Trip Richards has been a performer for about 6 years. A transgender man and self-described "country boy," Trip has carved out a niche in the adult industry. He's also taken on roles as an outspoken educator and activist through his platforms. As a performer, Trip is known for passionate authentic scenes that transcend porn expectations. So of course, for International Transgender Day of Visibility, we passed the mic over to Trip and had him share his thoughts on his career and what's it's like to be a trans performer in the industry.
What influenced your decision to join the porn industry?
I entered the adult industry very gradually over the past 6 years, so I can't really pinpoint a specific moment or a particular decision. When I started, I certainly didn't have any plans to become a top-tier full-time performer, I just knew that I wanted to share my erotic adventures and be able to support myself while remaining self-employed. Those continue to be my goals, in addition to my growing mission as an advocate and educator. As someone who is serious about whatever I apply myself to, pushing the boundaries and striving for the greatest possible success came natural to me. I still think there's a long way up from here!
In your opinion, what has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome being a transgender person in the porn industry?
Any niche performer, including trans performers, has to carve out space for themselves within the industry. I think my biggest challenge has been internal rather than external. I struggled with a sense of "imposter syndrome" and feeling like I wasn't a "real" pornstar. I now realize that there's no such thing as a "real" pornstar, there's just people who successfully share their sexual adventures! But as a trans person, I didn't have very many role models or examples within porn, and when I started, it was hard to take myself seriously, let alone expect other people to. But as I gained a larger fan following and greater personal success, it became clear to me that diverse performers are absolutely a valid part of the porn industry. And now I stand on equal footing with many other, more established stars. That realization has really bolstered my confidence. In the past year, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with some people who I would consider icons in porn, and that's been just an incredible experience of acceptance.
What has been your biggest success thus far?
I am tremendously proud of both achieving success in my career and having the opportunity to help my viewers explore their own identity and interests. Pornography has always served as both a source of pleasure and a form of self-discovery, and niche performers have a unique capacity to help viewers expand their horizons. I can't even count how many times a viewer has told me something to the effect of, "I didn't know I was into trans dudes until I saw you." This really highlights the importance of visibility and of striving to bring niche performers into the mainstream. Now that the porn industry is so democratized (anyone with a smartphone can become a pornographer rather than having to film through a studio), we're seeing so much more diversity and it's normalizing a broad range of bodies of every size, shape, color, age, and gender expression. I think that's amazing.
How has joining the industry affected your life? Has it changed it for the better?
I definitely feel that being in porn has improved my life. While not without its challenges, I love the ability to be my own boss, to be financially self-sufficient, and to have complete control over my work. As an independent performer, I retain complete creative control and content ownership of every video I've ever filmed, and this means I enjoy passive income streams. I have also had the opportunity for so many new experiences, sexually and otherwise, that I never could have dreamed of before I got involved in porn. This ability to explore is very meaningful for me.
What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about transgender performers? What do you think is the best way we rectify that perception and educate people?
I think that mainstream media perpetuates a lot of misconceptions about everyone in the adult industry, including transgender people. Most of the mainstream stories about sex workers include pejorative language, which feeds stigma, or focus on instances of exploitation, which erases the preponderance of stories of consensual sex work. Trans performers have the additional burden of being frequently misunderstood, devalued, seen as a fetish item rather than a full person, or viewed with distrust. This is part of why there is disproportionate violence toward trans sex workers.
I do believe that as trans and other niche performers become increasingly mainstream (generally via self-producing their own content as I do), that our bodies will become more normalized. I strive, in my own erotic films, to showcase my trans body as being no different at its core than anyone else's body. In other words, my transness is not the main storyline, but rather simply a fact within the story. I am fortunate enough to have filmed with so many amazing partners who treat me just like any other man, rather than fetishizing my body or reducing it to specific parts. While I believe that all performers can and should choose the storylines that feel the most authentic to them (and there is nothing inherently wrong with fetishization when it's consensual), I don't believe that should be the only way that trans people are presented in porn.
I also believe deeply in the power of science-backed education that demystifies the human body including gender identity and sexual orientation. Many people's perceptions are still seated in ignorance, fear, or dogma, rather than knowledge or rationality. While this really needs to change at a societal level, individuals have the ability to educate one-on-one simply by existing openly and without shame.
How do you deal with criticism online (social media and/or sites like Pornhub)?
I am still evolving in how I handle criticism and harassment. It really depends on the situation. If someone lobs a garden-variety insult at me, I usually try to ignore it. But when I see flagrant instances of bigotry toward groups of people, whether transphobia or racism, I often call it out publicly on my own social media platforms. I don't believe that bullies should be able to hide behind private messages or deep in the comment section; rather I think that ugly attitudes should be exposed for what they are. I am fortunate enough to have a large and supportive fan base who helps bolster me in moments like this. I always encourage my fans to not just be supportive of me personally, but to be allies in other spaces where they notice injustice. I particularly encourage allyship in the "real world" rather than just online. I think that it's only by addressing instances of hate or bigotry directly that we can change those patterns of behavior.
What kind of advice would you give another transgender person who is considering joining the porn industry?
A strong sense of self is definitely essential to surviving and thriving in the adult industry. While this is true for all performers, I think trans people do have to fight a little harder to be recognized and taken seriously. This includes being wary of anyone who is trying to take advantage of them, whether with low-paying gigs or disrespect of personal boundaries. To succeed, they will need a thick skin and the ability to keep going even after discouragement. I also caution anyone who is considering doing porn to really weigh the long-term social and career consequences of being naked on the Internet. All of that said, I think that the current porn economy, including the ability for anyone to share their content directly on the fan sites and clip studios, offers an incredible and unprecedented opportunity to be a successful self-employed performer. As for any performer, a trans person just entering the industry should challenge themselves to produce high-quality content and then market it consistently and passionately.
What does International Transgender Day of Visibility mean to you?
As someone who is boldly visible every day of the year, I don't find a lot of meaning in any particular day. But I do think it's a good opportunity to open the door for discussions that might not have occurred otherwise. Just remember that trans people were here yesterday and will be here tomorrow, both in and out of pornography.
Check out Trip Richards' website and follow him on Twitter for photos, videos, and updates on her next project.
Website www.triplextransman.com
Twitter @TripleXTransMan
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