Transgender artist bravely chronicles her transition in simple comics
The complexities of transitioning and gender dysphoria can be hard to put into words. But art can fill in the gaps -- and one artist is breaking the silence with her simple comics.
Los Angeles-based artist Julia Kaye is using a series of black-and-white webcomics to document her own transition, getting to the core of deeply personal experiences within the trans community.
Through her art, which she posts on Instagram with the username @upandoutcomic, the 28-year-old is speaking out about the process of transitioning with honesty and radical authenticity.
Kaye started posting the autobiographical series online in late October. In the comics, she covers everything from the heartbreaking experience of being misgendered to relentless impatience with the process of hormone replacement therapy.
The tone of the three-panel comics ranges from melancholy to optimistic, shedding light on the complex emotions that come with transitioning.
Kaye started drawing the comics in early 2016, after a friend encouraged her to use illustrations as a way to help her process the emotions and experiences of transitioning.
"I found making them to be therapeutic," Kaye told Mashable. "It got me to set aside time at the end of my day to reflect on how I was feeling. And because I was making the comics for myself, I allowed myself to be more honest than I might have been otherwise."
But she eventually decided to share the comics publicly, realizing she had an opportunity to "give trans people content that they could ... directly relate to."
Though the comics have recently gained momentum on Instagram, Kaye originally started posting the comics to her Twitter account in July. Her follower base on Twitter, however, is much smaller than her 102,000-strong Instagram fan base, so jumping to a social platform with a larger audience worried her.
Kaye said she was nervous of potential backlash from her regular audience, most of which didn't realize she was transgender. Her previous comics didn't directly tackle the topic of gender identity.
But the comments and responses she's received have been overwhelmingly positive. Her work is facilitating a sense of solidarity with fellow trans women, as well as offering a deeper understanding to those who aren't trans.
"People across the world write in on a daily basis about how the series has helped them to feel better about themselves, given them hope for their futures or helped give them insight into what it's like to live with gender dysphoria," she said. "It's heartwarming."
Kaye said she wants the ongoing series to have an impact on trans people and those looking to support the community.
"I hope to just reach people who need it," she says. "People who need support, people who need hope, people who want to learn."
Topics Comics Instagram LGBTQ Social Good
Katie Dupere was a Social Good reporter at Mashable from May 2015 to July 2017, covering activism, identities and social impact. Prior to her work with Mashable, Katie penned pieces about queerness, body positivity, sex and relationships for Gurl. She also previously contributed LGBTQ news coverage to PinkNews.
