Learning Experiences When it comes to transphobia, gays and lesbians still have

[Shana A]

Learning Experiences
When it comes to transphobia, gays and lesbians still have a lot to learn

by Sean Bugg
Published on July 14, 2010, 10:28pm

http://www.metroweekly.com/news/opinion/?ak=5429

I am terrified to write about transgender issues.

That's not an easy thing for me to admit, given my own self-image as a writer who's happy to share his opinions. But, to be honest, it's not really that much of a stretch for a gay white male editorialist to wax indignant over ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' or congressional malfeasance on gay and lesbian issues, or the accomplishments/failures of the White House on marriage and partner recognition. These are things I know and live and experience, and it's hardly a risk for me to write about them.

I haven't lived or experienced a transgender life -- I only know what I've learned from the stories of other people's lives. I'm lucky that I've gotten to help tell some of those stories here in the magazine, and that I've learned a lot from people like Mara Keisling, Dana Beyer, Earline Budd and -- from the issue you hold right now -- Diego Sanchez.