Atlantis Capri: Biological Parent, Community Mother

I got a chance to sit down with the legendary Atlantis (Capri) Narcisse. She was honest and open as always and we really got into a good conversation about being a biological parent and figurative parent to the community. Check it out:

The Normal Anomaly: Thank you for doing this interview with me. You are a very well respected individual in the community and I wanted to speak to you about the anomaly that is Atlantis. So, first of all you have a son that is gay and you are a Transgendered woman. What does that look like in your mind?

Atlantis: When I first found out he was gay, I cried. I cried just like a heterosexual parent does. It wasn't because I didn't want him to be gay it was because I knew everything that came with it. I knew that society, having a sex drive and partying was becoming a lot more popular and I was afraid my child would be caught up in that. It took my mom to tell me: "Why are you crying? You are probably the best person to help him through this." Even though I raised Nick to know that love has no certain sex or gender, just because you sleep with "Tom" doesn't mean you need to sleep with every "Tom, Dick, Harry or Nicole" you see. I am okay with him being gay. I don't actually call him gay, I simply say, "He exists. That's my child." Sometimes titles hinder us.

TNA: I love his pictures on Instagram (a few below). They are nice. He seems very sexually liberated. How do you feel about that, not in terms of judging him, but being as that you are a transgendered woman who has seen the gay life up close and personal, how do you feel about his comfort in his own skin?

Nick (Atlantis's son) on Instagram

Atlantis: I actually zoom right by the pictures. I don't want to see my child like that as a parent. Still, I'm proud that he is comfortable in his skin. I know that just because he does these provocative pictures doesn't mean he's extremely sexually active. I am concerned, though, potentially what the message that other people gets from it could be though. I try not to even focus on it. People could be dating him because they know me and trying to get in to see what goes on behind the closed doors or because they see his pictures. Either way, I try my best to let him live and I even tell him, "Don't even tell them who your parent is." It's because I want him to have a normal life without me trying to force him down a road based on my experience. So, I don't pay a lot of attention to his pictures or anything unless he brings it to me.

TNA: So, you got your name officially changed three years ago. What brought on the official name change and why such an extensive wait?

Atlantis: The name change was because it was time for me to. I was very close to my mom and I felt like changing my name would have been killing off her child because I would have had my name changed in my 20's if it was all about me. My former name was attractive, but when I started school, I didn't want to go to school with problems. That's when it became real. I talked to my mom and son then I changed it on my birthdate. I only changed my first name. I didn't want to change my existence; just allow for me to be in a more safe place. Another reason why I waited so long is because I had to be a parent and I didn't want my son to be bullied or ridiculed when I came up to school. I even binded my breast and things when I went up to visit him.

Nick and Attlantis at home

TNA: So, you have just graduated with your Bachelor's and getting ready for the Masters. Congratulations! What do you say to the community-- especially trans or underprivileged-- about education?

Atlantis: You know I made a decision one day in Las Vegas to focus on building me up after I looked in the mirror and had seemed to give everything away from myself. So, I sacrificed a lot to get it, but it was important to invest in my personal human capital. I want people to realize that you can make a change if you want to. Don't be so worried about the next person's resume' when you can create your own.

TNA: How did you become both an intellectual and social powerhouse?

Atlantis: I am me. A lot of times when we help people we just give them information and never follow up. I follow up and have general conversations with people. I don't care about titles or pedestals. I care about respect and not only respect for me, but I show the same respect to people. I sincerely care about people and it shows. We're all in this together, but we are too divided. Someone has to pull people together and I didn't want to do it, but someone had to. If you are always you, people will respect that.

TNA: Thank you to the legendary Atlantis Narcisse for sitting down with me today for this great narrative necessary for our community. Your legacy has made you a legend and we thank you for all you do.

-The Normal Anomaly