An interview with creative transguy and Brighton alumnus Fox Fisher.
29 May 2015
Growing up in Saudi Arabia and then later in Hastings, Fox experienced a difficult and anxious childhood in what he described as ‘the wrong puberty’: “Not only did I have absolutely no concept of transmen existing until I was around 20, I also had a lack of male role models to look up to. So naturally, it took me a long time to realise that I could be my own definition of male. As a consequence of not feeling comfortable in my own body (or at home) I lived in a dream world and read a lot of books.
“I know it’s a barrel of clichés but if I could talk to my younger self, I would say: ‘You are safe. You are loved. You are smart and beautiful and you can be or do anything you want to be. It’s ok to be who you are.’”
THE BRIGHTON EFFECT
In 2004 Fox enrolled on a masters course at the University of Brighton. “I had worked for weeks on my design and illustration portfolio, but I was accepted to Brighton based on my film work, which I thought was unpolished, not brilliant.
“I had a lot to learn and I was missing a few pieces: screen printing and my transition. I enrolled full-time and my only regret about the course was not doing it part-time, to savour the course and lectures.”
Fox described the impact his Brighton education had: “I loved the visiting lecturers and the course was the perfect mix of small set tasks and being left to really focus on my final project. For an entire year, I worked on my graphic novel, where the main character was a guy called Ralph Tiger.
At the time, I was still living out my preferred gender through comics and drag king personas, so it was luxurious to focus on my imagination and experiment with ideas.”
While at university, Fox attended counselling sessions which he described as “pivotal”. He graduated from the University of Brighton in 2005 with an MA in Sequential Design/ Illustration. After graduating, Fox signed up for one of our evening adult education courses in screen-printing, which he credits with changing his life.
ART IMITATING LIFE
Fox’s career has been dual-fold both as a successful screen printer and creator of limited edition and one-off prints, but also with his film-making and media campaigning.
I’ve found the most effective way to instigate change is to do something about it!
His films are mostly non-fictional; documenting the lives of UK people transitioning. Fox is currently directing and editing My Genderation – an independent documentary film series exploring gender variance, and Patchwork (25 short films scheduled to be broadcast on 4oD).
In addition, Fox has worked on short films for the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES)/NHS on trans issues and is a contributor to All About Trans – a project which looks at creative ways to encourage greater understanding between trans people and media professionals to support better, more sensitive representation in the UK media.
He contributes to many national panels and projects and has made numerous public speaking appearances in support of trans issues (including London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Stonewall and National Student Pride) and TedX Brighton, as well as being a patron for Gendered Intelligence, FTM Wales and an ambassador for All About Trans.
NATURAL-BORN CAMPAIGNER?
What prompted Fox to campaign for the rights of trans and LGB people? “I cannot bear injustice. I’ve found the most effective way to instigate change is to do something about it! There are ways to engage with people and to find common ground. I don’t think protesting is anywhere near as effective as having a conversation with an influential mover and shaker (politician, senior staff at a newspaper etc). I have made friends in some very interesting circles, just by being open. I call these people my ‘unlikely allies’.
In 2011, Fox participated in Channel 4’s My Transsexual Summer and since then has made numerous television appearances to represent trans issues. “So much has changed for trans rights over the past few years. My Transsexual Summer felt like the start of a wave of rapid change. Overall, the programme had a very positive effect in raising awareness and starting a dialogue with the nation about trans issues.”
2014 HIGHLIGHTS
Fox has had an incredibly productive year, including being nominated for the University of Brighton Alumnus Award 2015 and the Rainbow List Award 2014. Fox explained what that meant to him: “I’ve worked so hard this year so an acknowledgement is always appreciated. There are loads of LGBT people who work really hard and never get recognised for that, so it’s by no means the definitive list, although it can help with funding and promotion by being on it. It was unexpected being nominated for the Alumnus Award as well – really means so much! I am very proud to be a Brightonian.
“There have been quite a few highlights this year. I hosted Trans Pride Brighton, a three-day event. Also, being on the front cover of Gscene Magazine was pretty cool, as was being featured in The Guardian a few times over the year.
Stay conscious! Question everything. Stay positive
“My Transpose talk at the Tate Modern was incredibly special. Getting to screen-print on to someone’s flesh pushed the boundaries of conventional printing and was an engaging practical demonstration. It was such a thrill to do it in front of many surrealists’ work, including Man Ray and Salvador Dali.”
ADVOCATE
Fox is also a committed mentor. He explained: “Earlier this year, I mentored a 14-year-old transguy from Brixton. This was through Gendered Intelligence, which is a fantastic national (and predominantly London-based) support group mostly for teenagers. The guy I mentored was having a really difficult time, having been expelled from his school, and had made some bad choices by getting in with the wrong crowd. I was there to chat with him, motivate him and to help him to start to see a possible future.”
WHAT NEXT?
There has been discussion in the media about 2014 being a tipping point for trans people; with LGBT bigotry making global headlines but also an increase in positive media portrayals of high profile trans people. What are Fox’s hopes for eradicating prejudice? “All of the work this year has been part of that tipping point. I would say we’ve passed the pivot and we’re on to the momentum now.”
WHAT IS NEXT FOR FOX FISHER?
He has plenty of projects in the pipeline including presenting a programme on gender variance on Channel 4, 12 music videos for a compilation album of new trans songwriters and spoken word poets and filming with Mermaids (national charity for trans youth and their families). He just changed youtube.com/mygenderation to become a daily vlogging channel as well.
Having come so far, so young, what is the biggest lesson Fox has learned to date? Fox replied: “Finding my own inner voice and creating my own happiness now, not when. There’s no specific way to be a man or a woman. Look to others for inspiration, but get to know the authentic ‘you’ and live by that moral code. Be good to yourself especially when you’re feeling bad about yourself or your situation. Stay conscious! Question everything. Stay positive.”
www.foxfis
Article reprinted with kind permission from the university's alumni magazine The Brighton Effect.
