Twelve Questions with Bea from UoA's Trans on Campus

Recently, I had the privilege of asking Bea, an executive of Trans on Campus, a few questions about her in general. 

What is Trans on Campus? In the words of Bea:

"Trans on Campus is a university-wide group for trans and non-binary students and staff to socialise, seek advice, and discuss issues facing the trans community in the university space. We set up in-person events every so often, like movie nights and greet/meets! Always keen on members and best wishes to any trans friends!" 

Without further ado, here are twelve questions with Bea from Trans on Campus:

What is the best anime, and why isn’t it One Piece?

RWBY. Has the best fanfiction. I have never watched One Piece.

Describe yourself in three words.

Gay gay homosexual

Now, describe Trans on Campus in three words.

Gay (and trans)

What kind of movies, shows, music, or books do you enjoy?

My favourite film is a toss between Evil Dead II and John Carpenter's The Thing, love horror stuff! For TV shows, been more recently into It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, like "waow terrible ppl, more plz". With music, I usually vibe with listening to whatever but mostly vibe with punk and metal. Books? I should read more stuff but have been lately going through a friend's A Song of Ice and Fire collection. I dunno if fiction podcasts count here but I've also really been enjoying The Magnus Archives!

Which movie/TV show gets rainbow representation the best?

Not a movie or tv show but SCP: Find Us Alive is an awesome fictional podcast that has a huge cast of queer and neurodivergent characters, love their dynamics with each other, one of the characters is a sentient potato named 'Dumptruck'. Also some mean trans characters in the most recent episodes!

What is the most drastic change you've seen in the rainbow community?

Eh probably how chill I've found kids to be with queer people, or how many more kids openly present as queer compared to what I remember from being a kid. I'm training to be a secondary school teacher right now and have been working at a school as openly trans this year. It really is heartwarming with students not batting an eye about me dressing fem or even being outright supportive of me. I think the queer community is in good hands for the future.

Which would you pick if you could only bring five movies to a deserted island?

John Carpenter's The Thing,  Evil Dead II, Pacific Rim, Suspiria (1977), and Spider-Man 2 (2004).

Where do you see your club in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?

In 5 years we'll all still be slaying and gay, in 10 years we'll still be doing this but also kicking ass, in 20 years we'll be even more great. Each year will be consecutively more euphoric than the last.

What do you think about the Minecraft movie being shot in Auckland?

I played the bee in the Minecraft movie.

What do you think of New Zealand not being on the world maps?

That sucks, how will more queer people find us?

For any trans students coming to UoA, what is one piece of advice you’d like to give them?

While it can be intimidating, look for other trans students and make friends with them. There's a whole community of us here at UoA and always more the merrier. When you make one trans friend here, you make five trans friends. Also, best wishes to you, whoever you are, I'm proud of you and believe in you (believe in the me that believes in you).

What is the best anime, and why is it One Piece?

RWBY is the best anime because I am emotionally attached to it as a comfort show.

Bea has spoken: she played the bee in A Minecraft Movie.