My Life: I Am Leo’s Leo Waddell

Fifteen-year-old Leo Waddell talks to TV Kids’s Anna Carugati about what it was like to work on the CBBC docuseries My Life: I Am Leo and shares some of his experiences as a transgender person.

At about 18 months old, Leo Waddell started to feel like a boy trapped in a girl’s body. At the age of 5, and with support from a loving family, Waddell began to live as a male, officially changing his name from Lily to Leo when he was 11. Two years later, Waddell became the subject of a CBBC documentary series, My Life: I Am Leo, which followed the teen as he received hormone treatments and learned what it means to be transgender. The Nine Lives Media production aired in 2014 as part of CBBC’s anti-bullying week campaign. It went on to receive a BAFTA award in 2015 and an International Emmy Kids Award this year.

TV KIDS: How did My Life: I Am Leo come about?
WADDELL: It was my idea originally. BBC approached me and I thought it was the perfect opportunity because I’ve been on telly a few times before and I love sharing my story. [My life, which used to be] really negative, went on to become really positive and I think it’s a good thing to share to raise more awareness for trans people. In primary school I was really quiet about my feelings, but as soon as I hit high school, I was really open about it. In primary school I had a really, really horrible time. In high school, I’ve had the best time and I just thought, it’s because being aware makes people accept you and you don’t get such a hard time for it. [So I wanted to go] to the media and help other people who are in my situation.

TV KIDS: What was the filming process like?
WADDELL: They gave me my own camera to do video diaries and then I had to report like once a week, just talking about my days. [The producers were] really lovely people; it was suggestions from my side, their side, and then we decided together. It was really good. They didn’t force me to do anything I didn’t want to do. If I went, Nah, I just want to chat with my mate, they wouldn’t record it. They didn’t fake anything, didn’t put anything I didn’t say in there; it was all my words and it was all up to me what happens.

TV KIDS: What’s next for your transition process? You’re still on the hormone-blockers, right?
WADDELL: Just till the end of this year, hopefully, because then I’ll be on testosterone after I turn 16 in November. That’s when I can get testosterone and then [eventually] operations. I have a massive fear of blood tests, but it’s what you’ve got to do to get what you want!

TV KIDS: Do you plan on making any other TV shows or documentaries?
WADDELL: I’m thinking of one to continue my journey, because obviously I’ve got a lot more things happening. I’ve got the testosterone and the operations and I hope they are followed and documented. I hope [it will be with the BBC] because they are such a lovely company.

TV KIDS: Have you kept in touch with other trans kids that you’ve met since the documentary came out?
WADDELL: I talk on Facebook and things like that, but there’s also an event in Brighton called Trans Pride. We go there and we all meet up; I meet loads of new trans people there.

TV KIDS: Have you met with kids whose families are not as accepting and as loving as yours has been?
WADDELL: Yeah, I’ve spoken to a lot. Most of the time, I say: The only thing you can do is be true to yourself and if they can’t accept you, then they’ve lost a really good son or daughter.

TV KIDS: Do you think public awareness about transgender issues in the U.K. is starting to change?
WADDELL: Absolutely. Before, I never heard of transgender apart from one show and that was the one show that [made me think], Yes, that is me. And since I’ve done my show, I’ve seen a lot more and I just feel like awareness is being raised now.

TV KIDS: Besides bullying, what would you say are the biggest obstacles for a kid who wants to come out as being transgender?
WADDELL: Telling people is probably one of the hardest things. Toilets and changing, those are hard too, but I think the hardest bit probably is telling.

TV KIDS: Does your school allow you to follow the gender you feel you are, or are you forced to go into the girls’ bathroom?
WADDELL: I use the boys’ toilet. I had a teacher who was really good and he was like, I think we’re being old-fashioned and I think you should be able to use whatever you want. And no one has said anything; all the boys think it’s all right. I’ve been accepted [as Leo in high school] since the start.

TV KIDS: What do you want to do after high school?
WADDELL: I want to work in media when I’m older because that would be a really good job for me. But in college I think I’m going to study psychology because if I don’t go into media, I want to be able to [become a] specialist and help people in my situation.