Lily

A documentary portrait of Lily, 73, a transgender woman with Parkinson’s. Through intimate photos and audio, it captures her embracing this pivotal moment in her life, culminating in an exhibition celebrating her true self.

Born in Dundee, Lily is a 73-year-old transgender woman living with Parkinson’s. I met her while researching for a fiction feature film I am developing about a dancer with Parkinson’s. Through connections made in an LGBTQ+ Parkinson’s support group, I encountered Lily—a woman whose life story deeply moved me. Growing up as Liam in 1950s Dundee, Lily overcame a twenty-year cocaine addiction and later pursued a passion for acupuncture, studying at university in her late fifties and practicing for ten years until Parkinson’s symptoms forced her to stop. Around the COVID pandemic, Lily came out as transgender, choosing her name after living as Liam for over seventy years.

Lily shared that dressing as a woman remains a private act, and she dreams of one day going out in public wearing a dress. When I asked if she would be open to being photographed to celebrate her authentic self, she agreed. Our first meeting was marked by openness and trust, sparking a collaboration filled with deep conversations about her life, dreams, and reflections at this pivotal moment. In her small West London flat, Lily has revealed her most vulnerable and authentic self—dancing in her underwear, wearing makeup, and recently embracing outdoor documentation.

This project is a collaborative journey with Lily, focussing on this significant slice of her life. It aims to document and celebrate her ongoing process of becoming, capturing the complexities of ageing, transgender identity, chronic illness, and sexuality. By combining intimate photography with recordings of Lily’s voice, the work creates a rich, multi-sensory narrative that challenges stereotypes and invites reflection on identity, visibility, and personal growth at any age or health condition.

Over the coming months, I will spend regular, focused time with Lily, documenting her daily life, including moments when she still connects with her former identity as Liam, and her participation in Parkinson’s community groups and medical appointments. The project will culminate in a short visit to Dundee, where Lily was born and raised—a place deeply tied to her history. There, we plan to photograph her wearing a dress, marking a deeply personal milestone after a lifetime of concealment.

Lily lives alone and often reflects on how little the world truly knows who she is. Through this collaboration, I aim to support her emergence as her authentic self. The project also serves as a reminder that growth and self-discovery continue throughout life, regardless of age or illness.

The project will conclude with a small exhibition featuring carefully printed photographs alongside audio recordings, offering audiences an immersive experience that goes beyond the visual to engage with her lived reality. I am committed to securing a venue with subsidised or free hire to ensure accessibility and sustainability.

Lily and I could so easily have missed each other, which makes documenting this moment feel crucial. It highlights how easily meaningful connections can be overlooked, and I want to honour the importance of witnessing her at this time in her life.

This project is more than a portrait; it is a celebration of a woman who has long hidden herself and is now coming into her own. It challenges assumptions and invites reflection on the diverse ways people live with identity, desire, and illness in later life. Lily’s story is a powerful reminder of the complexity and richness of human experience often unseen.