setting the record straight on trans people

[queerunity]

Hey,

As a non-trans person but a strong ally I feel it is my obligation to speak up when I hear people speak incorrectly about trans people or are outright transphobic.  Yesterday I was at a lesbian wedding and there was a trans person and one straight man told me "i understand the lifestyle choice thing" but that the transgender thing is radical and weird".  I immediately explained to him that I believed being transgender was biological and told him about the many very young children who experience gender identity issues.  I find that when you bring up children into the trans equation people are more likely to see this as not being a freak thing and it gives legitimacy to the notion that this really is not a choice. 

Barbara Walters had a very moving program on trans children, I believe EVERYONE should have to see it, it changes hearts and minds.  I have the program on my blog below, it is in 5 segments.  Please watch it and let me know what you think.  More importantly show it to people who don't understand.

http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/05/diversity-lesson-101-transgender.html

[Kim]

Interesting web site but it left one group out of transgender definitions- intersexed. We exist too, mind you we sometimes even get snubbed by other TG's as there really is no full explanation as to our existence. But that's alright, I love me so all's well   
                                      Kim   

[queerunity]

Hey Kim,

I actually do deal with intersex political/social issues on my blog, but not in the realm of trans issues.  Intersex people may or may not be trans, by definition a trans person is "transforming" themselves, whereas some intersex people may choose to transform aspects of their gender expression or sex some choose to remain the way God made them. 

anyways here is my write up on intersexuality
http://queersunited.blogspot.com/2008/04/diversity-lesson-101-intersexuality_1907.html

and for more posts I made regarding intersexuality you can check this out!
http://queersunited.blogspot.com/search/label/intersexuality

thanks for your feedback and im always looking for more material to blog about activist issues on intersex, hard to come by let me know if you know of anything

[Lori]

Seems to be a lot of crusaders lately. How nice. I'll take all the help I can get as long as it's the right help.

[queerunity]

the queer community must be united

[NicholeW.]

Must be? I understand the sentiment, but have this sneaking suspicion that 'uniting' a varied group of people who all, in one fashion or another, tend to violate norms is rather like trying to herd a few million cats into one enclosure.

It might be possible, but would the work required to do it be worth the end-result? 

Nichole

[Shana A]

It might be possible, but would the work required to do it be worth the end-result? 

Nichole

If the end result is full equality under the law and the right to live freely as ourselves in whatever gender we choose, then it'll be worth the effort.

It won't be easy though.... <meow.... meow..... hiss.... meow... purr....> 

Z

[NicholeW.]

It might be possible, but would the work required to do it be worth the end-result? 

Nichole

If the end result is full equality under the law and the right to live freely as ourselves in whatever gender we choose, then it'll be worth the effort.

It won't be easy though.... <meow.... meow..... hiss.... meow... purr....> 

Z

Exactly, Z!!!  I don't want to be enclosed at close quarters with all you other cats and your claws and your bites!!! 

[Elwood]

My mother thinks being transgendered is a choice. She thinks that little kids who are transgendered have over active imaginations, and that adults who are transgendered are disturbed individuals. She thinks my gender identity is something I've made up. It's very tough, because I don't consider it a "lifestyle" or a choice. TRANSITION is a choice. A choice most of us make because we HAVE TO. We have to because if we don't we suffer, or like many, die. HRT helps passability and so we struggle in the public less. I am sick of people thinking I am a 14 year old boy instead of an 18 year old young man. Estrogen makes girls look softer. I have to struggle with that. My mom doesn't seem to understand how I feel, nor does she really want to. Which makes it worse. She makes accusations that are outright lies and then won't let me correct her.

[cindianna_jones]

Must be? I understand the sentiment, but have this sneaking suspicion that 'uniting' a varied group of people who all, in one fashion or another, tend to violate norms is rather like trying to herd a few million cats into one enclosure.

It might be possible, but would the work required to do it be worth the end-result? 

Nichole

It is interesting to note that we do tend to get along better than other disparate groups don'tchya think?  Personally, I think we are individually worse than cats but we still manage to look out for each other. Amazing.

Cindi

[NicholeW.]

Must be? I understand the sentiment, but have this sneaking suspicion that 'uniting' a varied group of people who all, in one fashion or another, tend to violate norms is rather like trying to herd a few million cats into one enclosure.

It might be possible, but would the work required to do it be worth the end-result? 

Nichole

It is interesting to note that we do tend to get along better than other disparate groups don'tchya think?  Personally, I think we are individually worse than cats but we still manage to look out for each other. Amazing.

Cindi

Well.... Yes. A herd of kitties? O, why not. Now, I want someone to 'groom' me!! Like, lick some of those places I cannot reach, the back of my head and my ears!!

[tekla]

I have a confession.  I listen in on people's conversations.  Everywhere.  All the time.  You think I'm reading, or listening to an Ipod, or working on my 'puter, but what I'm really doing is listening to you, what you say, how you say it, the speech patterns, the vocabulary, the cadence, the modulation - because I'm really into the way people communicate with each other.

"i understand the lifestyle choice thing" but that the transgender thing is radical and weird"
People don't talk like that.  I'm sure its in there to set some sort of standard as to how far one would go  - even at a lesbian wedding - to defend our rights.  I don't see it that way at all.  First of all, this poor (fictional) smuck at the lesbian wedding who said this has ever right to see it as weird.  So what?  Another country heard from.  Second, who talks like that but some 'strawman' character in a set-up?  Almost for sure, its not anyone at a lesbian wedding.

Me, I distinguish between weddings as "open bar" and "no open bar" - like who ever is getting hitched is paying all that much attention to me when I'm there anyway.  Yeesh. 

But here is my favorite part.  I get giddy when I see this stuff.  Really.

Barbara Walters had a very moving program on trans children, I believe EVERYONE should have to see it

And are we all going to sit down as a nation and watch it at 10 next Tuesday?  What do you mean 'should' have to watch it?  Like they should be forced if they don't?  What if I hate Barbra Walters (and I do) finding her demeaning and haughty at the same time?  Could I watch Silence of the Lambs again?  I just love Jodi Foster so much.  I mean this sounds like Rachael's good ole Soviet Union were everyone watch movie about Potemkin and be proud. 

Sometimes propaganda works.  That's why there is a demand for it.  But its not 100%.  In order to really change hearts and minds (wow, Vietnam flashback on that one) you do it one person at a time.

[Elwood]

Barbara Walters had a very moving program on trans children, I believe EVERYONE should have to see it

And are we all going to sit down as a nation and watch it at 10 next Tuesday?  What do you mean 'should' have to watch it?  Like they should be forced if they don't?

Good point. But her program really isn't 100% effective or anything. My mom says that their case is different than mine. She also says they're disturbed children. One excuse after another. A child has an over active imagination, she says. Transpeople are just people who need therapy, not surgery, she says. For every case I show her of a transgendered child or adult, she picks out "something else" that is wrong with them that is "causing" their gender identity.

[Robin C.]

Every child on the planet has an overactive imagination. They're children. In addition to that, the whole idea, the very concept of "overactive" imagination - sorry for my saying this - is complete bull->-bleeped-<-. I think our imagination, aside from separating us from the machines and animals, is precisely what drives innovation and progress as a culture and society. No one who meant anything to anyone or felt there was something worth fighting for, creating, or distinguishing did not have an "overactive" imagination. Sorry for being so crude here but this is something I feel strongly about. Any parent who believes in a such thing as an "overactive imagination" should NOT be parenting. That kind of thing destroys innovative minds.

[gennee]

How can transgender be a choice? I discovered my transgender identity three years ago at age 56. I never knew it because I never struggled with gender issues before. When I was in my thirties I sensed that I was different. I got the crazy urge to put on a skirt in May 2005. After I resisted the urge, I finally relented. It set in motion the events that two months later lead to come out to myself that I was a crossdresser and transgender. I believed that transgender was in me all the while. It was the time for it to come out.

Recently, I looked at some short stories that I had written several years ago. I was shocked that those writings revealed that I was struggling with gender issues as far back as 2001-and I didn't know it. I have no doubt that transgender is inborn just as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and the other expressions.

Gennee

[Janet_Girl]

My mother thinks being transgendered is a choice. She thinks that little kids who are transgendered have over active imaginations, and that adults who are transgendered are disturbed individuals. She thinks my gender identity is something I've made up. It's very tough, because I don't consider it a "lifestyle" or a choice. TRANSITION is a choice. A choice most of us make because we HAVE TO. We have to because if we don't we suffer, or like many, die. HRT helps passability and so we struggle in the public less. I am sick of people thinking I am a 14 year old boy instead of an 18 year old young man. Estrogen makes girls look softer. I have to struggle with that. My mom doesn't seem to understand how I feel, nor does she really want to. Which makes it worse. She makes accusations that are outright lies and then won't let me correct her.

My ex says the something about me and she said I was probably gay.  And I think that is why I am having a really tough time at going into transition, What if others think the same thing?  But I read something in one of the other threads someone ( mostly Nichole    Could have been Lynn  ) said until you're ready to lose everything, DON'T TRANSITION.  I think it is time to lose everything, I have already lost everything but my job.  And after all it is only a job.  And who am I living for anyway?

I know that Nichole said to make a plan.  Well I sort of already have only.  I am targeting full time in about a month.  Another laser session,  a makeup lesson. And then NO MORE EXCUSES.  I give myself permission to be me and no one will tell me not too. To those that have a problem. ..I., If you know what I mean. 

Much  Love,
Janet

[MCMCyn]

I've been putting my story out into the public to help others like us, and more importantly to educate the 'unwashed masses' and to try to end the stereotypes about us. So far it's been woorking quite well and I've changed a few peoples opinions on the transgendered world.

Plus I've had a few girls contact me, saying my story has helped them be more out and having their families understand them better.

[gennee]

My question to those who are against is 'How do they know so much about us when they they won't give us the time of day? Being ignorant is one thing; choosing to be ignorant is quite another. Seems they have taken the latter approach.

Gennee

[Janet_Girl]

My question to those who are against is 'How do they know so much about us when they they won't give us the time of day? Being ignorant is one thing; choosing to be ignorant is quite another. Seems they have taken the latter approach.

Gennee

Ain't it the truth, girlfriend.

Love,
Janet

[Jamie-o]

My question to those who are against is 'How do they know so much about us when they they won't give us the time of day? Being ignorant is one thing; choosing to be ignorant is quite another. Seems they have taken the latter approach.

Gennee

Well said!.