Transgender film to premiere in Salt Lake

K. J. Jackson Prince has lived as a woman for only three years but says she's identified with being female since she was a young boy.

But that female identity was suppressed by her father, and she learned to become an actor, playing the part of a man.

"It's been a very arduous journey," said Prince, 54, whose transformation was often difficult for her friends and family to understand.

In an effort to inform others about her community, Prince produced and directed the short film, "Home is Where the Heart Is."

The film about Utah's transgender community will premiere Wednesday along with a viewing of "TransAmerica," at 6:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Main Library auditorium in a free event sponsored by the Salt Lake City Film Center. It will include a community discussion with Prince and KUER radio news director Jenny Brundin.

The film was inspired by one of Prince's six children, who wanted to know more about transgenderism.

Prince, who underwent surgery to become a woman two years ago and took on a female persona a year before that, said transgenderism isn't a sexual preference and isn't a disorder.

"It's actually a way of life," Prince said. "We have a need for the community to understand. ... Our bodies don't represent our persona."

The film is the first presented by the Utah Gender Advocacy Board. Kathryn Toll, director of the SLC Film Center, said it will also be the first film her center sponsors that was locally produced by the transgender community.

"Our mission ... has been to connect film to community," Toll said. "This happens to be the transgender community."

Jennifer Nuttall, adult program director at the Utah Pride Center, was interviewed for the film and said it's important that people see transgender individuals from their own community and understand they are real people with real issues.

"A lot of people are completely unaware of transgender issues and need to be aware of them," she said. "Some film portrayals put forth the negative stereotypes or misinformation about what it means to be transgender."

Prince, a patient advocate in home health care and hospice, served in the Sandy City Council as a man, Ken Prince; and earlier this year ran her first political campaign as a woman, Jennifer Jackson, when she unsuccessfully sought a seat at the state Legislature.

When her youngest son asked if he could have his dad back, she brought back some of her male identity and changed her name to K.J. Jackson Prince.

"What is important is quality of life," Prince said. "Wow. I just feel honored to be who I am."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com