What is your name?
Ken Ryder
What is your major?
I’m a computer science major. I’m a transfer student going on my eighth year.
When and why did you start wearing dresses?
I’ve dressed this way on my own time for about 10 years. It’s only the last year that I started wearing them to school. Now I don’t have to change to go to school. But wearing this type of clothing has been an ongoing thing. I even had a dress-up box when I was a little kid. I wear dresses now because it better expresses who I am. It allows me to access the parts of me that are more feminine. In a way I am kind of blurring a line [between masculinity and femininity], but it’s a line that should be blurred. Women blurred that line years ago, when they started wearing pants.
How does your partner respond to the way you dress?
She’s very happy with it. She tends to think that I look better than in jeans and a T-shirt.
Have you ever had any negative attention because of the way you dress?
I’m happy to say, no.
Why are you on the Student Senate?
Because I don’t do the bullshit. I wanted to make some changes, and people told me that’s a place to be. For example, we have a student with physical problems who was having difficulty riding the bus from Portland to Gorham. I kept at the issue until a solution was found that gave him quality bus service.
Do you plan on going into politics when you leave USM?
No, but if I were to, I would send the message that people like me [transgendered], our time has come. We need to be recognized as people of profession. Everyone who knows me and knew me before I wore the dress has treated me the same. I’ve found that the USM community is very proactive and forward in terms of expressive rights.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Ideally I would like to work for the government doing computer networking. I’ve done some internships, and I’ve got some connections at the FDAC, so I’m hoping to leverage a position.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My grandfather. Yeah.
Is there any bit of advice you would like to give to students?
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. As long as you’re not hurting anyone else, you can do whatever you want. If you spend your whole life being afraid of yourself, you’ll realize you’ve wasted a lot.
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
If I wake up on time, about an hour.