This is a reprinted interview that was conducted by Gender Identity Magazine editor, Bren Michelle.

Bren:  Zander, who is the man, Zander Keig?

I am first and foremost, a husband to my beautiful wife, Margaret Keig.  Beyond that, I am a pragmatic optimist, forty-four-year-old post-op transsexual man, living in sunny San Diego, CA, USA.

Bren:  What do you do for a living?

Currently, I am a full time graduate school at San Diego State University, working on a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.  I am enrolled in the 2 year program and intern 16 hours per week at Jewish Family Service of San Diego as a crisis case manager.

Bren:  What issues do you feel passionate about?

I feel very passionate about providing positive mentorship in the female-to-male (FtM) community.  As a mentor to young and early transition transmen, I offer transition guidance, practical advice, words of wisdom, education of FtM community history, an orientation to trans community politics, insight into navigating medical systems and connection to FtM pioneers, like my mentor Jamison Green.

Bren:  Could you provide me with some resources that could be helpful to a female-to-male?

I suggest the "The Transitional Male," "Transguys," "Hudson's FTM Resource Guide," and Dr. Nick Gorton's site.

Bren:  I understand you went to seminary.  What was that about? 

In 2004, I graduated from Pacific School of Religion (PSR), in Berkeley, CA, with a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) with an emphasis in world Religions.

When I originally applied to PSR, I had intentions of becoming a minister, but changed my mind just prior to classes starting. I realized that my intention for attending seminary was to become more familiar with religious language, so that I might engage in more thoughtful conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity with religious people.

I was not and am not, a Christian. I consider myself a non-theistic mystic, meaning I do not accept nor reject nor wonder if a supernatural deity exists and I am constantly marveling at the natural world and all of it's magnificence.

Bren:  There seems to be a lot of negativity from many church people toward trans persons.  If you could speak to a conservative church crowd, what would you say to them?

Religious scriptures, creeds and systems have, in my opinion, the ability to create both belonging and separation.  I have no interest in debating with religiously conservative Christians about this, therefore I do not engage in the conversation from that perspective.  I do however, engage in open conversations with religious people of all faiths about what leads them to believe as they do about LGBT people.

Bren:  How did you meet your wife?

I met Margaret at PSR in September 2002.  Margaret was a Master of Divinity student and a United Methodist clergy candidate.  We we're "married" 3 times: we signed a CA Domestic Partnership agreement in August 2005; we held a Quaker-style wedding in October 2005; and we applied for and received a CA Marriage License in April 2006.

Bren:  How has the lesbian community and your friends responded to your life change?

Neither Margaret nor I were very involved with lesbian community for a few years prior to our marriage. When we met, I was trans-identified and Margaret was bisexual-identified and not too concerned about what people had to say about our relationship.

Our friends and family have been 100% on-board!   We are very fortunate to have loving and welcoming families and friendships.

Bren:  How do you consider yourselves, a straight couple, or something else?

Margaret and I don't tend to categorize our relationship using conventional terms, like "straight" or "heterosexual". We are more comfortable considering our relationship queer.

Bren:  What do you feel has changed the most in your life?

The freedom to walk down the street and no longer see contempt and disgust in people's eyes, because of my pre-transition masculine gender expression, has been the single, most significant, change in my life that matters the most to me.

Bren:  What do you enjoy about being a man?  

I really enjoy having a beard and mustache, a male-contoured chest, and being legally married.

Bren:  Do you have any regrets?

I have ZERO regrets. Sometimes, I wish I had transitioned at a younger age, but then again, I don't think my life would have evolved in the same way it has, and I live a charmed life.

Bren:  What do you feel your role is as a man?

My role as a man is the same as when I was a dyke: Be compassionate, charitable, empathetic, outspoken, and kind.

Bren:  If we interviewed you ten years from now, what would you hope to have accomplished?

I would like to be able to report that: I am celebrating a 20 year relationship with Margaret, as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I have been involved in systematic and systemic changes concerning transitioning transsexuals, I am in excellent health and surrounded by many loving friends.

Zander and his dad

Zander currently serves on the board of directors of TransMentors International.  Zander also just co-edited with Megan M. Rohrer a book titled,"Letters for My Brothers," that features essays from transmen such as Jamison Green, Cristopher Bautista, Chase Ryan Joynt, Malcolm Himschoot, Lou Sullivan, Reid Vander Burgh, Aaron H Devor, Aazron Raz Link, Patrick M Callahan, Elliot Anthony Brooker, Zander Keig, C. T. Whitley, Raven Kaldera, Tucker Lieberman, Lyle Blake, Keith Josephson, Evan Andersn, and Matt Kailey.  The book is NOW available from LuLu for $23 + S&H).

If you have questions for Zander, he will be writing a monthly column regarding the medical, legal, and social aspects of transition transmen.  Write your questions to him at zanderszone@gmail.comand me may answer your question in next month's "Zander Zone."