Cheesemaking and mindfulness may seem like an unlikely pairing, but they share a quiet intimacy rooted in patience and metamorphosis. At its core, cheesemaking is a slow alchemy, as the writer Clifton Fadiman said "cheese is milk's leap toward immortality". It seduces the maker to focus on texture, temperature, and time, cultivating a rhythm that mirrors meditative practice.
We are far more familiar these days with misogyny in general and trans misogyny in
particular but less is said of trans misanthropy. In my therapy space, I see trans masculinity going beyond gender identity—it’s a lived experience shaped by affirmation or lack thereof, dysphoria (or euphoria and those who have seen people come to terms with top surgery know exactly what I am talking about), masking, passing and like most of the queer community, the quest for psychological safety. As visibility grows, so does the urgency to understand how mental health intersects with transmasculine identities, especially in a climate of shifting policies and politics, cultural backlash, and evolving/alternative care structures.
English as a Refuge: A Thematic Analysis of GSRD Language Practices and Identity in Romanian (accepted for publication by the Romanian Journal of Experiential Psychotherapy - link to follow).
Abstract
This study explores how GSRD individuals navigate and interact Romanian’s gendered grammar to affirm identity and challenge the societal inertia of present-day Romania. Drawing on responses from 36 participants aged under 18 to over 40, I conducted a Braun and Clarke–style thematic analysis across domains of gender identity, sexual orientation, pronoun use, societal influences, media representation, and innovations for change. Key themes include the comforts and constraints of binary pronouns, creative linguistic workarounds, the psychological impact of inclusive terminology, and the interdependence of language reform and social acceptance. Findings inform recommendations for community-driven pronoun innovation, inclusive language guidelines, and public awareness initiatives.
Thanks to Marina Tzannou (she/her - research assistant) and Ioana “Fen” Fotache (they/them – TransCore Association) for their contributions to the data collection process.
Reclaiming the Narrative: How British Media Constructs Trans Identity (under development)
Abstract
This article critically examines how British media attempts to hi-jack trans identity through language, framing, and representation. Drawing on discourse analysis and advocacy reports, it highlights recurring microaggressions—such as misgendering, sensationalism, and false balance—and explores how feminist rhetoric is both weaponized and reclaimed. The piece critiques the portrayal of trans people as controversial, medicalised, or victimised, while calling for affirming narratives that centre resilience, agency, and intersectionality. It argues that media must move beyond debate to recognition, using language as a tool for inclusion rather than erasure. Trans lives deserve dignity—not headlines.
