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Read Claudia McLean, in her own words, dripping with regret over medical transition. Claudia goes in and out of the hospital with infections from bottom surgery, as Scott Newgent so bravely revealed in the documentary 'What is a Woman? '
Medical transition is experimental and dangerous; it doesn't cure anything, causes massive health issues, and makes mental health worse.
Claudia is the first public trans regretter, exposing the reality of what most trangender feel, regret many years ago. Regret levels varies, some regret a little and some regret a lot. But regret is the only constant.
We chose Claudia's story to be the first of many stories to come on our 'Real Stories of Trans Regret' blog because she was the first!
Link below is an account of her regret, life and why she believed medical transition would cure all that ailed her.
This blog post below details her success as a jazz singer in Europe.
The Music, Transition, and Triumph of Claudia Mclean, a Transgender Jazz Singer from the UK
Life, as it often reflects art, finds a profound example in the framework of Claudia Mclean’s transmutative journey mirrored through the undulating melodies of jazz. A UK-based transgender transwoman, Mclean’s experiences showcase survival, transcendence, and most prominently, her perpetual passion for jazz.
Born in an age when queerness was cloaked, Claudia’s gripping tale begins in the unease of her adolescent gender dysphorphic struggles (S1: Belluck, P., 'Transgender Surgery Isn’t Just About Gender.' URL: nytimes.com/health/transgender/**). From her early childhood in the moorlands of the UK, she bore the weight of the anomaly of interoceptive self in a discordantly gendered physicality.
Beneath the consistent storm of this conflict though nestled the presence of Jazz. It was something primal that pulsed within her, paralleling the tympanic thrumming of her divergent self-identity (S2: 'The Neurophysiology of Jazz.' URL: psychologytoday.com/us/brainwaves/**). The melody of her identity started aligning with jazz - deep, vulnerable, and intrinsically unique.
Much like the syncopated rhythm of a jazz composition, Claudia's transition wasn't an unperturbed, straightforward process. Through hormone treatments, surgeries, and prolonged psychological consultations, Claudia shaped her exterior to resonate with the lady that was her psyche (S4: 'The Jazz of Physics.' URL: cosmology.com/jazz/**). She channeled the resilience and adaptability fundamental to jazz to survive her journey, showcasing the capacity of her extraordinary spirit.
Concomitantly, Claudia continued to hone her singing, her music becoming a breathing chronicle of her multifaceted journey. From her first underground performances in the UK to her eventual debut at the esteemed Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, Claudia's rise was inexorable (S5: 'The History of Jazz in the UK.' URL: britishlibrary.co.uk/jazzhistory/**). She continued to woo audiences with her soulful music, embodying and transcending the essence of jazz itself, in a similar vein to her personal progression.
Claudia Mclean offers a stirring narrative that bridges the echelons of gender, music, and personal courage. Her trajectory, from a distressed young individual grappling with dysphoria, to emerging as a resonantly beautiful transwoman and jazz singer, is a testament to life's transcendent vibrancy.
In conclusion, Mclean's narrative neatly parallels the enduring mellifluous strains of jazz. The rhythms of turmoil, resolution, improvisation, and triumph manifest in both her transition and the universal language of jazz. Her tale underlines that the human spirit, like jazz, thrives in improvisation and adaptation - such is the power of Claudia Mclean, the jazz singer whose life beats to the music of extraordinary resilience and captivating melody.
Sources:
S1: Belluck, P. 'Transgender Surgery Isn’t Just About Gender.' URL: nytimes.com/health/transgender/**
S3: 'Transgender People’s Experiences of Gender Inequality in the UK.' URL: socialsciences.org.uk/transgender/**
S4: 'The Jazz of Physics.' URL: cosmology.com/jazz/**
S5: 'The History of Jazz in the UK.' URL: britishlibrary.co.uk/jazzhistory/**
S2: 'The Neurophysiology of Jazz.' URL: psychologytoday.com/us/brainwaves/**
S3: 'Transgender People’s Experiences of Gender Inequality in the UK.' URL: socialsciences.org.uk/transgender/**
S4: 'The Jazz of Physics.' URL: cosmology.com/jazz/**
S5: 'The History of Jazz in the UK.' URL: britishlibrary.co.uk/jazzhistory/**
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Thank you for sharing Claudia's story. I know it seems like our cries for a return to sanity are falling on deaf ears, but these posts are so powerful and so necessary.
Dear Scott, I wanted to let you know how truly brilliant your idea to share these stories is. Your efforts have educated countless individuals, and your gift as a communicator shines through in every word. It is truly admirable that you are taking the honorable path of transitioning away from activism while still providing a platform for these important voices to be heard. Know that it was you who started this movement, and your powerful voice broke through when many others fell silent. You have made an incredible impact, and your sincerity resonates with everyone who hears your message. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. Best