Max Wolf Valerio facts for kids

Max Wolf Valerio (born February 16, 1957) is an American poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his book The Testosterone Files, which tells the story of his life as a trans man. He has lived for many years in San Francisco, California.

Valerio writes poems and essays and has also acted in movies and documentaries. His work often explores his experiences and identity.

Early Life and Background

Max Valerio was born in Heidelberg, West Germany, in a U.S. Army hospital. His father was in the United States Army, so his family moved many times. He lived in different parts of the United States and Europe, including Maryland, California, and Germany.

Family Heritage

Valerio has a rich and diverse family background. His mother is of Blackfoot descent from the Kainai First Nation in Alberta, Canada. Because of this, Valerio is a Treaty Indian and a member of the Kainai Nation.

His father is Hispano from Taos, New Mexico. Valerio has researched his family history and believes some of his father's ancestors may have been crypto-Jews. These were Jewish people who had to practice their religion in secret long ago in Spain.

Growing Up

As a child, Valerio felt different from other girls. He felt more masculine and often wanted to play boys' roles in games. He imagined himself as a boy and couldn't picture himself growing up to be a woman.

As a teenager, he tried to understand his identity. For a while, he identified as a lesbian because it seemed like the best fit for him at the time. But he later realized that his true identity was male. In 1988, after talking with a friend, he understood that he was a trans man and decided to transition.

Journey of Transition

Valerio began his transition from female to male in 1989. At first, it was hard to find good information. Some of the early books he read were not very supportive of transgender people.

However, he found help and community by joining a support group in San Francisco for trans men. Meeting other people who had similar experiences was a turning point for him. He shifted his identity from lesbian to a trans man, which felt true to who he was.

His journey is shown in several films, including a short documentary called "MAX" by director Monika Treut. In his writing and in films, Valerio talks about the changes he went through, including getting counseling and his body changing.

The Book: The Testosterone Files

Valerio's most famous work is his 2006 memoir, The Testosterone Files. The book describes his experiences during the first five years of his transition.

In the book, Valerio explains that being a transsexual person is a unique experience. He believes it's important for trans people to define themselves in their own words. The book is split into three parts.

• Beginning: This part describes the start of his transition and the first physical changes he noticed, like his voice getting deeper.
• Before Testosterone: Here, Valerio writes about his life before transitioning and what led him to make this important decision. He realized his attraction to women was that of a straight man.
• After Testosterone: This section focuses on the emotional and social changes. He writes about learning to shave, getting used to his new voice, and telling people in his life about his transition. The book ends with him discovering his Adam's apple, a moment that brought him great happiness.

Political Views

Valerio's political views have changed over time. When he was younger, he was involved in feminism and radical politics. He supported the American Indian Movement and visited the Pine Ridge Reservation during a difficult time known as the Wounded Knee Occupation.

Over the years, his views shifted. He was part of the Democratic Party for a time. Today, he identifies as a classic liberal, which is a political view that strongly supports individual freedom.

Works

Valerio is a respected writer. Some of his works include:

• This Bridge Called My Back (Anthology, 1981)
• "Animal Magnetism" (Poetry, 1984)
• The Testosterone Files: My social and hormonal transition from female to male (Memoir, 2006)
• Troubling the Line: Trans and Genderqueer Poetry and Poetics (Poetry Anthology, 2013)
• The Criminal: The Invisibility of Parallel Forces (Poetry, 2019)

Film Appearances

Valerio has appeared in many documentaries and films, sharing his story and experiences.

• Max (Documentary, 1992)
• Gendernauts: A Journey Through Shifting (Documentary, 1999)
• Framing Agnes (Documentary, 2022)
• Genderation (Documentary, 2021)