Interview: Fallon Fox, MMA Athlete/Trans Activist At Translations Film Festival

May 7, 2015• byEarle Dutton

Fallon Fox is the first out Transgender professional MMA fighter and an outspoken LGBT activist. Fallon speaks out against discrimination and oppression on a world stage. She officially came out in March 2013 and has faced the challenges of being Trans* in the public eye ever since. ~~She is in Seattle today~~ for the Opening Night and 10^th Anniversary Celebration of Translations: the Seattle Transgender Film Festival. (ADDED NOTE: Due to scheduling, Fallon is not able to attend the screening in person; she will appear via Skype for the Q & A.) Fallon appears in a new documentary “Game Face”. The new film recounts the journeys of Fallon Fox and Terrence Clemens, a college basketball player, as they come out and navigate life and sports as openly LGBT adults. Support this great advocate and her message! Don’t miss this film! Catch it if you can!

Earle Dutton: What originally attracted you to this project?
FallonFox: Kye Allums was contacted by Michiel Thomas about the project. Michiel asked Kye if there were any other LGBT athletes he thought they should include in the film and he suggested me. We just happen to connect at the right time and place. It was a happy coincidence.

ED: What is your favorite part of “Game Face”?
FF: (Laughter) The whole thing! I really like the simple fact that it is such a good combination of Trans and LGB people. I wish there were more Lesbians and Bisexuals in the project but unfortunately we couldn’t find everybody and fit all of it into one documentary. I do like that it was such a successful and unified concept of LGBT athletes in sports.

ED: What would you like people to take away from this film when they leave the theater?
FF: I would like them to see that LGBT people are pretty much the same as everyone else. We go through similar struggles. They are not exactly the same but very similar.

ED: A silly side question; can you tell us a fun fact about yourself that maybe most people don’t know?
FF: (Laughter) I like a lot of comedic shows and programs. I think I have a great sense of humor. I like to laugh sometimes at myself. Sometimes I have to laugh at crazy situations and things that Transgender people go through on a daily basis. It is fun just to laugh with other Transgender people about those situations. I think you just have to laugh with other people that get exactly what is going on and what is happening. You can’t just let all of the situations and oppression get out of hand. You have to share it with other people and sometimes you just have to laugh about it.

ED: What does it mean to you personally when someone looks past all the headlines and hype to just tell you that you are a beautiful woman?
FF: I like to hear that I am a beautiful woman inside and out. It means that I am just like everyone else. It means that I fit within society. It is the acknowledgement that everyone is looking for, including LGBT people. We are all looking for that respect that goes across the board.

ED: What are your thoughts on Bruce Jenner’s journey and having to do it all in the public eye?
FF: I finally got around to watching the interview. Wow! Just wow! I believe that he wants to be referred to as she at some point. That is what I believe. For now we should just respect his wishes. I think that Bruce’s life resembles mine in so many ways. I have so much respect for him.

ED: Do you have a message for LGBTQ youth?
FF: Yes! We are changing things. Stick around! We may be making a lot of mistakes here and there but things are changing. At some point, we are going to be the Old Guard. The same thing has happened in the past with other minorities and oppressors. Check in with us if you are having problems, but stick around. We are all working hard for change. We are attempting to fix society.

Tickets still available for Game Face, online and at the door!