Xavian Wu, Hong Kong’s first prominent transgender singer-songwriter, used the city’s annual LGBTQ Pink Dot HK carnival on Sunday to share his journey through music.
Wu, 30, who performs under the name SY, made his debut in February and has released three songs that reflect his personal journey. At the festival’s 10th anniversary, he shared his story with the audience.
“A lot has changed over the past 10 years,” Wu said. “I went from not understanding myself to realizing I am trans. I faced many challenges, but now I’ve learned to embrace who I am.” Speaking to Reuters, he added, “I’m proud of my identity and don’t want to hide. My goal is to encourage others in the LGBTQ+ community through my music.”
In Hong Kong, transgender people can change their gender on ID cards without undergoing full sex reassignment surgery, though the process still involves strict surgical and hormonal requirements. Wu applied to change his gender in April and is waiting for the immigration department to approve the medical documents needed.
“This is progress, but there’s still room for improvement,” Wu said.
Wu also talked about how difficult life was before his transition, especially when it came to telling his parents. He struggled with depression, often stayed home, and avoided using women’s restrooms.
“There were times when it was so hard, I wanted to die,” Wu said.
Music became an important outlet for Wu in his teenage years, helping him express feelings he couldn’t put into words. “When the world didn’t understand me, I used music to capture my emotions,” he said.
Wu realized he was transgender in 2017 after watching a TV program where a trans man shared his story. He sought medical advice, began taking testosterone in 2018, and had top surgery in Thailand in 2020. His mother accompanied him and supported him throughout the process.
“After the surgery, I finally felt comfortable looking at myself in the mirror,” Wu said. “I could stand tall and wear whatever I wanted without worrying about my body shape.”
Be the first to comment