Raines recalls feeling like a boy from the age of four, and that he chose to express himself in masculine ways from an early age. At the age of 16, he realized he was transgender after watching a documentary involving a trans man and relating to their shared experiences.[8] He describes his family and close friends as being immediately supportive and choosing the name Jamie with their help.[9] In order to document the physical changes he underwent during his transition, Raines took a photograph of himself each day for three years.[10]
Raines is married to fellow YouTuber Shaaba Lotun-Raines (née Lotun).[11][12][13][14] Both are bisexual.[15] The two met in a college art class and became close friends prior to Raines' transition.[8] When Raines came out, Lotun's family initially disapproved of their relationship, but eventually grew to support the couple's relationship.[11] They then attended university together and both now hold PhDs.[16][17] Each makes semi-regular appearances on the other's YouTube channel.[18]
Raines received his Gender Recognition Certificate late in 2019, which allows him to be recognised as a man in marriage.[19] He describes this as marking the end of his transition process.[20] The couple had initially planned to marry in 2020 but they chose to delay the wedding due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, which would have prevented members of Lotun's Mauritian extended family from attending, eventually marrying in 2022.[21]
Raines and Lotun share two cats, Apollo [b. 2013/14], and Prawn [b. 2021].[22][23]
Career
Social media
Raines started the YouTube channel Jammidodger in 2011.[1] The title is a reference to his name and to Jammie Dodgers, a popular type of biscuit in the UK.[citation needed] Having found YouTube videos to be a useful resource when discovering his own gender identity [24] he started the channel to provide a UK perspective on the transition process as well as to document the process for himself.[8]
Over time the channel has evolved to cover broader LGBT+ issues and also more general lifestyle content such as reacting to internet memes and subreddits, and reviewing cat toys.[25] Raines was prominent among the many YouTubers to make videos criticising the views about trans people expressed by J. K. Rowling.[26]
In 2020, both Raines and Lotun made videos as part of Southend Council's Protect Your Fam project to encourage social distancing, hand-washing and mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.[27]
In addition to frequently appearing in videos with his wife, Shaaba, Raines has made videos collaborating with other YouTubers such as Jessica Kellgren-Fozard and Noahfinnce.[28][29]
Raines has a significant audience on both Instagram, with 235,000 followers, and Twitter, with 52,400 followers.[30][31] Raines more frequently uploads to Instagram, using story and grid posts to share information about upcoming videos and projects, as well as general daily life.
Raines and Lotun began livestreaming together on Twitch in April 2020, playing video games while talking with viewers.[32]
Research
Raines has a master's degree[7] and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Essex. He was awarded his doctorate in 2021.[33][16][34] He has conducted research into the sexual response of transgender men[35] as well as other topics related to gender and sexuality.[36]
Writing
Raines' first book, The T in LGBT: Everything you need to know about being trans (ISBN9781785044298), was released on 30 June 2023, published by Ebury Publishing's Vermilion imprint.[37] An audiobook is also scheduled for release by Penguin Random House Audio, with narration by Raines and Lotun.[38]
Reception
Raines' series of daily selfies, which he took during three years of his gender transition, were compiled into a 20-second montage for the Channel 4 television documentary Girls To Men.[25][10][39]
Raines was featured in the Channel 4 documentary series Bride and Prejudice covering the tensions within Lotun's family in the run up to their engagement.[7]
Awards
In 2020, Raines was a finalist in the LGBTQ+ Account section at the 12th Shorty Awards.[40]
^Light, Kate (2017). Gender identity : the search for self. New York, NY. p. 53. ISBN9781534560246.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
