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Outlook: Mia, myself and I - the secret I kept until 60

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Mia Yamamoto

03/04/2023 GMT

Mia, myself and I - the secret I kept until 60

BBC World Service - Outlook, Mia, myself and I - the secret I kept until 60

California’s first trans trial lawyer Mia Yamamoto on waiting a lifetime to be herself

It was only when she was 60 that Japanese-American lawyer Mia Yamamoto felt ready to begin her transition.

Mia Yamamoto was born during World War Two in an internment camp in Arizona and, as a Japanese-American, spent her early life facing racial prejudice. She followed her father into the legal profession and soon had a successful career, often representing people who were on death row. This made it all the more difficult to be open and honest about who she really was, because Mia had been born Michael.  Mia was so worried about how transitioning might affect her clients that it wasn't until she was 60 that she felt able to finally come out.  She was to become California’s first trans trial lawyer


Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Katy Takatsuki & Lina Chang

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Photo: Mia Yamamoto. Credit: Ken Fong

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