Request your comments on Op-Ed piece

[Hazumu]

I left a comment to this news article, and the opinion editor asked me to write an op-ed piece.

I asked for the parameters, and got this:

Our guidelines are 500 to 1,000 words (I tell people to shoot for 750) and due by noon Wednesday the week before publication. We also require the pieces to be "signed," by which I mean we use the author's name and not a pseudonym. Also I ask authors to provide their address for verification purposes and telephone number, but we only publish the name of the city they are from. I use the phone number in case I have questions during the editing process.

The thing I see complete ignorance about is the nature of transgender "children." When, for instance, did you begin to live as the opposite gender? Would you have done it earlier if you had been supported? Was it something that you went back and forth about? As I said, the general perception seems to be the children/teenagers will use Senate Bill 777 as an excuse to sneak into the opposite gender's bathroom (to what purpose, no one says -- but we've got to stop it!).

I appreciate your help with this. I know it's a very sensitive subject.

Please look at the article and give me your feedback.  In order to get more information in than is allowed by 1000 words, I'm suggesting a sidebar.

Thank you;

Karen

Here is the first draft:

SUGGESTED HEAD:  It's Not Transgender Children Who Are Confused

Please allow me to introduce myself.  I'm transgendered.  In my case, for those who are curious, I believe the cause may have been that my mother took a drug while pregnant with me that was touted as being 'safe and effective at preventing miscarriages,' among other claims.  That drug, Diethylstilbestrol (DES), is a synthetic estrogen.  But, that doesn't matter now, DES has only caused a statistical spike in the number of transgenders (GOOGLE: DES transsexual).

There have been transgender since time immemorial, although the words 'transgender', transsexual' and '->-bleeped-<-' are of recent invention.  In biblical times, we were known as eunuchs., and Jesus told his Disciples, "For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." (Matthew 19:12)

When did I know myself to be transgendered?  I grew up in a house with two younger sisters and a progressive mother, and got to pursue my interests (which DIDN'T include football and other rough sports, nor the mean boys who liked them.)  Playing Tea with my sisters was just fine with me, and I saw nothing abnormal about it.  But, in the 60's there was no way to transition.  So I 'accepted' my disappointment.

And, my mother's second husband though, a truckdriver from Georgia, noted my differentness and tried to keep me from growing up to be a [homosexual] (he, of course, used a different word.).  He and his sons taught me through their cruelty how to stand my ground against the bullies at school and fight, and hide my femininity (effeminacy) to try not be so much of a bully-magnet.  They taught me so well, I was in denial most of my adult life.

I was also in internal pain.

My days were constant, subconscious censoring my behaviours, trying to behave more masculine than I really was.  But I'd catch myself to my horror using feminine gestures and try to stuff that back in the dark place where I hid that side of me from myself.  Over the years, I would occasionally see documentaries on transgender who were transitioning and simultaneously wish I could -- and vow I would never, my step-father and his sons having 'taught' me well to deny.

Strangely, trans-women join the military, or become police or firefighters far out of proportion to the population at large.  Psychologists who specialize in gender issues call it 'the male protest.'  I am one of four trans-women who were in the same military command – two I know personally from 'before', and the last we know so many people in common we're amazed we never met in our previous life. 

I have never been intimate with a man.  Gay intimacy held no attraction for me – it's different than heterosexual intimacy.  On the rare occasions I have been intimate, it has always been with women.  But, although there were 'a man and a woman' in body, in spirit there were always two women, and my female spirit could not give that which my partner was expecting.  And, realizing that, the liaisons were only a few times at most.

And that is the crux of the transgender experience.  It's not about S-E-X, but gender identification.  I don't like the word "transSEXUAL", because it makes people think of 'doing it'.

But, that's what a majority of cisgendered (that's the word for the 97% that are happy with their body gender,) think about when they encounter a male-to-female transgender or 'trans-woman'. 

Strangely, female-to-male transgenders (trans-men) hardly cause any hysteria, although you'll rarely find them standing next to you at the urinal.  There is definitely a double standard at work here...

The feminizing regimen I'm taking includes androgen blockers – essentially a kind of 'chemical castration'.  It reduces or eliminates male libido and it's highly unlikely any transwoman on this regimen would be capable of the kind of behaviour that those uneducated about transgender are saying they fear.

My extended family includes two young grand-nieces.  They're delighted with their new aunt as she's as bad as their grandmother at lavishing them with attention (which they crave.)  No one else in the family has any concern with my being around these young girls.

But in society, I fear children.  If they detect me and say something, it will invoke the cub-protection response in their parents and other like-minded adults.  I've a transwomen friend who was constantly asked to volunteer to mentor youth groups because others (not knowing she was trans) saw that she was great with children.  She always insisted that she would not do this unless there was at least one parent also present, if not two or three.  And I will follow her advice in this.

Finally, a quote from those who would eradicate transgender differentness if they could:

"I suggest, indeed, letting children who wish go to school in clothes of the opposite sex - but not counseling other children to not tease them or hurt their feelings. 

On the contrary, don't interfere, and let the other children ridicule the child who has lost that clear boundary between play-acting at home and the reality needs of the outside world. Maybe, in this way, the child will re-establish that necessary boundary.

It is a mistake for various interfering, ignorant and biased busybodies to try to 'counsel' the other children into accepting the abnormal. It is very healthy to be able to draw the line between what is healthy and what is sick."

--Joseph Berger, NARTH Scientific Advisory Member

We need the remedies in SB 777 to reduce or prevent the cruel treatments implied in that statement.  Transgender children who grow up as their true selves, who have understanding and encouragement rather than bullying and ostracism for just being who they really are, grow into well-adjusted adults.

-30-

SIDEBAR:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/18/INVMT7C9C.DTL
This article mentions how Holland assists young trans-girl children (with their parents' consent,) delay the onset of male puberty until the age of medical consent and then medically provides the female puberty and the surgery.  Not one child so treated has ever regretted her decision to transition.

Google "Diane Schroer", a highly-decorated veteran who transitioned from male to female after 25 years of distinguished service in the Army.  There's a video of her plight on YouTube.

(http://www.whosoever.org/v2Issue2/starchild.html)
Here is a wonderful article on transgender and the Bible, specifically the New Testament.

[Susan]

Could mention susans.org as a place to go for more information

[Steph]

You refer to yourself as "Transgendered", the umbrella term that covers CDs, TVs, IS, and TS.  I think you should be referring to yourself as Transsexual", which is what you are.

Steph

[Dennis]

Good piece. I'm not sure about the line about rarely finding FtM's standing next to you at the urinal and its appropriateness there. I think the allusion will go right over most people's heads. Plus a lot of guys do use the urinals.

Dennis

[SusanK]

You refer to yourself as "Transgendered", the umbrella term that covers CDs, TVs, IS, and TS.  I think you should be referring to yourself as Transsexual", which is what you are.

While I agree with this usage, I might suggest even futher, using transwoman instead of transsexual, as the latter implies a more medical term, appropriately so too, and the former maybe easier for the public to understand(?). And seeing "....woman" would suggest the trans is simply temporary for the transistion, until one is physically and legally female.

Just my $.02.

[Steph]

You refer to yourself as "Transgendered", the umbrella term that covers CDs, TVs, IS, and TS.  I think you should be referring to yourself as Transsexual", which is what you are.

While I agree with this usage, I might suggest even futher, using transwoman instead of transsexual, as the latter implies a more medical term, appropriately so too, and the former maybe easier for the public to understand(?). And seeing "....woman" would suggest the trans is simply temporary for the transistion, until one is physically and legally female.

Just my $.02.

Great point

[HelenW]

I would expressly point out how cruel Berger's transphobic advice really is and how that kind of cruelty doesn't help at all.  It just adds more pain to the transkid's life.  I think it should not be left to the reader's thinking to realize that.  To many of them would agree with him, I'm afraid.

Otherwise I like the tone and most of the content.  I agree with the suggestion that you ID yourself as a transwoman but I think you should use the word transgender, since SB777 ought to cover all gender variant people, when referring to the rest of the community.

Thank you for doing this.  I have nothing but respect and admiration for those of us who would fight for our rights.  We certainly won't get them any other way.

hugs & smiles
Emelye

[Hazumu]

Steph: 

I thought long and hard about which word to use.  While medically I'm transsexual, having decided I need to proceed at least past the SRS milestone, the word 'sexual' in transsexual has the unfortunate effect of making our sworn enemies think of 'doing it', which leads them to think of the perversion of predatory pedophilia.  We know this is bunk.  But I believe in the matter of education, using the word 'transsexual'  with the great uneducated is tantamount to handing them the hammer with which they will beat us.  Your point is valid, though, so...

SusanK, thank you for your suggestion.  It neatly avoids the word 'sexual'.

Dennis, I was trying to obliquely bring up the dreaded 'potty' issue.  Mentioning Mr. Wobbly in the ladies' bathroom will set off an unwanted reaction (as I'm sure you've all noted Right Here On This Board...)  I was hoping that switching the allusion to the men's room would get the point across.  And yes, some trans guys do use urine directors 

Emelye, I thought that Matt Berger's comment was germane to the discussion in that it puts center stage the prejudiced, bigoted cruelty of the fundamental right.  It's hard to deny this level of rancor exists when there it is in black-and-white.  This is the issue they are trying to address in Vacaville.  But I understand your point that it may be too strong and may provoke a backlash.  My feeling is to throw this sort of thing into the light of day where it can be dealt with.

Thank you all for your comments.  Now I have to write a new draft 

Karen

[David W. Shelton]

Okay, I know I'm coming in a little late, but I wanted to throw down my thoughts...

Karen's use of transgender is critical here. While we might prefer to use "transsexual" to be accurate, the transgender label is needed for a piece like this. We simply can't give the other side ANY ammunition.

Which brings me to my major point. Please, please, don't give NARTH any print whatsoever. Their extreme views are verbally violent to the core, and even using them as an example of how vile people are... just gives them more of a platform. I would strike that whole section completely if it were me. Further, try to avoid using the phrase, "it's not about..." at all. This just gives more of a platform to THEIR side. It's your piece. Leave their BS out of it!

A piece like this needs to do two things: 1) TELL YOUR STORY. This is absolutely critical. You've done well with that already. And 2) tell the facts. This combination is like a one-two punch that makes for great op-ed piece.

Hope that helps!