Gender change from girl to boy
Photographer Sara Swati says: “When we met in St. Louis High School in 2006, Garrison was still Hailey's girlfriend. I remember how we complained together about the hardships and difficulties of studying, and he was always cheerful, even on the most difficult days. Years later, we met again, and I found out that he was going to have a female-to-male gender reassignment operation. We agreed that I would shoot him right after the so-called "T-party" - in honor of his first testosterone injection and the beginning of the course of male hormones. Watching how the human body changes, how emotions fluctuate, how the mentality begins to merge with the physical appearance is an amazing and wonderful process. Gender is not only black and white, as is usually the case between a man and a woman – in fact, it is an endless and beautiful gradient.”
1. “I look at the floor the same way I look at colors in the full spectrum,” Harrison says. - Paul cannot be kept within strict limits - this is all a personal interpretation. In the general sense of gender, I would describe myself as: blue monkey, elk, mostly blue and shades of gray, ever-changing magical unicorn, narwhal, strange as a four-leaf clover. That's who Harrison is. I started taking testosterone in June 2011. People often mix up pronouns when they address me, but for me it's normal - no need to apologize. But sometimes people did not understand why, for example, my voice and appearance do not match. I used to try to explain my appearance, but now I don't need to. My thinking is still feminine, and I do not plan to change anything in it. But in terms of gender, it is easier for others to see me as a man, and for me this is more acceptable. My friends were not shocked when I finally became a guy - they knew that I had been going for this for a long time.
2. Garrison in his room.
“I remember I was cold because I was half naked and very thin. Now I'm not so thin anymore, and most of the time I'm hot. It’s strange to think how much testosterone has changed me, even in terms of temperature.”
3. “I love bird watching. I always thought that if I had not been born as a human, I would definitely have been born as a bird, or maybe I was once a bird in a past life. This T-shirt won't fit me anymore."
4. Harrison celebrates his birthday with beer.
5. Reenie helps Harrison prepare a testosterone shot.
“I've known Rini for over 10 years, we're not that close, but I think we both know that our friendship is inevitable. I am grateful and proud to have her."
6. Garrison reunites with old friends.
“I cannot live without these people. To me, Brook is east, Emmy is west, Shelby is north, and I am south. Without them, I would be lost. This is an incredible support group. I don't think anything I've ever done seemed strange or unnatural to them."
7. Garrison discusses the development of his muscles. “I want to be thin but strong, but that hasn’t happened yet. But someday, when I stop working three jobs, I will come to this.
8. George gives Harrison an injection.
“George, I also know an eternity that has passed like one day. He and I both experienced the transition: he went from a frail nerd to a handsome man with a beard, I went from a girl to a guy. We talk a lot about men's fashion. He's like my gay friend - we talk about fashion, ride bikes, drink beer and bourbon. I love him".
9. Harrison with his children's Bible.
“My mom's bible. I think all my brothers and sisters read it in the Sunday school where my mother taught. She has always been very religious, so we grew up with that. I didn't even know religion was a choice until I moved from a Lutheran school to a public school at the age of 17. Now I am no longer religious. It's not that I don't believe in anything. I just don’t know what faith is, and I don’t want to know.”
10. Harrison with the Bear.
“The hug of this dog will help overcome any tantrum or breakdown. It's a proven fact."
11. Harrison with his cranes.
“One thousand paper cranes are supposed to grant your wish. So far, my wish has not come true.
12.
13. Garrison after a testosterone injection on George's porch.
14. Harrison has breakfast with his nephews.
"Misfortunes never come alone. These are my twin nephews Tanner and Trevor. My sisters have five sons in total. When I first told my sisters about my intention, they were worried about what the younger ones in the family might think. But for children, this is the easiest - they just switch something in their head and that's it. "So you used to be a girl and now you're a boy? OK."
15. Garrison cuts his hair on the first anniversary of the first testosterone shot.
16. Harrison with Haven.
17.
18. Garrison with a scarf on his face.
19. Harrison and his reflection.
“This is how I look now, and I feel like I should look like this. It's still strange for me to look in the mirror and not recognize my own reflection at first sight. But I think my mind will soon get used to it.
20. Garrison with his sister Angel.
“Angel and I had almost the same childhood photos, it’s even hard to understand who is where. Even in this photo it is not easy, but we have the same moles in the same place on our face, only on different sides of the face. It was the only way to tell us apart in the photographs."
21. Garrison in his new home.
“Now I can finally say that I am a self-sufficient person. I really worked hard to become who I became.”
Keywords: Gender | Transgender