EP 120: Learning About Fa'afafine ~ Ancient Word For Queer In Samoan Culture With Guest Miss Katalyna (Part 1)

For this episode we have the charming Miss Katalyna from Melbourne Australia. This will be Part ONE of a three part piece.

We learn of Miss Katalyna’s upbringing which had constant back and forth with families that later drove the teenager to continuously run away. Growing up, her family realized she was a “Faʻafafine”. This translates to people who identify themselves as having a third gender or non-binary role in Samoan culture. Tiffany shares a similar term called “baklâ” that refers to a person who was assigned male at birth and has adopted a feminine gender expression in the Phillipines. The Faʻafafine traditionally integrated in society and were seen as healers and advisers. However, this social acceptance changed after the Christian missionaries enforced a rigid concept of gender onto the indigenous culture. Yet today, we find the Samoans are fighting to reclaim this historically significant word.  Moreover, Miss Katalyna’s shares a coming out story with her family where she was not fully accepted and comments on parents to remember that the parenting does not stop even after their child decides to transition. Lastly, Miss Katalyna leaves a message to the youth to follow their hearts and reach out for support.

Miss Katalyna is based in Naarm (Melbourne). She is a TV Presenter of the first LGBTQI+ Multicultural cooking show “The Bent Spoon '' presented by Thorne Harbour Health. She is also one of the 3 co-founders of Trans Pride March Melbourne and the Trans Pride Concert alongside 2 other Trans advocates Sasja Sÿdek from Trans Sisters United and Rebeckah Loveday Miss Duchess Global 2021. Trans Pride March Melbourne will be Victoria’s first trans lead March by the Melbourne trans community. Miss Katalyna started her advocacy 28 years ago when she was only 17yo as HIV/AIDS peer educator going into high schools and educating students about the importance of safe sex. During Victoria’s first year of lockdown Miss Katalyna became a Remixer and a DJ who’s first gig was for All The Queens Men at Melbourne Pride 2022 and more recently doing a set for the AUNTY party curated by Sam Gaskin and Johnny Hamilton, AUNTY is an event that celebrates local QTBIPOC excellence. 

Find Miss Katalyna’s work here: https://linktr.ee/MissKatalyna

Mentioned in the episode:
HIMEYUKI Kimono Obi Accessories Instagram Link ~ https://www.instagram.com/himeyuuki_obi/
HIMEYUKI Official Website ~ https://himeyuki.net/en/collections/all

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