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ChatChat - Claudia Cragg


May 22, 2014

Trans author and activist Matt Kailey has, very sadly indeed, passed away this past weekend.

In 2006, KGNU's Claudia Cragg spoke with Matt about his memoir, Just Add Hormones: An Insider’s Guide to the Transsexual Experience. The work relayed Matt's experience as a 42­-year­old straight woman turned gay trans man with a highly personal account of his gender transition that is known to have given a great many others the courage to transition themselves.

"Matt didn’t just blaze trails as a gay trans man demonstrating how the T fit with the LGB. He wasn’t just a role model for those of us who transitioned late in life." He was also one of the first visible trans journalists, who wrote for one of the oldest LGBT publications in the West, Colorado’s Out Front. His 2007 promotion to managing editor made Matt the highest­ ranking trans journalist at a queer publication, a distinction he continues to hold.

Although he was dedicated to his work at Out Front, Matt also became an award ­winning activist and educator. He represented the trans male community in numerous news articles, television spots and five documentary films. He founded the award­ winning blog Tranifesto. He spoke at dozens of conferences and colleges and developed his own training program for employers who needed guidance embracing trans people into the workplace

In 2011, after eight years with Out Front, Matt stepped down to focus on his other writings and teaching. He published a collection of essays, Teeny Weenies and Other Short Subjects, about his life before and after transition — and as always he managed to balance heartfelt moments with his great sense of humor.

Matt also created the guidebook, My Child is Transgender: 10 Tips for Parents of Adult Trans Children for parents of transitioning adult children.

During the past few years, Matt also embraced teaching. As an adjunct instructor at Red Rocks Community College, Matt taught courses in psychology and human sexuality. At the same time, he worked at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he designed several courses, including a transgender studies course and a class called “Writing Your Gender.”