I'm not sure if this is the best place for this post but hope so.
My local library was arranging a screening of the film, The Danish Girl. A week before the showing, one of the librarians came to me and asked if I would give a little talk before the film on what it's like to be trans, transitioning and how trans people are treated by society. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity!
There was about 20 people there, mostly women but 2 men.
I introduced myself and said that if anyone had any doubts, I was trans.
I gave them a brief thumbnail on how it is believed it is caused during the pre-natal stage by a hormone imbalance and that it affects some people more strongly that others with some knowing at an early age, others coming out later in life.
I talked about the prejudices we face, discrimination in the health care services at times, mis-gendering even when the evidence is right there, and how friends and family often abandon us, children bullied in school, the workplace and gave stories of what has happened to me.
I gave stats on the high suicide rates we have and the lack of care for TG people by society.
When I was done, I received a very strong applause and a number of people came up to me after the film and thanked me for helping open their minds to trans people and asked some questions.
All in all, I felt it was a positive experience and the library has asked if I will come back at a later date for a more in depth lecture about being transgender and the issues we face.
All in all, a positive experience and I enjoyed the film a second time too!
Love,
Clare
