Born this way: Seeking human rights for transgender students at MSU

[Shana A]

Born this way: Seeking human rights for transgender students at MSU

GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 12:15 am

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/montana_state_university/article_f21701ce-014b-11e2-b9bc-001a4bcf887a.html

Cassidy Medicine Horse was born a boy, but from a young age knew inside that she was really a girl.

Growing up, she was subjected to testosterone shots and growth hormones as her family attempted to change her. For decades, she kept her feminine feelings secret to avoid her father's terrifying discipline, to land a job and marry, to avoid getting beaten.

[...]

Medicine Horse, 64, spoke last week in an interview at Montana State University, where she has earned a master's degree in Native American studies and now is a Ph.D. graduate student in American studies.

She is starting a transgender support group, called TransMSU.

"We don't have a choice of who we are," she said. "We are born this way."

[suzifrommd]

I love reading these stories, but I must confess if I read words like "from a young age knew inside that she was really a girl" one more time I really will SCREAM.

It seems this element is obligatory in mainstream article about transitions, as if someone who didn't realize this until later in life is less deserving of transitioning.

This contributes to the public mythology of transgender and reinforces misinformation. I wonder how many other people, like me, dismissed their symptoms because they never had the early conviction that all these articles speak of.