Dear Concerned Students, Advisers, and Administrators:

Given the fact that I am writing this letter, you may assume that I have faced the question What could a transgender performance artist do in my community?
many times before. I often never hear responses to my queries, or I get a terse “We don’t have any transgender people here.” Even better is when a school or theater does bring my work, then shares their concerns after the fact. It usually goes like this:

“We were so worried that you would be too radical. I mean, we don’t really have much of a trans community, so we debated exactly who you would serve. We thought maybe that gay guy from The Real World would speak to more of us better. But we decided we should take the risk, and we’re so glad we did. Your work affects everyone. It’s not just trans, it’s everything. And we all had an amazing time watching you.”

That’s from a real letter, written by a student leader at Butler University. I had a great time at Butler—they took my experienced advice and set me up with class talks before the show, and even a workshop with their Fraternities and Sororities. (The workshop got subsumed in Colts-at-the-Superbowl parties, but the Greeks came out to the show, at least!) My audience, then, consisted of Queers of all stripes, Frat Boys and Sorority Girls, the gender studies and theater students who heard me speak in class, and their friends. We started turning people away at 150 capacity.

Here’s the deal about Scott Turner Schofield, a.k.a. The Nicest Transsexual You’ll Ever Meet, which comes through in all of my theater work and speaking engagements:

I was born female.
I came out a lesbian.
Then I came out transgender.
Now, with legal changes and hormones, I live my life as a man.
I identify (pretty much) as a straight man.
But, mostly, people read me as a gay man.

That’s female, male, lesbian, gay, straight (but not narrow), and trans.

I live all of those facets of my identity, and make art about them. One of my main goals is to include not only all aspects of my self, but as many aspects of my audience as possible. All are welcome in my artistic vision and philosophy. I’m grateful to report that this is how my work is received: in very mixed audiences, everybody can find some way into my story.

The fact is, eveybody has a gender identity—whatever (and whoever) you do with it. We all go through stages of searching, isolation, finding, and fulfillment; we also all interact with family and community, race and class, sexuality, social norms, and difference. That’s REALLY what my work is about; I just happen to be a transgender (male/female/gay/lesbian/straight) person doing it. Which is what brings the audience—“Huh? What? I gotta go see that to understand it.” I do my best to serve them.

I have been performing this work since 2001; since 2004 full-time. Since 2004, I have served about 3000 audience members a year on campuses and in communities across the United States. I’d like to serve more, but it takes guts and commitment on the part of schools and theaters to bridge the gap of understanding and bring my work. They are never disappointed when they do.

So…Ya wanna? I promise I won’t let you down.

Sincerely yours (and with great hope!),

Scott Turner Schofield

The Gossip about Scott Turner Schofield:

"Engaging, enlightening and inspiring, Scott evoked a powerful,
deeply positiveresponse from a wide variety of students
in the classes he visited. Several students in my class took time
to attend his evening performance because they found
the classroom visit so worthwhile.
I hope we can bring Scott back to our campus again next year."
– Robin Garrett, Women's Center Director,
West Chester University

"A rising light in queer theater...[Schofield] reaches out to the Average Joe
with a mix of humor, honesty, and vulnerability." - UTNE Reader

“bell hooks' Teaching to Transgress takes on a whole new meaning
with Scott Turner Schofield at the podium.”
– Sara Warner, Cornell University

“Schofield managed to accomplish what only the most gifted of teachers
can do: he educated, inspired, entertained and deeply moved the students.”
– Lynne Huffer, Emory University

“...a bright, sharp and an important new performer in this country.”
– Tim Miller, Performance Artist

“A transgender, feminist performance artist with a national buzz going.
…funny, revealing, whip-smart and poetic.”
– The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“… true underground theater – literally and figuratively.”
– BITCH Magazine

“His warmth and openness allowed for a high level of communication
and a close examination of concepts of gender, gender performance,
queer theory, performance art, and what it means to be transgender.”
– Anne Guzzo, University of Wyoming at Laramie

“…an incredible person and fabulous to work with – I can honestly say that
[his show] has been the highlight of the year at UVA.”
– Emily West, University of Virginia LGBT Resource Center Coordinator

Young Trans Hero, 2006 - The Advocate