Film charts young Cavan woman's transgender journey

A young Cavan woman gives her experience of transitioning from male to female in a documentary which airs tonight.

The hour long film focuses on Victoria van der Spek and her boyfriend Max Ó Floinn, who is undergoing his own transition to male. 'Tras' follows the pair over a period of six months, as they transition socially, legally and medically.

Speaking to the Celt ahead of tonight's screening on TG4, Victoria explained the process for her of coming out as trans.

The first person Victoria confided in was her friend Max, who she had known for a few months and was very supportive. It was Max who advised Victoria to tell her parents, which was good advice in this particular case.

“They've been absolutely phenomenal support,” says Victoria of her parents. “They were surprised and taken aback, but they really did support me as much as possible, which is not often the general trans experience, so I'm eternally thankful for that.”

Victoria's mother Joan also features in Tras, and explains in the course of the documentary: “You’ve had them as one gender from when they are born, handed into your arms. They’re now an adult, and you have another gender, and it’s just very difficult to establish that in your mind.”

Asked about why she thinks other trans people may have a tougher time discussing this with their parents, Victoria initially relates to Joan's experience.

“My mum in particular did grieve for the loss. She had a whole plan for her child – not exactly to the letter, but an assumption of where her child would go, and that was cut short.

“So I suppose that can be an emotional time, and people can say things that they don't mean or might seek comfort in the idea that they are not actually trans and might be hurtful in that way.

Victoria says that the more knowledge amongst the general public of trans issues, the greater the level of acceptance. She says that was a big factor in her participating in the Tras documentary.

“If there's one trans person who feels a little bit more happy to come out – that they're not strange or weird, that they click with anything I say, that would be phenomenal.”

Tras air tonight Wednesday, February 26 at 9.30pm on TG4.