Transgender people fight for civil rights, public understanding
Despite progress, discrimination still a problem for those whose gender identity doesn't match anatomical sex
By Rex W. Huppke, Chicago Tribune reporter
December 19, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-trans-101-main-story-20111219,0,2100672,full.storyDan Carmichael had barely taken his first breath when a doctor announced his gender: "It's a girl."
That's where gender identity begins for most. A pronouncement at birth, a quick glance at the genitals revealing a person to be either male or female.
If only it were that simple for Carmichael. He was raised a girl — then named Danielle Sosin — grew into a woman, served in the Iraq War, yet never quite felt comfortable.
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Finding their gender identities
Three 'trans' people tell their stories
By Rex W. Huppke, Chicago Tribune reporter
December 19, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-trans-101-profiles-20111219,0,7622820.story'Positive impact on my life'
About four years ago, while in college in Vermont, Andre Perez began researching lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history and reading extensively about gender identity. Assigned female gender at birth, Perez had long felt he didn't fit in socially with women — when younger, he was considered a tomboy.
At 19, Perez realized why he had been questioning his gender identity.
"I met a lot of trans people and began spending more time with them," Perez said. "I found people who inspired me, and I found a community that I finally connected with. One of the first people I met was a trans man, and he was the first person I could ever imagine growing up to be like."
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Questions and answers
December 19, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-trans-101-faq-20111219,0,444833.storyQ: How many transgender people are there?
A: It's not a question asked on the U.S. census, and even if it were, many in the transgender community are hesitant to open up about their gender identity. The National Center for Transgender Equality estimates that 0.25 percent to 1 percent of the population is transgender, a range in line with estimates from sex researchers.
Q: Is being transgender a mental illness?
A: Gender identity disorder is a psychiatric condition listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. However, most transgender people bristle at the thought of having their identity pathologized. There is a push in the transgender community to have gender identity disorder removed from the DSM, much as homosexuality was removed decades ago.
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Resources for transgenders
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-transgender-resources-20111219,0,1041832.story
