Transgender author featured at Alliance JCC presentation
By Irina Missiuro
Friday, 22 November 2013 14:14
http://www.jvhri.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4760%3Atransgender-author-featured-at-alliance-jcc-presentation&catid=41%3Acommunity&Itemid=62 PROVIDENCE – On Thursday, November 7, Dr. Joy Ladin, the first openly transgender employee of an Orthodox institution, discussed her newest book, "Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders," a National Jewish Book Award finalist, with more than thirty people who had come to hear the presentation at the Alliance JCC.
Marty Cooper, of the Jewish Alliance Community Relations Council, began introducing Dr. Ladin to the audience, but when Cooper had trouble reading his notes, the guest of honor suggested, to laughter, "You can just make stuff up." From that moment, it became apparent that, even though important information was going to be presented, it would be complemented by Ladin's sense of humor and willingness to poke fun at herself.
The presentation was open and welcoming. When technical difficulties with the microphone occurred, Ladin began using a substitute mic, accidentally dropping the one that was not working. As soon as the broken mic fell, it became functional, screeching into the air. Ladin remarked to general amusement, "Now it's on!"
Ladin's presentation was the first public program in our community addressing the transgender issue. She was thankful for the opportunity to speak, saying that it's very brave for a Jewish organization to host an event of this nature and to be willing to talk about differences, which are just being recognized and for which there is not yet language. She said that, as a child, she couldn't imagine an occurrence of the sort because she didn't know there were people like her.
