Fox Fisher: “Being out is a form of activism”

Trans Iceland has invited the British filmmaker and trans activist Fox Fisher to come to Iceland and do a workshop for those interested in making videos and shortfilms about the trans experience of the health system. Fisher will be hosting the workshop tonight, on the 3rd of August, at Eggertsgata 2 in Reykjavík.

To get to know Fox Fisher and their views better GayIceland contacted them and asked them a few questions. The first one was simply: who is Fox Fisher and how did they get to be known as a trans activist?

Fox Fisher has been very prominent in the campaign for trans awareness for the last five years, but this is the first time Fox will be visiting Iceland even though they have a close connection to the country as their partner is Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir, the face of trans activism in Iceland.
Fox Fisher has been very prominent in the campaign for trans awareness for the last 5 years. This is the first time they’ll be visiting Iceland even though they have a close connection to the country as their partner is Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir, the face of trans activism in Iceland.

“I’m Fox Fisher, an artist, film-maker and trans campaigner. My work in trans awareness started 5 years ago when I was thrust into the public eye after taking part in a mainstream documentary series called “My Transsexual Summer”, which started a dialogue with the nation. I was at the very start of my medical transition and was fairly vulnerable.

Although the series has a massive impact, I wasn’t happy with my edit, which was the catalyst for setting up “My Genderation”, an ongoing documentary film series. I was fairly new to film, and I picked up a camera, and with another participant in the series, Lewis Hancox, and we started making films about our emerging community. We’ve had great success and our films have been used as resources for the NHS, in educational settings, film-festivals, as well as broadcast on the BBC and Channel 4.”

What is your connection to Iceland?
“I think Iceland is one of the most loved countries on this planet. I’ve never met anyone that doesn’t like an Icelander. I have always wanted to visit to enjoy your epic scenery. It’s definitely on my ‘bucket list’ as I hear such great things about Iceland. My partner is from Iceland and I look forward to visiting their family farm for the first time.”

What are you gonna teach in your workshop here?
“The film-making workshop is for anyone who wishes to vlog with confidence or make films more effectively. As someone who is entirely self taught, I feel that anyone with a passion can utilise what is around them to create content. This helps people to empower themselves, speak about their experiences of being trans and share information. Confidence is key as well as having a clear message. Hopefully my workshop will encourage more creative film-making. We will be not only discussing all aspects of DIY film-making but the most effective way to get your film noticed.”

“I don’t feel like I was ‘born in the wrong body’ or that I was born a girl … I feel as if my experience is much more complex and doesn’t fit within the rigid categories of men and women, male and female.“

You label yourself a trans activist, what does that entail? How do you go about getting your message across?
“Being ‘out’ as a trans person in this day and age is a form of activism. Actually I don’t label myself as a trans activist. I prefer to say I’m a human rights campaigner with a focus on trans issues.

The form of campaigning is quite varied and includes, talks in educational settings, panel chats, press interviews on various topics, creating my own content via “My Genderation”, making films for larger organisations like TGEU (Transgender Europe), making a kid’s book called Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl and screenprinting unicorns on naked people at the Tate Modern…”

Actually I don’t label myself as a trans activist. I prefer to say I’m a human rights campaigner with a focus on trans issues.
“Actually I don’t label myself as a trans activist,” says Fox. “I prefer to say I’m a human rights campaigner with a focus on trans issues.”

You are in a relationship with Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir, if my sources are correct, and you have said that it is very important to you both to define yourselves as queer and non-binary, why is that so important?

“Yes, your sources are correct! I’ve found a soul-mate for life with Ugla, who I refer to as Owl. We both identify as non binary and have a very similar experience with our identities.

As someone who has defined at some point as L,B & T, I have always inhabited queer spaces. I am proud of my past and my identity. I don’t feel like I was ‘born in the wrong body’ or that I was born a girl or any of that. I feel as if my experience is much more complex and doesn’t fit within the rigid categories of men and women, male and female. There are so many expectations that we push upon people and I just feel like I don’t fit into it or don’t identify with them at all.

So it’s important to us as a couple because that’s who we are and how we experience ourselves, and I think that it’s important for everyone to be able to have a term or an identity they feel comfortable with and everyone should have the freedom and agency to do so.”

“At the moment it seems that if you are beautiful, an entertainer and hetero-conforming, then society has time for you. It’s not good enough … and I cannot rest until every member of our community is supported.“

You are coming to Iceland to participate in the trans people and the health care system effort, what is your experience of the health care system in the UK? Do you think it is doing a better or worse job than the Icelandic health care system when it comes to service to trans people?

Fox has worked on various film projects.
Fox has worked on various film projects.

“I look forward to learning more about the current system and how I can enable people to move forward. In countries all over the world, the rights of trans people are dependent on both legal recognition and social acceptance.

At the moment it seems that if you are beautiful, an entertainer and hetero-conforming, then society has time for you.

It’s not good enough to only accept the ones deemed beautiful enough for mainstream and I cannot rest until every member of our community is supported. That includes all types of intersectionality, including age, race and disabilities.”

How do people who want to take part in your workshop here go about registering and when is the last chance to do so?
Trans Iceland is promoting the events, so if you go on their Facebook site you should be able to find both the event for the workshop and the event for the film making session. I really encourage everyone who is interested in coming and I hope to see a variety of different people from different backgrounds. I specifically encourage people for underrepresented groups to come along so that we can get a fuller picture of the reality and experiences of trans people in Iceland.”

Main photo: Fox Fisher and their partner Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir.

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

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    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

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      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

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      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

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        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
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        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

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        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

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          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

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          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

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