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Transgender Children - Out Of The Shadows

Started by tinkerbell, January 01, 2007, 11:49:44 PM

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tinkerbell

Quote from: videoI have the right to go through puberty in the gender I identify with...

:'( what a powerful statement.  I don't know if I'm super emotional lately, but the truth is that this video got to me very deeply.



http://youtube.com/watch?v=y1LPs8sE4M0

tinkerbell :icon_chick:
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Brianna

Wow, Tink. I am totally crying watching that... What a great link!

I do think it makes a certian photogenic ploy - but it is certianly powerful. I fully endorse the idea of a TS childrens bill of rights.

Bri
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cindianna_jones

I agree there needs to be more awareness out there.  This is a good presentation.

But I do have reservations about the bill of rights thing.  Wow... that's a lot to hit someone with!  It's not that I disagree with any of it.  But it even is a lot for me to consider much less someone who is new to this gig.

I suppose that's why it's good there is this material starting to pop up.  Perhaps it will even help ME!  Thanks Tink for the post.  Nice to see you in the forum tonight Bri.

Cindi
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Hazumu

I wanted a copy of this video to take to work as a viral marketing campaign.  I found the parent organization website, but the video wasn't working, due to a misspelled file name.  I sent them a letter.  They sent one back and said they'd fixed the filename, but due to copyright considerations, it would stream only.

Here's the link to the video.  It only works if you use Internet Explorer (not Firefox,) and have Windows Media installed on your machine;

http://www.imatyfa.org/Imatyfa/movie2.wmv

Or you can go to their homepage and view the video imbedded in the page;

http://www.imatyfa.org/Imatyfa/Imatyfa.html

Yes, Cindi, I imagine the moral absolutists will have a hissy over the TG child bill of rights.  Even with tons of studies proving it's nature not nurture they will still have a hissy, believing a child is like a lump of original-sin Play-Doh they are responsible for molding and shaping into upright, moral, self-reliant citizens.  I want to preach to the choir and the undecideds, who will be receptive to the message.

Karen (on her soapbox -- again!)
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chunk

 :'( Wow that made me wish they taught that kind of thing in school.

Chunk
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SusanK

It's been removed from YouTube, and only available in Windows Media player on their Website. Too bad for those that don't have or want PC's or Microsoft products.
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ChildOfTheLight

That's a shame, as I posted the link to a few other places.

Excellent video.
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Laurry

I agree with Cindi...All good information and I didn't find anything I disagree with, but a Bill of Rights is pushing it a little (to me).  Sorry, but everyone wants their own Bill of Rights, from Pets (thanks Humane Society and PETA) to Rednecks (thanks Jeff Foxworthy)...where in the world did we ever get the idea that the society owes us, or that we have the God-given right to never be annoyed by anyone?

Children tease and pick on other children for things like Velcro shoes vs laces (this happened to my son), funny clothing (even if gender doesn't enter in) or having "uncool" toys...how can anyone expect gender variance to be off limits?  The schools can try to enforce this, but if you look at how well they are keeping other forms of harrassment and violence out of the schools, do you realistically have any hope they will perform this better?

Educating society is the key, and I've always been a believer that a well organized, informative campaign will accomplish more than all the In-Your-Face marches and protests ever will.  Videos like this can be very helpful in touching both the head and the heart of society.  All the government rules and regulations won't change how people feel, just how they behave in public...feelings are changed one heart at a time.  That is the direction I support and how I try to live my life...one heart at a time.

......Laurie
Ya put your right foot in.  You put your right foot out.  You put your right foot in and you shake it all about.  You do the Andro-gyney and you turn yourself around.  That's what it's all about.
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tinkerbell

Quote from: SusanK on January 03, 2007, 07:42:01 AM
It's been removed from YouTube, and only available in Windows Media player on their Website. Too bad for those that don't have or want PC's or Microsoft products.

I just updated the youtube link, so the video should be working now.  Thank you SusanK for letting us know. :)

tinkerbell :icon_chick:
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SusanK

Quote from: Tinkerbell on January 03, 2007, 06:08:27 PM
I just updated the youtube link, so the video should be working now.  Thank you SusanK for letting us know. :)

Thank you very much. It's worth wide distribution to schools, legislatures, Congress, churches, and so on. It's cool, and I don't see how anyone can say anything against it or their efforts, and especially against transyouths. It's just about being, being yourself like everyone wants to be and do.

--Susan--
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Melinda

Quote from: LaurieO on January 03, 2007, 05:58:03 PM
I agree with Cindi...All good information and I didn't find anything I disagree with, but a Bill of Rights is pushing it a little (to me).  Sorry, but everyone wants their own Bill of Rights, from Pets (thanks Humane Society and PETA) to Rednecks (thanks Jeff Foxworthy)...where in the world did we ever get the idea that the society owes us, or that we have the God-given right to never be annoyed by anyone?

Children tease and pick on other children for things like Velcro shoes vs laces (this happened to my son), funny clothing (even if gender doesn't enter in) or having "uncool" toys...how can anyone expect gender variance to be off limits?  The schools can try to enforce this, but if you look at how well they are keeping other forms of harrassment and violence out of the schools, do you realistically have any hope they will perform this better?

Educating society is the key, and I've always been a believer that a well organized, informative campaign will accomplish more than all the In-Your-Face marches and protests ever will.  Videos like this can be very helpful in touching both the head and the heart of society.  All the government rules and regulations won't change how people feel, just how they behave in public...feelings are changed one heart at a time.  That is the direction I support and how I try to live my life...one heart at a time.

......Laurie
Excellant Point!

Adding another bill of rights would add more unambigous langange, then who fall into that catagoery the 37 year old man who has the mental capacity of a 5th grader (he would be considered a child in a physicologists work) but yet at the same time feels the body he is in should be female?  Society owes nothing to itself, society should learn except people for who they are, gay, lesbian or transgender, you can't tell me that you know a gay man from a straight man in the food market or the lesbian thats a co-worker from the rest of the staff. 

TG I have no idea I dont pay that much attention anymore, if you look me in the eye when Im talking to you, the rest is out the door., I had a hard time adjusting to it back in the day and still depending on whom I'm with during the day makes it more difficult, my mom disapproves, while my Father doesnt think about it-bigger fish to fry-and if worrying about what other people think is all you have to worry about then boy life is simple.

Everyone this day and age seems to expect things of this nature and has dealt with it in one form or another, basically second nature. Sorry if thats putting it blunt, but i dont sugar coat stuff.   I know people that go bonkers when they see a person that looks different, how one conducts themselves determines whether they are honest with themself or not.
Its the guy that married his live stock that worries me.....well maybe not.  ???

My mother wanted a little girl from day one-geuss what I got stuck wearing to school-an outfit that had pretty hummingbirds and flowers on it, at the time I guess it was A-okay I was on the Indian Reservation so it didnt matter-the poor amongst the poorer. I was teased cause of my height in 4th grade at 5'11, I was 1 of 2 freaks out 800 kids.

OTH the Video was good wothwhile info.
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Steph

I have to agree with many here that a specific Bill of Rights to protect TG youth is probably not the way to go.  I believe that a Charter of Rights and Freedoms similar to the one that protects us here in Canada is a better way to pursue this.

Just my thoughts.

Steph
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Sheila

There are steps that can be taken for children, but the parents and the school has to be educated on this subject. I am on a few boards, less than what I was when I was learning about transexualism, they all seem to know a lot about this subject and there is a wealth of knowledge on all of these boards. It's too bad that none of this knowledge gets to where it is suppose to go. We all are talking to the choir here. I didn't get to look at this video, but have seen first hand about children like this one. There are many more out there who are, just like most of us were, afraid to come out for various reasons. Go to a homeless shelter for children and you can see some who are trans.
Sheila
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kylie

Unbelievably beautiful. It makes me feel so much better about myself.

Thank you for sharing.

Forever humbled,

Kylie
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Shana A

I totally agree with the bill of rights. Children have the right to openly and safely express their gender as it feels right to them. My god, I wish I could've been openly myself as a child, it would've saved a lot of pain and anxiety later on. I knew damn well who I was, but unfortunately knew that it was inexpressible at that time.

zythyra
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde


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Laurry

Hi Zythyra

I agree that children (and the rest of us) should be free to openly and safely express themselves, and I pray that this will come to pass soon.  I also agree with all the points stated in the video's bill of rights.  My problem is the political game of how things are presented.

As a citizen, I have a duty to consider the welfare of the public and our society at large.  I also have the freedom to express myself as I see fit without fear of government reprisal...the so-called Free Speech Amendment in our US Bill of Rights.  I also must understand that my protection for free speech only applies to the government, not to society at large.  This means that while I am free to say anything I want, there is no "Right" for people not to react strongly if they disagree with what was said (short of harming my person or property).  That is the tricky part.

Our culture is bombarded constantly by special interest group after special interest group...each one shouting and demanding to be heard.  It seems as if the only way to make yourself heard is to find a sympathetic ear in the press and make some outrageous statement warning of doom and gloom or make an arrogant in-your-face protest with plenty of signs for the photo-op.  We will never change anyone's mind with those kind of activities...nobody does...all they do is preach to the choir and piss off everyone else.

We must change people's hearts and minds.  I tolerate a lot of things and don't raise a fuss because that is what I have to do to survive in society, but I accept only special few.  Our goal is not to have Tolerance, but rather to gain Acceptance.  We can use more videos like this...explaining...educating...stirring emotions.  These are good things and we should seek every opportunity possible to make them as widely available as possible.  We must be careful, however, to understand that people who haven't been made aware and thus may not support our position are not bad people.  They are not the enemy.  They should not be belittled or scorned because they don't agree with us, (this applies especially to the ones who have seen the material and disagree for other reasons).  The minute you take the discussion away from the issue and begin attacking the person or organization instead of the idea they expressed, you lose.  Period.  End of Game.  No matter how noble your cause, you just lost.  In order to win our goal, we must always be respectful of those who disagree.  We must present our comments and rebuttals in such a manner that even those that disagree cannot help but respect us for our intellectual honesty and integrity.  We gain those things and we begin to win the hearts of people.  That's our goal isn't it?  To be understood and allowed to live as anyone else without being threatened or harmed?  Isn't that what everyone wants, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, hair color, height, weight, whether they are rich or poor or prefer a PC or Mac?

Just my opinion...(the right one of course!  ;D)...you have your own and that's a good thing too.

....Laurie

Ya put your right foot in.  You put your right foot out.  You put your right foot in and you shake it all about.  You do the Andro-gyney and you turn yourself around.  That's what it's all about.
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Hazumu

I have no problem with the things spelled out in 'bill of rights'.  If these things were part of our cultural wisdom, transgendered children would likely have much happier, more secure childhoods and would grow up to be well-adjusted adults without the trust/anger/resentment/etc. issues so common to most of us adult TGs.  What's not to like?

But I do see a potential problem with the term 'bill of rights'.  It puts these things in a form that will make conservative-morality folk feel as if their parental moral authority is being infringed upon, and they will resent the intrusion into their 'god' 'given' 'authority', and will vigorously push back on any attempt to implement any part of it.

Karen
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Shana A

QuoteWe must change people's hearts and minds.  I tolerate a lot of things and don't raise a fuss because that is what I have to do to survive in society, but I accept only special few.  Our goal is not to have Tolerance, but rather to gain Acceptance.

Totally agreed Laurie. Changing hearts and minds is a long, slow process, and it often happens one person at a time. I'm the first to admit that I feel impatient sometimes, after all we've been experiencing gender oppression for thousands of years, and thus I want to see change sooner than later. I am also committed to doing the work to understand and learn tolerance for those who are diametrically opposed to my views. Not that this is an easy task.

zythyra
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde


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LynnER

My turn to cry....

I strongly beleave that something like this should be passed and made law...
Where children would be less likely to be ostrisiced<sp?> where teachers wouldnt prepetuate said ostrisacion... where parrents were educated rather than being left to near perminantly damage there kids psychy.....  Where the violence was not looked past or tolorated.... 
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Suzy

That's an awesome video.  Did I understand right, that all of those people at the end are trans?

I'm not sure if this can ever make it to legislation, but it sums up my hope for children.

Peace,
Kristi
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