You might have seen or heard Mara Keisling speaking on behalf of NCTE in major media outlets concerning transgender issues. If there is legislation pending that affects the transgender community (as recently in South Dakota and North Carolina), chances are pretty good that you will find her there, speaking with leaders and stating our case.

NCTE was founded in 2003, and Mara (as Executive Director) has been on the frontlines of the national struggle for transgender rights ever since. Before that, she worked in social marketing and opinion research in Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg. She has mentioned that she was motivated to help found the NCTE after the rising violence against transgender people, such as the death of Rita Hester in 1998. Her death would also be the inspiration for the Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Although she is the Executive Director of NCTE and works with the media quite often, she actually is one part (though a big part) of the team at NCTE. Over the years, her team at NCTE has led or worked in coalition to bring about significant advances for the transgender community (federally, and at state and local levels).

Mara is a graduate of Penn State University and did graduate work at Harvard University in American Government. She sometimes speaks at transgender-related events, such Transgender Day of Remembrance commemorations and trans conferences like First Event in Boston. When she does speak publicly, it becomes apparent that she is incredibly bright and quite witty. Altogether, she is an incredible force for positive change and an indispensable part of the transgender community.

What are your qualifications?

In the U.S., each state has different credentialing criteria for electrologists. You can find the licensing requirements for your state at the American Electrology Association website (http://professionals.electrology.com/be-an-electrologist/electrology-licensing-requirements.html).

This page also includes contact information for the licensing bodies in each state. If you aren’t sure about an electrologist, you might be able to contact the appropriate agency for your state to find out if there have been complaints, etc. If your electrologist has any other relevant credentials, now is a good time to ask about them as well. Also, find out how long she has been in business and how many clients she has seen.

What experience do you have working with trans people?

This is especially important if you need electrolysis to prep for GCS, because it is important the electrologist know which areas need removal and which don’t. Also, because hair removal for GCS occurs in the genital area, she will need to be comfortable in that situation. Even if you need hair removal in the face or other body areas, though, it is helpful if the electrologist has worked with trans people before. A trans woman’s facial hair, for instance, often grows differently than that of most cis women, and an awareness of the unique growing characteristics will increase the chances of successful permanent hair removal. Make sure she is comfortable working with trans people and that she has already worked with several of us.

What types of electrolysis do you practice and how long have you been doing each?

First, make sure electrologists at this facility actually are doing needle electrolysis. Some places claiming to do electrolysis actually use some other method. There are three main modalities of electrolysis: Galvanic, Thermolysis (short wave), or blend. In galvanic, the current creates a chemical reaction that destroys the follicle, whereas thermolysis destroys the follicles by producing heat. The blend is a combination of both methods. You might also ask what specific equipment they use and how long they have been using it. The answers –especially to how long she has been doing each modality or using a specific piece of equipment – can give an idea of the experience and confidence level of the electrologist.

Do you have references?

The best way to find an electrologist is through referrals. If you know anyone who has had electrolysis, you can ask who they have used and if they would recommend that person. Most of the hair removal professionals I’ve used have been recommended by someone who has already used her. If no one can give you a referral, it is OK to seek out electrologists online, through Yellow Pages or similar directories, or online, but make sure she is willing to give you names of people she has worked with. Especially ask for other trans women she has worked with so you can learn her level of comfort and experience working with trans women. Ask references if they had it to over again, would they go back to this individual. Were they comfortable? Do they know of anyone who has had a bad experience with this electrologist? If so, what was the problem? Because references would be picked by the electrologist, they are more likely to be someone with a good experience and might not provide much negative information, but it is still helpful to ask these questions.

Do you charge for a consultation? Can you do a free test patch?

Most electrologists offer a free consultation and test patch, but some charge a small fee put toward the cost of your first session. If you are brand new to electrolysis, ask her to do a test patch so that you can get an idea of how it feels (spoiler alert: it will likely hurt, especially at first!) and see how your skin reacts to the treatment. The electrologist can also get a better idea of what is involved and can give you a more accurate estimate of the time and cost involved.

What do you do for pain and aftercare?

First, if the electrologist tells you it doesn’t really hurt, run away. Fast. For most people, the procedure is painful, at least at first. The electrologist I use now applies liberal amounts of hydrocortisone during and after treatment to sooth the area. To further combat pain, I apply lidocaine to the area about an hour before treatment. With this care and after repeated visits, I find I am noticing the pain less and less, even as she works in some very sensitive areas!

But what about the cost?

You will notice none of the questions above involve price. Price is important—if you can’t afford the treatment it won’t matter how the other questions are answered – but it should not be the deciding factor. If it is down to two electrologists and their answers to the questions are about the same, then you would want to consider price. I’ve seen prices range from a low of $40/hour to $125/hour. Typically, you can expect to pay $75 to $100 for an hour session (some larger metropolitan areas you can expect
to pay more). Most electrologists schedule in 15 minute increments, with the price per 15 minutes decreasing with longer periods of time (for example, 15 minutes might be $40, 30 minutes might be $70, 45 minutes $85, and 1 hour $100). The electrologists’ abilities don’t always correspond to the price they charge: there might also be overhead and other costs that factor into the price. However, if you find someone who provides positive answers to your questions, but is much lower than others, it might pay to be skeptical.

Other considerations

When going for a consultation, notice the environment: does everything appear clean and sanitary?

Unsterile conditions can lead to infections. The electrologist should wash hands before beginning and wear sterile gloves when performing the procedure. The table should be cleaned or redraped between each client. Ask if disposable probes are used (if not, why not?) and whether an autoclave is used to sterilize other equipment. Consider that an electrologist is a health professional; if she does not look or act professionally (or if the work area does not look clean and sterile), that is a red flag, despite her reputation, experience, or what kind of references she has.

Take your time

The final consideration is to remember that electrolysis is a serious procedure that can have severe negative consequences when done poorly, so do not be in a hurry to select your electrologist. Take the time to ask all the questions that need to be asked, find all the information you need to make an informed decision. This also gives you a chance to listen to your intuition if it is telling you something is just not right with the person you are considering. More often than not, your subconscious is responding to cues we don’t even notice and your intuition is right, so it is usually a good idea to back off or get a second opinion if you get a funny feeling about using any particular electrologist.

Good luck in your quest for an electrologist. If you are careful, proactive, and trust your instincts, you are most likely to have a positive electrolysis experience.

It is a good thing we have allies like John Oliver, who can help clear up the myths and misinformation spread by anti-trans groups. Last summer, as the marriage equality fight had ended and the trans backlash was just heating up, he released this video explaining the issue of transgender rights as only he could.

Spreading the Word of Transgender Rights

That is, it was as hilarious as if was accurate.This video made me feel good when I watched it, but it is also something I would like to share with friends and family when I suspect they don’t completely “get it.” Recommended for trans people and anyone who wants to be an ally.

Want to see more?

Checkout “Last Week Tonight” on HBO and HBO GO. For highlights go to their YouTube channel.

As was famously reported a few months back, more Americans claim to have seen a ghost than
a trans person. Although they might unwittingly come in contact with trans people every day, most cisgender people know little about others who are trans and end up relying on stereotypes and tropes of trans people that have been promoted by mainstream media over the past several decades. According to Margaret J. Wheatley, “you can’t hate someone whose story you know,” so telling our stories authentically can go a long way toward bringing about understanding and showing the world just how diverse and beautiful the trans community can be.

As a child, I can’t remember representations of trans people I could identify with. When trans
people did appear, more often than not they were depicted as deviants, sex workers, or some kind of villain. One key reason I waited until my 40s to transition was because, until the dawn of the internet, I never knew others like me existed. As time went on and I met others like me online, I found that, although everyone’s stories are a little different, they are all valid and we are all worthy of love and respect.

Trans Media Representation Now

I remember thinking, if only there had been decent representations of the trans experience when I was younger. That ship, of course, has sailed, but we now have perhaps more (and more varied) trans depictions in the media than ever before. Some just show the same tired stereotypes and tropes as always, and many trans people are still portrayed in movies and TV by cisgender actors, but a growing number of representations are emerging that really don’t suck.

Here then, is my list of media representations that I think don’t suck. Of course, nothing’s
perfect, and some of these are far from it. There is something in each of these, though, that I find authentic and/or uplifting. You will notice that almost all of the actors and personalities mentioned are themselves trans and, in some cases, there are trans producers, directors, writers, and others involved. It might be possible for a cisgender person to authentically portray a trans person (a debate that rages on), but authenticity is more likely where trans people have had creative input.

Tangerine (Feature film, 2015)

Alexandra and Sin-Dee (Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez)

Tangerine follows friends Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriquez) through the streets of LA on Christmas Eve. Fresh out of jail, Sin-Dee finds out her boyfriend (also her pimp) has cheated on her while she was away, and she goes off to confront him after finding the girl he cheated with. Alexandra tries to catch Sin-Dee before she does something foolish.

Along the way, she fights with a John, meets up with one of her regulars, and finds her dreams dashed when no one shows to hear her sing at the club where she had to pay to perform. There are stereotypes galore, but, with a large number or young trans people (especially those of color) on the streets, there is more than a kernel of truth to these characters. Taylor and Rodriquez authentically depict the struggles of these girls’ lives. Also, this film is a great (if unlikely) illustration of the power of friendship.

Transparent (Amazon Prime Series, 2014-2015)

Maura (Jeffrey Tambor), Davina (Alexandra Billings), Dale (Ian Harvie), Gittel (Hari Neff)

I admit that I have reservations about Tambor (a cis man) playing newly transitioning Maura Pfefferman. Maura is the only character in this list played by a cis person, but she is also the only character in this list still in transition. Her transition and how it affects her family makes up the bulk of the story in this show, and it might have been difficult to find someone trans to portray a 60-something trans woman in the very early stages of transition. For a cis man, Tambor seems pretty authentic as Maura. As an older trans woman myself, I buy Tambor’s portrayal 99% of the time. Beyond that, Tambor is surrounded by a sizable number of trans cast members. Most notable are Alexandra Billings as Davina (Maura’s friend and ersatz guide to all things trans), Ian Harvie as Dale (a brief love interest of Maura’s daughter and the only trans man on this list), and Hari Neff as Gittel, a transgender ancestor of the Pfefferman’s who lived in Weimar Germany. Trans man Rhys Ernst is a producer for the show, and the second season saw the addition of trans woman Our Lady J to the writer’s room. That doesn’t mean that the show always captures the essence of what it means to be trans, but it seems to succeed more than it fails.

Sens8 (Netflix series, 2015)

Nomi (Jamie Clayton)

Nomi is a young trans woman somehow connected to a group of 7 other people around the world. The idea that she is just another part of this group of 8, from various walks of life all around the world, is a big part of why I like this representation. Showing some of what she has to go through as a trans person (her mother tries to have her committed, for instance) without sensationalism also goes a long way toward making this character complex and authentic. So does her relationship with girlfriend Amanita (Freema Agyeman), since so many portrayals are
of trans woman attracted to or in a relationship with a man.

Like a few others on this list, Clayton’s appearance is supported by trans representation behind
the camera as well. Two of the three producers, Lana and Lilly Wachowski, are themselves trans women. The only drawback I see here is how isolated Nomi is as a trans woman. You would think with two of the three main minds behind the show being trans that Nomi would interact with or at least mention other friends who are trans, but this seems like a minor problem. For the most part, this a pretty positive trans media representation.

Boy Meets Girl (Feature film, 2015)

Ricky (Michelle Hendley)

Ricky is your typical young woman in a small Southern town, trying to find her way out, overcome the odds, find love, and pursue her dreams. Oh yeah, and she happens to be trans. What I like about this trans media representation is that, although other characters have reactions to her being trans, it is still just one small part of the story. The biggest problem I have is with the improbable happy ending, wherein even her fiercest antagonist comes over to her side. Overall, though, this is a film worth watching.

Her Story (Web series, 2016)

What if I told you there is a web series about trans women in which the characters were portrayed by trans actresses, and trans people were a key part of just about every role behind the camera as well? Well, there is and it’s called “Her Story.” Angelica Ross plays Paige, an attorney for Lambda Legal who meets cute, nice guy James (Christian Ochoa), and has to determine if or when she should tell him she is trans. Meanwhile, Allie (Laura Zak), a reporter from the local LGBT paper, approaches Paige’s friend Violet (Jen Richards) for an interview about what it is like to be trans. The interview leads to friendship with more than a hint of romance. Allie also learns about the biases of cisgender lesbians when her friends react negatively to her relationship with Violet.

This series is the poster child for trans representation: In trans women Richards and Ross star, and Richards co-wrote the series with Zak. Also, the director is Sidney Freeland, director of the Sundance award-winning film Drunktown’s Finest, and , oh yeah-also a trans woman. Trans people were involved in this film at just about all levels, making this probably the most representative piece of trans media representation for trans women to date.

If there is any drawback to Her Story, it is that, currently, it’s only a web series with a collection of 6 episodes running around 10 minutes each. The hope (from fans and those behind the project) is for a major outlet to pick it up and run it as an actual TV series. Here’s hoping this happens soon.

What trans media representation do you think doesn’t suck? Share in the comments below!