Lea T., Transsexual Model, Talks About Her Impending Reassignment Surgery

The New York Times caught up with Givenchy's transsexual model Lea T. for its Thursday Styles article "Bold Crossings of the Gender Line." Lea told the Times:

"When you are a transsexual, you look for your future, and you can't see it," Ms. T. said. "I thought this would be a nice message for another tranny: 'Look, we can be the same as other girls and boys.' It's small, but it makes you feel like you have a little chance. Maybe a transsexual will open a magazine and think: 'That's cool. We can be whatever we want.' That's why I did the Givenchy campaign."

Since appearing in the campaign in May, Lea's modeling agency, Women, has gotten over 400 requests for interviews.

The Times also cleared up what the "T" in Lea T. stands for: Tisci, as in Givenchy's Creative Director Riccardo Tisci.

Lea said she's presently in Milan waiting for her sexual reassignment surgery. She explained, "I will always feel uncomfortable, but it will make my life a little easier, and I will look in the mirror and see something I like more."

Lea's recent cover:

Comments

[Theresa N]

03:00 PM on 01/18/2011

Its good to see someone prominent take this step. It really is the most wonderful thing you can do if you're transsexual. Each step is wonderful from orchiectomy, to vaginoplasty, and finally labiaplasty, but they can all be done at once. I silently thank Dr. Toby, my surgeon, many times each day. I was fortunate to have a generous mother who loaned me the money and to have one of the best surgeons. I disagree with her about it being a "small thing," it really makes a difference in how one sees oneself and as she says it should inspire hope in others. And thank goodness for the enormously brave Christine Jorgenson, Wendy Carlos, and the many others who have gone before.

[prettyfnliberal]

05:28 PM on 01/04/2011

hope it get's some hip implants too
OH WAIT, women aren't supposed to look like women.
i forgot my place for a moment there

[lachihuahua]

10:18 AM on 12/13/2010

All the best to Lea T, a woman apparently as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. (nn)

[bynddrvn5]

10:04 AM on 12/12/2010

Amazing story, good luck to her.

There are many people posting their stories on youtube, and I think this is a positive force. We need some counter to the tabloid TV that really presented the entire LGBTQ group of individuals as people with a lot of mental issues.

[Imagevision]

06:20 PM on 12/10/2010

A very beautiful lady, good luck god bless...

[Valery Satterwhite]

01:48 PM on 12/10/2010

It's one thing to know your truth. Its another thing to embrace and honor it fully. It takes a lot of Moxie to boldly express who you really are no matter what anyone else says or thinks about it - including your own Inner Critic. Our true essence is not about our body parts. If you can't see your future you are living a dark inauthentic life. When you do whatever it takes to claim your truth and own your power, you are in a position to command your stage. That's when the future is not only seen, it shines brightly. And you like what you see in the mirror. Bravo Lea T.

[EddieRascal5]

12:18 PM on 12/10/2010

Hero is usually associated with sacrifice for others. I respect what she is doing but she is not a hero.

[hackerblaster]

08:52 AM on 12/18/2010

She is giving hope to a lot of people who really need it. That is a hero in my book.

[Justice Goodyear]

08:52 AM on 12/10/2010

What I don't understand is why the article talks about "her" surgery and not "his" surgery.  I realize this may sound simplistic to some but I am just trying to understand.  Is it because "he" refers to himself as "her" even though "he" still has the physical sexual characteristics of a male but has announced to become a female?  In the end, male and female is a something stated rather than what tools you were born with?

[Lannie]

10:15 AM on 12/10/2010

It turns out "man" or "woman" is something you feel inside. Do you feel like a man or a woman? Lea feels like a woman inside. It's called your gender identity.

[Mirabai305]

11:13 AM on 12/10/2010

"In the end, male and female is a something stated rather than what tools you were born with?"

For lots of people, yes. Can you imagine an existence where you feel like a woman, dress like a woman, think like a woman, but when you look in the mirror, there's a man? That's how it is for transsexuals. (Which is not a transvestite) They live as one gender even though they may be, in Lea's case, temporarily the other gender in physicality. So for us, the respectful thing to do is acknowledge their internal gender and recognize them as the people they are inside. The correct thing is to acknowledge Lea T as a she, the way she sees herself.

[derrickj66]

08:49 AM on 12/10/2010

I think one of the greatest gifts of all is to feel free! free to be who you are regardless of the consequences. It takes a lot of stenght to get to that point in your life. I really respect those who took this brave step by only looking into what the future might be for them instead of focusing on the past and present.
Good luck to her!

[Pedro Tapajs]

08:44 AM on 12/10/2010

there is a difference between gender and sex. sex is the biological side of things, and it goes much deeper than XX and XY... there are several mutations, such as XXO, XXXY, etc. -- gender is the social construction of sex -- the way we represent `feminine` and `masculine`. there are instances where gender and sex don't match up, and these people should be allowed to be whomever they want to be, regardless of they way they were born.

[virginiawest]

10:42 AM on 12/10/2010

why does it bother you what others choose to do with their bodies? Read some books on gender dysphoria before you comment please.

[puppyyawn]

08:49 AM on 12/10/2010

Please educate yourself before spewing your ignorance online.

[FredKnowsBest]

09:12 AM on 12/10/2010

Why don't you trying writing an educated response?

[MIKEinNYC]

09:35 AM on 12/10/2010

I am always amused by people who, when they disagree with you, counsel you to "educate yourself", like a contrary opinion is necessarily due to a lack of information.

[Ron Quintia]

08:31 AM on 12/10/2010

.....empowerment....the power to live your Life according to your values...not someone else's...I applaud her for doing what her conscience tells her to do...I so wish the US Congress could take charge of their own lives like Lea has taken charge of hers...

[Statusnaturae]

08:23 AM on 12/10/2010

She looks great more masculine in the givenchy ad and very femenine in the picture where she is wearing a dress.

[kcinci]

03:26 PM on 12/10/2010

You are looking at the correct woman, right? the one one the right in the feathered off the shoulder top? I'd say if we didn't know the subject of the article, or her as a famous personality, we'd never have known anything at all by her looks.

[RedBirdy]

08:05 AM on 12/10/2010

I hate the word transexual. I'm sure she does, too. Transgendered is better, and I bet after surgery, she'd just prefer 'woman'.

[T4Obama]

08:43 AM on 12/10/2010

Exactly, transexual is a transitional identity at best, while one is in the process of transition. I take heat from some of my friends because post surgery I've done anything I can to cast aside any sort of "trans" identity and just simply exist as a woman. They feel I am turning my back on the trans community, but the whole point of the process wasn't to exist as a trans-whatever it was to exist as a woman.

The Guardian interview is really sad, it seems as Lea is convinced that nobody will ever be able to love her. I wish I could tell her it gets better, and there are men and women out there who would be happy to love her regardless of her gender history.

[JonB2057]

09:14 AM on 12/10/2010

"When you are a transsexual, you look for your future, and you can't see it," Ms. T. said"

He must not hate it too much, those were his exact words.

[MsVella]

05:15 AM on 12/12/2010

Who is the he you are referring to?

[Mirame Emor]

01:57 PM on 12/12/2010

I'm transgender and I know exactly what she is saying there. I am not trying to change my sex as she is doing because I don't have her courage. And when I try to picture myself in the future - I draw a blank. Much of what I am is being suppressed, so much so that I have no goals - nothing to look forward to. She is working towards making herself a complete person and I wish her the b

[Ricanmorenax5]

07:57 AM on 12/10/2010

Very cool!

[Heartless Riot]

07:36 AM on 12/10/2010

More photos please! She's beautiful!