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Trans(formation): A Collaborative Portrait Series Exploring Gender Identity on Cape Cod
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Lio

For his portrait, Lio chose to be photographed with some of his abstract expressionist work which reflects his interest in landscapes and seascapes and how we as humans relate to our physical environment. Having been raised by artist parents on the Cape, making art was always where he felt most himself. From a young age, Lio presented more masculinely and came out as lesbian at 11 years old. “When I was younger, people frequently thought I was a boy and I didn’t know at the time that the excitement I was feeling was because of being trans. Up until recently, I thought I was comfortable identifying as a butch lesbian but I think deep down I knew there was still some kind of disconnect,” he explains. A few years ago, the disconnect became more apparent. “I found myself watching documentaries about trans people. It was really being with my partner and also being in therapy that led to the lightning bolt realization that I’m trans.”

After coming out as trans socially, Lio eventually began transitioning medically. “One of the hardest things has been navigating health insurance. Trans people have been around for as long as humans have been and yet the healthcare system is still catching up,” he explains. For passing purposes, Lio says he’s studied how men walk, move, sit etc. “I still want to be gentle though and adopt the mannerisms and language of masculinity without losing myself,” he adds.

Today Lio loves teaching art at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where he lives with his partner. “My partner always said she never wanted to be with a straight white man and now ironically she is,” he says laughing. “She has never been happier.” Lio notes that since transitioning, he notice that he “gets more questions answered as a trans man than I did as a queer person or a woman.” As for his future, Lio says, “I’m looking forward to my top surgery, possibly a professorship in the arts, showing more in galleries, and having a family one day.”

Filename
Lio.jpg
Copyright
Julia Cumes
Image Size
6495x4330 / 2.7MB
www.juliacumes.com
For his portrait, Lio chose to be photographed with some of his abstract expressionist work which reflects his interest in landscapes and seascapes and how we as humans relate to our physical environment. Having been raised by artist parents on the Cape, making art was always where he felt most himself. From a young age, Lio presented more masculinely and came out as lesbian at 11 years old. “When I was younger, people frequently thought I was a boy and I didn’t know at the time that the excitement I was feeling was because of being trans. Up until recently, I thought I was comfortable identifying as a butch lesbian but I think deep down I knew there was still some kind of disconnect,” he explains. A few years ago, the disconnect became more apparent. “I found myself watching documentaries about trans people. It was really being with my partner and also being in therapy that led to the lightning bolt realization that I’m trans.” <br /> <br /> After coming out as trans socially, Lio eventually began transitioning medically. “One of the hardest things has been navigating health insurance. Trans people have been around for as long as humans have been and yet the healthcare system is still catching up,” he explains. For passing purposes, Lio says he’s studied how men walk, move, sit etc. “I still want to be gentle though and adopt the mannerisms and language of masculinity without losing myself,” he adds. <br /> <br /> Today Lio loves teaching art at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where he lives with his partner. “My partner always said she never wanted to be with a straight white man and now ironically she is,” he says laughing. “She has never been happier.” Lio notes that since transitioning, he notice that he “gets more questions answered as a trans man than I did as a queer person or a woman.” As for his future, Lio says, “I’m looking forward to my top surgery, possibly a professorship in the arts, showing more in galleries, and having a family one day.”