Fashion
Barney's New York: Spring Fashions with a Twist
Published: 04 February 2021
User Rating: 5 / 5
The models included are: Arin Andrews, Edie Charles, Valentijn de Hingh, Ashley de la Cruz, Sawyer Devuyst, Peche Di, Dezjorn Gauthier, Trevon Haynes, Katie Hill, Eve Lindley, Niki M'nray, Ryley Pogensky, Ines Rau, May Simon, Ahya Taylor, Maxie Neu, and Gisele Xtravaganza. Patricia Bosworth—a longtime contributing editor at Vanity Fair and author—interviewed each model to uncover a small part of their unique and personal life story. The first-person interviews address a range of issues from bullying, discrimination and abandonment to empowerment, self-confidence and unconditional love.
First up, meet Katie Hill and Arin Andrews. Katie was the first transgender student to graduate from her Oklahoma high school in 2012, and the former couple—they remain close friends—first got together when they met at a transgender support group. Their courage, admirable sense of self, and determination to help others who have shared their experiences have made them incredible role models—not only for the many young people in the trans community, but for us all. Barneys New York has partnered with two leading voices in the trans community, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the LGBT Community Center (The Center) on the campaign. By bringing the personal stories of these 17 individuals to a national stage, Barneys New York hopes to help break stereotypes and build social acceptance of transgender people—long-standing goals of both The Center and NCTE. To help further support The Center and NCTE, Barneys New York is pleased to donate 10% of all sales from its 11 flagship stores nationwide and Barneys.com on February 11th to the LGBT Community Center in New York City and the National Center for Transgender Equality. Total proceeds will be divided evenly between the two charities.
KATIE: I was born a boy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That's Bible Belt country. I was the oldest son of a Marine lieutenant. I always knew deep down I was a female trapped in a male body. I hated my body. I never felt right in it. I changed my name to Katie and legally became a female when I was 16. I began my transitioning in high school. It was rough. I was bullied and spat upon. I didn't last more than a day and for the next months I was homeschooled. I also began informing myself on the subjects of sexuality and gender. I started to think, why am I cursed to be like this—living day to day and hating myself? However, I realized this wasn't a curse. This was a blessing. It turned me from someone who was scared and someone who was lonely into someone who is strong, independent, and beautiful. It taught me to treat people right and to not be afraid. The following year I returned to high school because I decided I didn't want to be treated like a victim or a freak. I began to explain to my classmates what I was doing—why I needed to transform myself. I even talked about taking female hormones to develop my breasts. Everybody had been pretty ignorant about the subject of transgender, but they listened and after a while some of the kids who'd been bullying me and making fun of me became my friends. Eventually some of them revealed themselves about being trans people. I was the first trans person to graduate from Bixby High School in Tulsa. I started to get publicity. Stories were written about me. I was asked to appear on television. I always talked about my dream to be a complete woman. My dream came true when I was 18 and an anonymous donor paid for my reassignment surgery. Then, two weeks out of surgery in a transgender support group in Tulsa, I noticed Arin who was just starting to transition. He was about to go through testosterone shots to give him a more masculine shape to his body.
