The Sum of Our Parts Story
I’m Roseanne, creator of the documentary project The Sum of Our Parts. I met Kelly in a 2012 cycling class. It was love at first pedal.
On our first date he told me three things: “I’m transgender. My parents are dead. And, I’m looking for love.” I was touched to be trusted.
In 2019, New York enactsed the Child Victims Act (CVA), temporarily allowing adult survivors of child sexual abuse to take legal action. I was reeling with the possibility of taking the man who sexually abused me to court. Then we discovered our health insurance covers gender confirmation surgery, and Kelly jumped at the chance.
Kelly has my support—yet the imminent changes to his body trigger unexpected feelings about the safety we worked so long to cultivate within our relationship.
Throughout Kelly’s life he’s been fiercely independent. Despite his resistance, supporting him through his surgical recovery is the opportunity to show up for him like he does for me, and prove he can rely on our family.
Inspired by Kelly’s investment in himself, I am using this documentary to explore what I need to heal, alone and in community. Thank you for being on the journey with me. I’d love to connect.