Dylan Jones chats to Lucy Fizz about transgender visibility, the London scene, and the dreamy new documentary about her life
It’s an unseasonably sunny March afternoon in Central London. In the beer garden of a bar in Farringdon, straight-laced city workers hunch over their pints, or cackle into glasses of rosé. In one corner, a man named Clive is talking about closing a deal with the New York office, while a few tables over, Karen from HR regales her colleagues with tales of last night’s one night stand. Despite the blaring sunlight, it’s a fairly forgettable and drably heteronormative scene.
That is, until Lucy Fizz walks in. Tousled and self-assured, sporting a sparkly gold cycling helmet, and dressed in the kind of effortlessly cool casual chic that would make Sienna Miller burst into tears and move to Margate, she’s an instantly diverting and unignorably beautiful presence.
She spots and greets me confidently, even though we’ve only met once before when we – or at least I – were both very drunk.
It was at The Box, at the launch of LUCY, the eponymous and engaging new documentary about Lucy’s life. The brainchild of her friend and fellow Box alumni Melinte Reitzema, it’s an unpretentious, heartwarming and matter-of-fact look at the transgender experience.
“When we set out making the film, I don’t think either of us really anticipated the response,” Lucy tells me, sipping her iced water. “We did a screening for friends and family last summer, when Melinte had first finished the film. And the response we got from it…I know it was just our friends and family, but we were in tears for days afterwards because everyone was so lovely about it.”
She’s is determined from the offset to let people know that she’s happy. She’s not a martyr, and she’s living life on her own glitter-spattered terms. But she’s also still wonderfully and empathically aware of the struggle of others.
“When we started making the movie, we both agreed that we didn’t want to make a film that was sad. Because I’m not sad anymore. I know there’s still a long way to go with transgender rights and everything, but I wanted it to be hopeful. And to show that there’s a change coming, and that things do get better.”
“But it is really depressing when you can’t see how things will turn out well, and you feel like you’re trapped. And you’re just waiting and waiting for things to happen, and it’s such a slow process, and it’s really demoralizing. So with Lucy, I just wanted to say like, I know there’s loads of shit going on, and I’ve been through loads of bad times, but there is another side to it. And I feel really happy now. And everything’s worked out ok. And I’m really lucky in that. I know that doesn’t happen for a lot of people.”
As well as giving a dreamily euphoric account of Lucy’s personal journey, the movie also explores the daily struggles trans people have to overcome. In the movie, she talks candidly about various processes involved in being trangender, and fields questions that tactless or sheltered people often blurt out when they come across someone who’s transgender.
“We wanted to be honest without being vulgar about things. And to answer some of the questions that people always ask trans people. And if I can answer them – because I’m in a place where I’m comfortable giving those answers out – then it means other people don’t have to deal with all that shit, when they’re at a point where they’re struggling. Because I know when people used to come up to me – and sometimes still do – and would ask whether I was a boy or a girl. When I’m dancing around in my bra and knickers at SinkThePink or The Box or somewhere. And it’s like…why are you even asking that? You’re out, and you feel like you’re looking amazing, and you’re having a great time with your friends, and then some jerk comes up to and says something and it just ruins everything.”
“Yeah, but I’ve had years and years to deal with it. And now it doesn’t bother me so much anymore. Sometimes some things will upset me. Especially if it catches me off-guard, in a place that I thought was a safe space for LGBTQ people. So then for someone to come up to me and be like ‘ooh, I couldn’t even tell you used to be a man!’ And that’s a fucking CHAT-UP LINE! I think that’s what was intended by it! And I’m like oh my god, you’re coming over to try and hit on me, and then you say something like THAT! ‘You’re really beautiful, I couldn’t even tell you were a man.’ Like, what the fuck is that?! What is the thought processes are going through your head? You’ve not thought this through at all.”
Despite this, Lucy is still positive and hopeful about the treatment of trans people on London’s gay scene. When I ask her about it, her eyes light up.
“I’ve only ever had positive experiences of it. I know it’s different for different people. But it holds a very dear place in my heart, because it’s through knowing the London LGBTQ scene that I’ve found the confidence to accept myself and my identity as a trans woman.”
At the time of the interview, it’s the eve of Transgender Visibility Day. As the name suggests, it’s a worldwide day celebrating and recognizing transgender people and their rights. Lucy is cautiously philosophical about it, and her role in it.
“I haven’t really been out and preachy about being trans until last year. I don’t think I’ve really posted stuff on Facebook, or anything that was publicly putting it out there, until I started making this film. A lot of my friends knew and everything, but there was still kind of an element of me wanting it to be a personal thing.”
Despite her modesty, she’s hosting a party at one of London’s best-loved gay venues in honour of the day.
“Tomorrow [March 31st] there’s a party at Dalston Superstore, with lots of trans people who are DJing and performing and hosting. I’ll probably be dancing on the bar. So that’ll be really fun. And it’ll be a nice way to celebrate the day, as well as raise awareness. And proceeds are going to Gender Intelligence, which is a charity that helps young trans kids, and organizes training for businesses on how to approach trans people and things like that.”
We finish with me asking what her advice would be to young trans people, and her response is characteristically thoughtful, not to mention positive.
“Don’t lose hope. Keep on working towards your goal, and know that there’s always a brighter future there, if it’s what you’re looking for.”
LUCY is showing at Hackney Showrooms on 4th April and at The Glory on 19th April.
