On December 26, 2014, the Hungarian daily tabloid Blikk published an in-depth interview with one of Hungary’s most well-known transgender public figures, Angéla Novák. In the interview, titled “Novák Angéla nőként élvezi a szexet” ("Angéla Novák Enjoys Sex as a Woman"), she shared personal insights into her journey as a transgender woman, her experiences with sexuality, her challenges in society, and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
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Born in Budapest and raised in a traditional Hungarian household, Angéla’s path to becoming one of the country’s most prominent transgender figures was not an easy one. Throughout her childhood, she felt different from her peers, grappling with her identity and the societal norms that seemed to conflict with her sense of self. In the early 2000s, she made the life-changing decision to transition, which at the time was a rare and courageous move in Hungary, a country where LGBTQ+ issues were still not widely discussed or understood. Angéla’s decision to undergo gender reassignment surgery was a monumental step, not only for herself but also for the broader visibility of the transgender community in Hungary. This move, while deeply personal, positioned her as one of the first public figures in Hungary to openly share her transition with the world. The interview, and her subsequent career, have provided a platform for her to discuss important issues around gender, sexuality, and the struggles of the transgender community.
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In the Blikk interview, Angéla begins by reflecting on her early years and the struggle to define herself. “I’ve been living as a woman since I was 17,” she says. However, she emphasizes that transgender individuals should not simply be defined by their past as “men” or “women.” Instead, she suggests that before transitioning, a transgender person is more of an “alien” in society, someone who lives a life of dissonance until their body aligns with their true identity. Angéla clarifies that, for her, the notion of being a man before transitioning doesn’t hold much meaning. “I think that a transsexual person is a child or a boy or a girl before, and neither a man nor a woman,” she states, challenging the conventional binary definitions of gender. Throughout her life, Angéla has always felt different from others, which only amplified as she began to understand her true identity. Her feelings of alienation were profound until she was able to undergo the surgery that would allow her to transition physically, though even then, she admits, her internal journey was far from over. “A transsexual person lives a different life until they are born, until they have surgery or until they live in the body that is in their head,” she notes, describing the intense dissonance between her physical and mental self-image before the transition.
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Angéla’s journey has not been without its challenges. As a public figure, she has faced significant discrimination, both in her professional life and personal relationships. The challenges of living in a society that often rejects or misunderstands transgender individuals are apparent in Angéla’s words. Despite her success in the entertainment industry, which has included appearances on television shows like Celeb vagyok, ments ki innen, Angéla notes that the public’s understanding of her identity is often shallow. “I think that Hungarians first need to understand gay people,” she says, referring to the general difficulty the society faces when it comes to accepting LGBTQ+ individuals. She highlights how, in a country where homosexuality is still often met with confusion or resistance, the idea of a transgender person is even more difficult for many to grasp. As a result, Angéla chooses not to engage in public activism too aggressively. She avoids public spaces and rarely meets people outside her immediate circle. This reluctance to be out in public stems from the emotional toll that the rejection and misunderstanding of her identity often brings.
The interview also delves into Angéla’s views on gender and sexuality. She reflects on her own experiences with love and attraction, discussing the emotional and intellectual aspects of sexuality. She believes that for women, emotional and mental stimulation is key to arousal, sharing her belief that genuine sexual connection is rooted in the emotional and psychological dimensions of intimacy. Angéla’s views on sexuality and relationships are not solely about her own desires, but also about the broader dynamics between men and women. She emphasizes that a woman’s identity and value should not be defined by her ability to bear children, which she considers a limiting factor in traditional views of womanhood. Her journey through relationships has also been shaped by the complexities of transitioning. She admits that, at times, her relationships with men have been strained due to misunderstandings or lack of awareness about transgender issues. Angéla recalls a former partner who told her that she couldn’t offer anything more or less than any other woman, which left her feeling both validated and conflicted, indicating the emotional complexity of her identity in relationships.
Angéla’s role in the public eye has been complicated, and her experiences within the media world have not always been kind. During her appearance on the reality TV show Celeb vagyok, ments ki innen, she experienced a moment of public humiliation. One of her co-stars, Balázs, made a remark that she found deeply hurtful. Angéla reflects on how this incident affected her, both personally and professionally. “Balázs really hurt me in the TV show, in the role. I was very surprised,” she recalls, describing how his behavior toward her felt disrespectful and unfair. Despite the challenges she has faced, Angéla remains steadfast in her desire to show the world that transgender individuals, like herself, are just as capable of living normal lives as anyone else. Her perseverance through these struggles has made her an advocate for equal treatment and respect, not just for transgender people, but for all individuals who face discrimination due to their identity.
Angéla closes the interview with a powerful statement about her identity. She makes it clear that, despite the obstacles she has faced, she is no different from any other woman. “Ángela is a woman like anyone else,” she declares, emphasizing that her desire for a family, a husband, and a child is no different from the desires of any cisgender woman. “She knows it's much harder for her, but that's how she's happy in this body, with this look,” the interview concludes, highlighting Angéla’s acceptance of herself despite the challenges she faces. In her role as a public figure, advocate, and a woman, Angéla Novák continues to inspire others with her resilience, determination, and advocacy for the transgender community. By sharing her story, she has opened up important conversations about gender, sexuality, and acceptance, not just in Hungary, but around the world. Through her voice, she is not only fighting for her own identity but for the rights of all those who are marginalized, ensuring that their voices are heard and their stories told.
Image credits: YouTube- Blikk
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