Sint Maarten’s first openly trans woman says attitudes are changing
Kristen Moore is a successful Sint Maarten entrepreneur and wants to start a family
Being trans in the Caribbean today is easier than in the past, helped by the visibility and recognition of transgender people in Northern countries, as well as advances in local legislation in the Caribbean.
On Saint Martin, an island split between a Dutch side and a French side, it is mainly European law that applies to these two contiguous territories. Today, trans people in the Dutch portion Sint Maarten enjoy many of the same rights as their peers on the other side of the Atlantic, but what about in terms of mentality and the experience of those concerned on the island?
That’s the subject of our interview with Kristen Moore, a transgender woman from Sint Maarten who agreed to share her story with 76Crimes as a way of supporting the work of the local LGBTQ group Safe 978.
Kristen Moore: I’m 37 years old, I was born on Sint Maarten and I’m the first openly transgender woman on the island. As a result, I’m a bit of a celebrity. What’s more, I have a channel on YouTube and I also have a page on Instagram where I have followers who keep up with my news. In everyday life, I’m an entrepreneur and I’m also a self-employed beautician.
As far as my transition is concerned, looking back, it was quite quick, as I came out of the wardrobe at the age of 15 in 2001 and have been undergoing hormone therapy since I was 18, in 2004, in the Netherlands. Finally, I had full gender reassignment surgery at the age of 23 in 2009.
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing, because at the time there was a lot of homophobia. It was horrible, dangerous even, and sometimes I was beaten up at school by my friends, but I never let it get me down. In reality, I live my life and try to ignore the way others look at me, refusing to give in to negativity.
More than 20 years ago, in the early 2000s, here in Sint Maarten, there was no trans community and people didn’t even know what it was. Most of the time, I was seen as drag queen or gay and for those close to me, my visibility was a real embarrassment. In everyone’s eyes, I was seen as a drama queen, no less.
At one point, the situation was so difficult that at school, the headmaster even wanted to expel me, because I didn’t want to give up being the woman I am in terms of my gender identity. In the end, I went to the Netherlands so that I could finish my secondary education. And it was there that I really received psychological and emotional support to help me through my transition, because at the time in Sint Maarten, there really weren’t any resources to deal with this type of subject.
It was only after a few years that I returned to Sint Maarten, but this time as a woman, and I was very excited at the idea of being able to show my family the person I had become. And it was in a very flashy dress that I hugged my mother, who didn’t even recognise me at the airport. As for my father, who was very understanding, much to my surprise, he asked me to always be the best version of myself, whatever happened in life.
Then, with the support of my family, I was able to gain the confidence I needed to become the entrepreneur I am today, as a beautician. And now people respect me. My journey has also inspired others, and trans people are no longer afraid to come out on the island, where there are between 6 and 8 of us.
In the meantime, LGBT+ organisations have been set up on the island, such as Safe 978, while leisure facilities for LGBT+ people are still a little lacking. For my part, it’s really during the carnival period that I have the opportunity to have fun and assert myself even more. As Queen of the Band, I was the first trans woman to lead a carnival troupe in the Caribbean. I avoid setting myself limits, because I tell myself that we’re here to remain a permanent part of the island’s social landscape, leaving our mark on its culture.
76Crimes: What other challenges do you still have to face?
Kristen Moore: I’m a divorced woman, and at 37, I’d like to be able to start a family, which is something I dream about. I’d like to be the mother of two children, but it’s complicated by the prejudice and confusion surrounding trans people adopting children. It’s still possible on paper, but in reality, it’s like a way of the cross.
On the other hand, as far as political life is concerned, I wouldn’t rule out one day running for the post of Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, who knows… Maybe in the medium or long term, I’ll pursue a career in local politics, even if that’s not my immediate priority at the moment.
