“While in convalescence, I had to use one of those donut cushions in order not to sit directly on my new labia and the vulvic area, which were still way too sensitive for any pressure. All of the women who had had the same surgery done on them walked around with their donut cushions. I fancied we could call ourselves the ladies of the cushions and maybe we could do a musical chair thing and see who got to sit with their cushions tucked under the fannies.” Joelle Circé LaraméeBreaking… Read more Excerpt from Breaking Free: 45 Years in the wrong body →
I keep wondering about the reason why I’ve taken up writing, and the basic truth of it is that I have always been a storyteller. The difference is that for many decades, my stories were described in oils. Yes, I used to be a paintress, so drawing and painting were the mediums that I shared those stories. Then, I hurt my drawing hand on a couple of occasions, making it painful to hold a brush in hand for more than a few minutes. I could have felt a deep loss,… Read more Writing as I once painted. →
The Space Between, oil on canvas, 36in. x 48in. Creating and being unapologetic about being a queer and atheist woman of trans origin is, as with other outsider identities, can be challenging at times, but ultimately, liberating, especially as I age. I choose to be visible, not to shy away from being seen. It’s just the way I am. In some milieu’s, I might be perceived as a throwback of the traditional trans woman, the one into surgeries and passing and adopting hetero-normative habits. However, the truth of it is… Read more In plain Sight, a queer trans woman author! →
Joelle Circé 