Marie-Claude D’Aoust remembers the moment when her father announced his intention to begin a gender transition to fully experience his femininity. And she doesn’t hide it: she has long been resistant to the idea of meeting – and being around – “her dad”, Sophia. His story is told today in Trans girla show with a mission to “bring people together in their differences”.
“It wasn’t easy,” Marie-Claude D’Aoust concedes from the outset.
Indeed. It was almost 20 years ago that she learned that her father was leading a double life at the time. In most areas of his life, everyone called him Norman. But from time to time, far from prying eyes, the businessman swapped his so-called usual clothes to put on Sophia’s feminine ones.
After a few years of alternately assuming two identities, it was time for him to fully embrace – and full time – that of Sophia D’Aoust. The announcement of this permanent transition “shocked” her daughter.
Another time, other customs, as the saying goes. Because if gender identity is an important societal debate today, both in Canada and among our American neighbors (and elsewhere in the world, obviously), it was different a decade ago.
“At the time, we didn’t talk about trans identity as much, so I didn’t have a reference. And all our loved ones came to me with their comments and criticism, I didn’t know what to do, what to think. I refused to meet Sophia for four years,” remembers Marie-Claude D’Aoust.
“Conflict of values”
It was finally during Trans Day of Remembrance, a few years ago, that she finally went to meet the woman she now calls “her daddy”. The trigger came when she learned of the staggering statistics illustrating an “extremely high” suicide rate within the trans community.
“People are persecuted, they are killed, they suffer violence because they are trans. It caused me an internal conflict of values: yes, I had discomfort with my parent, but, socially speaking, I would never defend people who harm other people simply because they are not like them not. Sophia asked me for help organizing the event, so that led me to work with her.”
This anecdote, like many others, will be told on stage during performances of the show Trans girl. Marie-Claude D’Aoust recounts her journey, sometimes in the narration, sometimes in the game, accompanied by Éric Cabana – who plays both Normand and Sophie – and Audrey Guériguian. The latter multiplies the roles, lending her features to around twenty characters, allies and detractors, who have crossed paths with the father/daughter tandem over the years.
Éric Cabana and Sophia D’Aoust, behind the scenes of the Fille de trans show.
Photo provided by Marie-Claude D’Aoust
“An ounce of hope”
Because Marie-Claude D’Aoust always hears the derogatory looks, petty comments and mockery when she is in the company of Sophia. She hopes that they will eventually diminish, both towards “her dad” and other members of the trans community. And who knows, maybe Trans girl will be a driving force behind this societal change.
“There is a lot of lightness, tenderness, humor, sweetness and emotion in this show. My goal is not to preach or give lessons; it is to open discussion and encourage tolerance. And that can give even a little ounce of hope to trans people, show them that things can improve,” she says.
Marie-Claude D’Aoust’s initiative is preparing to go beyond the confines of the stage, to meet other audiences; discussions have already begun with different publishing houses in order to bring his story to the shelves of booksellers. A film project is also in motion, with the author currently working on writing a fiction inspired by her story.
- The show Trans girl will be presented at the Place des arts in Montreal on October 17, then on March 9, 2025. The tour will also stop at the Salle Octave-Crémazie in Quebec on December 17.
