Joe has been a friend since the early 1990s. The visit to Gateshead was about more than helping with a short film, co-written with, and starring, his second oldest child Alex: it was a chance to witness the closeness between them, built through Alex’s ongoing journey with their own identity, which Joe and Alex have navigated together, learning as they went. What I saw was two people shaping a stronger bond through honesty and patience, Alex’s striking eye make-up adding another layer to the close-ups I took.
I’m lucky to be blessed with three incredible kids.
When Alex came out to us, it was a start of a journey...yet Alex had been living it from birth.
Obviously I don't have the most normal relationship with my dad, but I wouldn't want it any other way.
My dad is an extremely excepting man who loves me for who I am, which is hard to come by these days, especially as a trans man. He's always cared about my pronouns, or my expression, or (more importantly) how I look after myself while going through this journey.
Alex taught me to see through their eyes – and especially through the eyes of an individual before they’ve transitioned: To shudder at the thought of stepping outside because the world sees you as the absolute oppositive of who you really are.
Honestly, I couldn't wish for a better dad. He never tried to change our relationship
Alex allowed me - through patience and love, to walk in their shoes.
Alex taught me to see the human and not the sex. To see the person, without preconception. To see, just them.
When I came out, he just accepted and adapted to our relationship to suit me and him as new people. And I love that, it's so perfect.
