This week's Radical is Kiley May. Kiley May is Hotinonhshón:ni, Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) and turtle clan from Six Nations reserve, and is now rooted in Aterón:to (Toronto). She is a two spirit Indigenous transgender multidisciplinary artist and storyteller—a writer and author, an actor, emerging screenwriter and filmmaker. Kiley is also an activist and educator, committed to equality, representation, diversity and inclusion. She's appeared in It Chapter Two (2019) as well as a recurring role on the CBC series Coroner (2019-), and is currently working on a book (tentatively titled How to Love a Trans Girl) and a short film trilogy that she will write and direct.
In this episode we cover the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality that inform Kiley's work and outlook, her journey from journalism school to the screen, growing up in the Hotinonhshón:ni Mohawk culture on Six Nations, how she came up with her own take on the Bechdel Test, why some people think being Two-Spirit is a Toronto thing, and more.
Some Questions I Ask:
- How does screenwriting work? (2:46)
- What does having a "kaleidoscope identity" mean for you? (16:38)
- What is Two-Spirit? (27:03)
- What is the May Test? (35:17)
- What can you tell me about How to Love a Trans Girl? (43:42)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- How Kiley made the transition from journalism to performing (4:38)
- About Kiley's experience growing up on Six Nations (6:46)
- Why it's important for people to be willing to take initiative to seek out information about queer identities (22:03)
- Why the term Two-Spirit is controversial among indigenous people (30:56)
- How being a filmmaker allows Kiley the opportunity to help shift narratives around trans lives (43:31)
- About Kiley's upcoming short film trilogy (46:39)
Resources:
"Trans Women Deserve To Be Loved Proudly. Straight Guys, I'm Looking At You." (Huffington Post article written by Kiley May.)
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