Coming out to college professor in essay assignment: ya or nay

[Brayden]

I am currently in art school, and for my writing class I have to write a brief essay on who I am and why I am who I am....ect, to go alone with my artist statement. 
All I am is being trans, I can never get my mind away from my depression and the little fact that I am trans.  I am not out here, at least Im almost sure that no one knows because I haven't told anyone.  I want to write about it so bad, but part of me wants to stay away from that.  If we do peer editing or something, I can just say that mine is too personal and I would prefer only she read it, so that I would only come out to her, that is if on the attendance sheet they don't list your gender, because then mine would be listed as "t" for trans.  Any who, I could really use your input. 
The stress about coming out to my room mate and the school is driving me insane.
Thank you!

[Annah]

I can only tell you how I did it and see if it will work for you

About 2 months before I started Seminary I had everything worked out. Well....since the first day I decided to transition. I used a roadmap from the TSroadmap site. I wrote this roadmap in January of 2010.

In April I showed my therapist my roadmap. Explain to her the timeline I would get everything done. One of them was to start RLE in the middle of my Fall and Spring Semester at my first year of Seminary as well as my name change.

She politely nodded and responded, "can I give you a more realistic picture?"

She explained to me not everything goes according to plan. And this is where it will make sense with your issue:

She told me by coming out in the middle of the semesters will only prompt confusion. Ill get enough of that as it is with my family and current friends...developing confusion with my future classmates and professors will just be another headache.

She explained while my approach deserved merit, it isn't the most effective way. She then suggested I transition right before the fall semester. Let everyone see me for who I am on day one. Let them be used to Annah rather than reworking their image of you halfway through your first year.

While you did not do this with you college experience, I think the same rule applies in your situation.

If you are planning on telling your professors you are trans in this assignment, it would probably have a greater outlook if you told them beforehand and then backed your convictions with your project.

This way their focus will be on your project rather than what you stated in your project.

I hope this makes sense.

[tekla]

Don't write anything you would be uncomfortable with other people reading and knowing.

[wheat thins are delicious]

Don't write anything you would be uncomfortable with other people reading and knowing.

This.

And why would your gender be listed as "t"?  trans isn't a gender.

[AdamMLP]

In English we had to write a short story on the theme of "trapped" last year and being void of all other ideas I wrote about being trans and it was honestly one of the scariest pieces that I've ever handed in.  Although it wasn't specifically me as the character I was terrified that the teacher would piece things together and out me to the class, or whole school, or medical centre so they could decide to out me to my family just like they did with me when they found out I was interested in women... anyway, that was honestly terrifying and I ended up being pretty transphobic when people asked me what I'd written about because I thought if I was too sympathetic then they'd piece it together as well, and that made me feel completely awful.

I'd never again write about being trans in a space where people don't know unless it's soley for the intention of coming out.  I was also worried that although my teacher seemed okay with it, she's gay and watched My Transsexual Summer, so other than mixing up a few words when talking about it she had the gist of it okay and was accepting, anyone else who had input into marking my work wouldn't be so accepting and my marks would suffer for it.  I didn't want to get a transphobic prick and end up with all my work coming to nothing.

[Cindy]

I would support Tekla's statement and don't write personal details that you do not want read by people, unless you want them to be totally public. The same goes for sex tapes .

If you want to talk to your Prof about transgender being ask her for an appointment and discuss it with her. To be brutally and totally honest, most TG people are far more concerned and worried about revealing their personnel life than anyone else is about knowing about it.

It really isn't a big issue any more in most societies. Everyone is different and everyone is the same.

IMO

Cindy

[Padma]

What Cindy said - if you want your teacher to know, talk to her or write to her personally about it.

[sandrauk]

Back in 1959 I was eight and in the lifeboys. We had to write an essay "why I would rather be a boy than a  girl or why I would rather be a girl than a boy"
You can guess which I chose and I let full vent. I knew that it was unwise, even at that age but this was my chance to let it all out and I didn't care.

I was a bit worried over the next week thinking this might come back to bite me but nothing happened, people understood, and I won first prize for my essay.

I still have that copy of the new testament I won as a prize. Wish I could be that carefree now.

I would still go with what Cindy said.

[Misato]

I had a class "Gender Across the Lifespan" class back in the day and I wrote in my first essay homework that, at the time, I suspected I was trans and that was why I was in her class.  I don't think I would have outed myself in any of my other classes, but given the subject matter of "Gender Across the Lifespan" I thought it was okay.  However, I did end up seeking out the teacher before she could read the essay to tell her about its content, so I do think I must agree with the other comments about talking to your professor during office hours.  It's scary to be sure, but at least you can experience your professor's reaction personally instead of wondering what they did or will do when they get to your essay.

There's also the matter of, are we sure that the teacher will be grading the essay?  Or could there be a TA involved?

[Jared]

Maybe I know something about your situation. I came out last week to my roomate. It wasn't easy cause I didn't know what she will say. Before this, she always just laughed at things that were weird to her so I really didn't expect anything. But she handles it really cool and I'm so happy I came out. School is also driving me insane but I came to the point where I don't really care about anybody but myself. Maybe this sounds selfish but I spent too much time on people what could say or think instead of my own happiness. What do You think, your professor will handle it good enough? If You trust him/her, than go.
I hope it's understandable enough.

[Mercury]

I wouldn't come out to anyone I didn't have to.

[Berserk]

I think the only one who can answer your question is you. If you feel like its something you need to write and you don't mind sharing with your prof, then maybe think about doing that. If you don't feel comfortable with it, then don't do it. It's really only something that can be answered by your level of comfort and what you feel you need to write.

This.

And why would your gender be listed as "t"?  trans isn't a gender.

Since when? A few places now (health care facilities, for example) have transgender as an alternative. Just because it doesn't fit for one person, doesn't mean it doesn't fit for other people.

[peky]

I am who I Always Was


A mask and disguise wore by force or necessity, roles created, adopted, imposed

Tortuous paths, deserts, forests, mountains, rivers and oceans...

So many campaigns, battles, and treks; impossible journeys

Yet the essence, untarnished by the years of tears or joys, remains

The body changes and ages, yet the spirit unaffected endures

I am who I always was, at four, fourteen, thirty two, or fifty seven,

Sweet like a honey, safe as a harbor,

Alluring as the moon, solid as a rock,

Fearless as a tigress, comforting as a hearth,

Loving, forgetful, enduring, promising, forgiving...

The essence remains and the spirit unchanged endures

I am who I always was...

...a Pearl by the seashore


a poem by Peky