An Inside look on Janet Mock's effects on the LGBTQ+ Community

Photo Credit: Derek Wood

 In todays world it is hard to find those who have the courage to speak up amid the busy crowd with modern technology and social media outlets this busy crowd becomes a deafening roar. Thankfully for those in the LGBTQ+ who struggle to find their voice Janet Mock has taken the first steps in opening the doors to the issues that women are facing today.    

    Janet Mock, born in Honolulu Hawaii, is one of the few transgender women of color to speak up on LGBTQ+ issues of both today and tomorrow. Growing up Janet found her interests lied in writing and journalism. While not having many idols or advocates for women like her she decided to set out and become one. Transitioning from a young age of 16 Janet moved on to the University of Hawaii and Manola. In her first years of study she flew to Thailand in order to have gender reassignment surgery. It was at the time of this surgery that she chose the name Janet in honor of Janet Jackson. She then continued through college to receive her degree in Fashion Merchandising. 

Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty

    In 2006 she moved to New York where she attended New York University. She received her Masters in journaling and moved on to People's Magazine where she worked for 5 years. Now at only 37 years of age Janet has produced two novels and has appeared on more than five shows regarding the rights and accessibility of the trans community and has attended campaigns and rally's to support the communities of women.

To this date Janet's 2 novels tell her story and struggles as a transgender woman of color navigating in today's world. Redefining Realness, Janet's first book, is described on her website as a "coming of age story celebrating the perils and pleasures of her unconventional girlhood in Honolulu, Dallas and Oakland". When she was interviewed by Bill Maher she said the reason she wrote her book was to provide a story for "young trans girls that kind of reflect them". Her book is a story that educates those who may not be part of the transgender community. Further in her interview she goes on to explain that the experience of womanhood is different for all transwomen. A lot of today's media like to highlight those that choose to undergo transitional surgery and take hormone replacement although there are a lot of transgender women who choose not to use these outlets due to personal choice or medical issues. Janet also highlights that she was able to transition early, a luxury that most do not get. A lot of today's transgender community lives' in areas that ridicule those in the LGBTQ+ community and some communities even go as far as torture. Her books have been able to educate many on what life is like for those in the trans-community. Her story has given hundred of others the courage and confidence to speak up on their stories and struggles. In her second novel Surpassing Certainty Janet goes on to discuss how her identity in the trans community affects her life from day to day. This novel covers her experience in things like love and landing jobs, so many things that those not engaged in the transgender community overlook and take for granted. 

    Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty are both available on her website where she has more information about her daily experiences. Not only are her books a huge empowerment for others but she has been featured on multiple television shows. One of Janet's earliest televised appearances was through the It Gets Better Project. Her short video reaches out to those that may be struggling to come out or receive support after they are out. The It Gets Better Project reaches out to over millions of individuals through its user created videos. Below is Janet's video where she shows those that are struggling with their own identities can achieve their greatest dreams when they surround themselves with those that support them and love them.

    Not only has she reached out through books and television Janet has attended rallies to fight and speak up on the issues she so brazenly defends. In March of 2017 Janet held a speech about women's need to come together in an "intersectional" and "inclusive" manner to fight for all women's rights. Her speech mentions many issues like sex work and disabled students. Her line "My sisters and siblings are being beaten and brutalized, neglected and invisibilizied, extinguished and exiled." rings home to those who have seen friends and family experience the issues that are so commonly avoided for being a taboo subject in today's fast paced world. She makes mentions to the past and encourages us to not fight fire with fire but to use our anger to move forward and to commit to making things better. You can read her speech here as she elaborates on her views regarding the topic of women's rights.

    Janet Mock wants to create a world that notices the differences in all women and makes sure that they are seen and noticed rather than ignored and forced to inevitably fall into the cracks. She encourages parents with children that may find themselves in the LGBTQ+ community to "listen and nod" when prompted by Ellen in her interview on Creating a Reflection of the LGBTQ Community.  She has helped parents of the LGBTQ+ community by providing resources and advice. In today's world many children feel more empowered to speak up and out about their experiences. By providing these resources Janet has made more of these interactions safer and better supported both for parents and adolescents. Her many interviews establish the underrepresentation of LGBTQ people in the media. She hopes that in the future more than just Trans women celebrities and influencers are asked to speak up on todays issues. She encouraged people to look to Twitter and for cis-gender women to stand with their trans sisters who have been fighting the battle of LGBTQ+ and colored rights longer than many of those whose stories have the luxury of being published.

Janet Directing on Pose 
Photo Credits: FX
You can watch Pose here through Netflix

    In the most recent years Janet has appeared on television in the show Visible due to air on Apple Television, February 14th 2020. Janet also directed the show Pose through Netflix in 2018. In 2020 she was awarded with the Stephen F Kolzak award, an award that recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to fighting prejudice to the LGBTQ+ community in the media. Her name has had multiple mentions in books published in 2020, Prince and Popular Music: Critical Perspectives on an Interdisciplinary Life and Histories of the Transgender Child, both for being a trans women of color or for being one of the few women to speak up in her community.

    In the future Janet will be producing shows for Netflix thanks to her sign on deal with them in 2019. Though what else she will bring to the future is ambiguous it is clear that her actions in both transgender rights and in women's history will last for many lifetimes. To those of us in the LGBTQ+  Janet Mock's bravery will strike conversations that will hold true meaning. It will give us the confidence needed to be our true and authentic selves, a quality that is far and rare in today's social media driven society. Janet Mock's actions have succeeded in opening the eyes of today's younger generations and her actions will continue to educate and inspire those in future generations.

Works Cited

Alexander, Kerri. “Janet Mock.” National Women’s History Museum, 2018, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/janet-mock#:~:text=Mock%20then%20graduated%20from%20college,working%20for%20People%20Magazine’s%20website.. Accessed 13 Feb. 2021.

Hattenstone, Simon. “Janet Mock: ‘I’d Never Seen a Young Trans Woman Who Was Thriving in the World – I Was Looking for That.’” The Guardian, The Guardian, 15 Apr. 2018, www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/15/janet-mock-id-never-seen-a-young-trans-woman-who-was-thriving-in-the-world-i-was-looking-for-that. Accessed 13 Feb. 2021.

Maher, Bill. “Real Time with Bill Maher: Redefining Realness with Janet Mock (HBO).” YouTube, 10 Feb. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMFZRuJuBUA. Accessed 13 Feb. 2021.

Snow, Jackie. “Janet Mock’s Online Activism Is Changing Perceptions about the Trans Community.” Fast Company, 24 Apr. 2014, www.fastcompany.com/3028896/janet-mocks-online-activism-is-changing-perceptions-about-the-trans-commun. Accessed 13 Feb. 2021.