“For years they weren't considered women at all”
Source: Google photos
Due to the recent success of the TV series “Veneno”, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrosi, which talks about the life of Cristina Ortiz, and the no representation of trans women in social media, we have interviewed Valeria Vegas, the book´s writer, to show the truth behind them. Vegas is a writer as well as a journalist in Cadena Ser and Canal Sur.
1. When and where were you born? How was your childhood?
I was born 35 years ago in Valencia. According to my childhood, sometimes I think I didn't have one, it´s like an empty period because it wasn´t as I would have liked it to be.
2. At what age did you realise you were a trans woman?
I said it pretty young, when I was 5 years old or so, I didn't even know if it was possible or how it was called. Then, in my adolescence I said it again and I could share it with my friends. I knew that the definition of gay didn´t suit me. It was an identity matter.
3. Why did you decide to study audio-visual communication?
I was lucky to know at an early age what I wanted to study which made things easier. I was attracted to the audio-visual because I could cover information, cinema and show, all at the same time.
4. Have you ever had any problem when working on media for being trans?
Not really, at least, I haven't noticed. When I wrote in Vanity Fair it wasn´t through my identity, and, more recently working in Canal Sur Andalucía, the same. I don't know what will happen the following day.
5. Do you think there are enough role models of trans women?
Nowadays there are a lot of role models, but not because now there are more trans women than before, but thanks to the Internet which connects us to those models which can be on the other side of the world.
6. Do you think that trans women are socially included in the feminist movement?
No, they are not included. For years they weren't considered, most probably because they were not considered women at all. Luckily, from some years now, the movement is including them because they are also an oppressed group as women.
7. Paco León in “La Casa de las Flores” or Víctor Palmero in “La que se avecina” play a trans woman. What do you think that a man plays a trans woman on television?
I don't think it is accurate because what the audience receives is “a man in a wig”. But I should also say that I know Paco and Víctor personally and they have always had a big respect and support for the trans collective. In fact, this is not the actors´ fault, they are just accepting a job, but the producer´s and the director´s who are the ones who make the decisions.
8. Do you feel that the collective is being used to whitewash some companies or institutions?
Totally! Nowadays there are a lot of brands that consider being trans cool, and they support it because of the concept of beauty. This is a mistake because the reality is wider, and transsexuality is not a trend.
9. What would you say to those people who are at their homes and have no clue of what is going on with them?
I would tell them to get informed, to read about it, because if there is a lot of something today, it is information. It is important to distinguish between condition and identity and to listen to oneself is fundamental.