Maia

At the age of 12, Maia discovered the idea of gender transition. As a young adult, she moved to the Middle East and embarked upon building a new life for herself as a man. She seamlessly integrated herself within deeply religious communities of Palestinian Muslims and Orthodox Jews. Very few people in her life knew that she was actually female.

Among her exciting adventures, she prayed on the men’s side of the Western Wall and entered mosques without needing to cover her hair. However, living undercover as a man began to take its toll as she questioned the trajectory of her future. After deep soul searching, Maia realised that she had never allowed herself to live as a lesbian.

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Maia: A desister and sister