In this episode, we are going to talk about a very important subject, which is very close to my heart. In this episode, we will be talking with and about transgender people.

Transgender people have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth. Being transgender is not necessarily have anything to do with sexual orientation, because transgender people may identify as heterosexual (straight), homosexual (gay or lesbian), bisexual, asexual, or actually can decide not to label their sexual orientation at all.

Now, usually, if we hear any news, or find any content about transgender people, we might be confronted with some bad news (you know). Cases of violence against trans people, unemployment for instance. Unfortunately, in some places, the whole process of coming out as a transgender can be really difficult.

Among the different identities and groups of the L-G-B-T people, transgender people (either male, female or non-binary) are facing a lot of discrimination. Not only in the hetero-normative sphere, meaning in the "straight" society, but also within the LGBT community itself.

As an Israeli, I will never forget the day when in 1998, while I was in primary school, Dana International, a transgender female singer from Israel, has won the Eurovision song contest. She brought so much pride, to so many people - with a really good song - DIVA. I loved this song!

And you probably all know, some transgender figure, that can make you feel pride.

Now, I believe in creating empowering content. A content that can connect us all.

And this is why I chose, that first episode, which we will have about transgender people on the Straight Friendly podcast, will be an empowering one. Instead of talking about discrimination in the work sphere, we have decided to have our first talk with the story of Bianca Lewis.

Bianca, who is a transgender woman, has got to a very senior position in the tech industry in Israel. She is also a board member of the LGBTech organization, which has branches in many countries around the world.

The production of this episode came to reality thanks to the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Jerusalem; and thanks to our volunteers: Alon Rosenblum, Ariel Skop, Oded Shpitzer & Amit Hameiri (TAU). And to our guests from LGBTech: Bianca Lewis and Shachar Grembek.