth that were watching at that time
not knowing that we needed that.
So, thank you.
Thank you.
And thank you for what you're doing.
I think, look, we're in a time where people are still
confused about even just gay and lesbian people.
And then you add, you know, trans people in there
like, what does that mean?
I don't know how to deal with that.
And so, when you say you started because a lot of--
if you wait too long, obviously you're very feminine, very
female and that is part of like, starting early transitioning,
right?
Yeah.
With hormones and stuff like that.
And people who don't start earlier
it's a lot harder, right?
There's so many different journeys, right?
Like, when you think about it, it's--
for me, I was so lucky that I grew up in a place
and in a time period where access to that medicine
was there.
I also grew up in an environment where
the native Hawaiian culture has a space
to designate for people who are gender nonconforming, who
are not necessarily male or female,
who may be in the middle figuring things
out a little bit.
And so growing up with that consciousness,
growing up with that access, enabled
me to help before puberty kicked in for me.
But there's so many different journeys.
There's many trans people who don't
want to have any kind of surgeries
or medical access in that way, and some who do, like myself.
So what would you say?
Because I think we're hearing about it more and more now,
which I think is a really positive thing,
because you know people need to be seen
and we need for people--
especially parents out there that
are maybe dealing with this with their kids--
a lot of kids, like you said you knew
when you were really young--
what if you're a parent and your kid is acting the opposite sex
and you're thinking, OK, maybe they're
just going through a phase or maybe they're just gay.
But the kid is saying no, I really don't feel--
I mean, that's a tough place for a parent to be.
What do you say to that?
I think the best thing any parent can do
is just to listen and to nod.
You don't have to think about the 10 steps ahead.
Just think about this moment when your kid is coming to you
and they've been thinking about this for years,
and finally they feel safe enough
to come to someone that's supposed
to meet them with nurturing, and care, and affirmation.
That's all you need at that time.
You'll figure out the steps as you go.
My mom was very much--
she was like, OK.
You know?
But at the same time, she also was like, OK,
we'll figure it out.
OK, we'll go to the next step.
And so I think that the best thing young people
could get in a world in which they get heads shaken at them,
to get a nod and to just listen.
And to also go to resources like PFLAG that
can help you answer those questions
with other parents who are going through that, to read
some books that are out there in the world.
But in that space, your child just
really needs you to be opened armed with them.
Yeah.
I think it's just-- and the reason I ask this
because I think it's a really hard thing for parents right
now that are seeing and hearing more and more
kids are going through that.
And I think parents are--
first of all, a lot of parents are loving their kids
conditionally and they want them to be
what they envision them to be, and it's not
supposed to be that.
They're supposed to be their own little soul.
But that's a tough place for parents to be.
So you're the first in your family to go to college.
And you're this brilliant writer but you never
worked in television.
And suddenly Ryan Murphy calls you
and says he wants you to write, produce and direct
on television.
And you said, OK.
It was the strangest interview to ever have.
First of all, it was on the set of The Assassination of Gianni
Versace: American Crime Story, and it was a nightclub scene.
I just remember there was, a disco ball in the air and drag
Queens all over the place, and shirtless oiled up men.
And I was like, this is the strangest interview
that I've ever been on.
But I was like, it's Hollywood.
So I came in and he hired me on the spot.
And it really just changed my life
because I grew up watching television.
I'm one of five kids, the middle of five.
My mom was a single working mom.
The TV was a babysitter, like many people probably
watching right now.
And so to be able to finally create reflections of myself
and my community, reflections and mirrors
that I didn't have growing up, has been so deeply affirming
and so gratifying for me.
And so I just love being able to work on Pose
and to tell these stories about these women and these people
existing at that time period.
Yeah.
It's called Pose, and it's amazing
that this is your first journey into this.
And you've written two books if you're interested at all.
And just listen to the podcast that Oprah did also with Janet.
Your books, your story--
there's so much to your story.
We don't have time for all of it,
but it's just-- you're incredible,
and I think we need more people on television and everywhere
just representing all of us, because we're all different,
and you know, you're brilliant.
So thank you for being you.
It's called Pose.
It returns June 11 at 10:00 on FX.
We'll be right back.