Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm a guy again! ABC newsman who switched genders wants to switch back
'Amnesia' awakening

    By TARA PALMERI
    Last Updated: 6:01 PM, August 6, 2013
    Posted: 12:49 AM, August 6, 2013

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/guy_again_eKq3Jw6LjgsjpBdmZklrtM (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/guy_again_eKq3Jw6LjgsjpBdmZklrtM)

EXCLUSIVE

He thought he was a woman trapped in a man's body — but it turns out he's "just another boring straight guy."

ABC News editor Don Ennis strolled into the newsroom in May wearing a little black dress and an auburn wig and announced he was transgender and splitting from his wife. He wanted to be called Dawn.

But now he says he suffered from a two-day bout of amnesia that has made him realize he wants to live his life again as Don.

"I accused my wife of playing some kind of cruel joke, dressing me up in a wig and bra and making fake ID's with the name 'Dawn' on it. Seriously," Ennis wrote in a memo he posted to the newsroom bulletin board Friday, explaining his shock after he woke up from what he called a "transient global amnesia" last month.


::)

I was just about to post this!  :icon_shakefist: ;)

Amy

Oh. Well, if you don't need the little black dress anymore, I'll take it!

Quote from: Amelia Pond on August 06, 2013, 07:19:55 PM
I was just about to post this!  :icon_shakefist: ;)

Amy

LOL, great minds!  ;D

I cringe every time I read a public de-transition story. :(

Quote from: MadeleineG on August 06, 2013, 07:46:02 PM
I cringe every time I read a public de-transition story. :(

Everyone is entitled to do whatever they feel they need to do in order to be happy. I just hope he'll be happy being himself now. Though, he might realize later that she needs to come out again. ;)

Amy

Quote from: MadeleineG on August 06, 2013, 07:46:02 PM
I cringe every time I read a public de-transition story. :(

Why? Detransitioners are simply people on their journey like the rest of us. They need the same support anyone else does. Hugs, Devlyn

I have no idea what to think of this story. It confuses me to no end.  :-\
I just hope Don finds the happiness that he deserves.

Amnesia? Really? C'mon. I wonder if he/she is just non-binary and struggling to own his gender?

 He was transitioning for 3 months but after two days he decides it's all a lie? It could be possible that he did go through some sort of break down or mental episode.  Then again, it's more probable that he tried it, didn't like it and looked for an excuse. 

I have no problem with detransitioning, but these are the kind of stories that my family uses to try and "convince" me that I'm making a mistake.  This story is going to haunt me if they read it.  I can see my family now throwing it in my face saying that I am having a psychotic episode (apparently for 13 years) and they will be able to snap me out of it in a day or two with the proper treatment.  God, please don't let my family see this story.  :icon_cry:

I actually think this is beautiful, it takes double the guts to transition then transition back in public and talk about it. Plus he must be in the eye a lot already. I hope that the story isn't misused by the anti-LGBT crowd however.

Quote from: MadeleineG on August 06, 2013, 07:46:02 PM
I cringe every time I read a public de-transition story. :(

To clarify, I'm not challenging de-transitioning, but the media coverage of it. I can think of a few stories that have come out over the years that seemed to sensationalize detransitioning stories as evidence that transgender motives are flippant and/or superficial.

I agree, absolutely, that this person has the right and privilege to reverse course! I worry, however, that detransition stories compromise those seeking initial transition.

Personally, I'd rather not have my father read this, lest he spend the next ten years reminding me that I could still turn back.


Maddy   

I always try and keep the attitude of 'how would I feel if that was me?' and it must be hard for him. I don't know what happens in the brain etc when people get amnesia but he must of had some sort of accident. Who knows what happened in his head, do we really know what happens in our own brains to make us trans? Something happened to his memory and cognitive functions, so maybe those thoughts are now repressed somewhere. We will probably never know and that's ok. He has to do what makes him happy, just like we all do. Yeah these stories may be used to say people who transition will regret it, but there are a lot more stories that show that transitioning was the right thing to do.

Quote from: MadeleineG on August 06, 2013, 08:19:57 PM
To clarify, I'm not challenging de-transitioning, but the media coverage of it. I can think of a few stories that have come out over the years that seemed to sensationalize detransitioning stories as evidence that transgender motives are flippant and/or superficial.

I agree, absolutely, that this person has the right and privilege to reverse course! I worry, however, that detransition stories compromise those seeking initial transition.

Personally, I'd rather not have my father read this, lest he spend the next ten years reminding me that I could still turn back.


Maddy

Exactly my thoughts on this.  I have been shown so many detransition stories as though I didn't know it was a thing.  All I hear from my family is I'm making and mistake and will regret it. Unfortunately, these stories are often exploited for these purposes. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with changing your mind.  After all, transitioning is hard and isn't for everyone.  Do what's best for you.  It just sucks that some use it to promote an agenda.

Quote from: MadeleineG on August 06, 2013, 08:19:57 PM
To clarify, I'm not challenging de-transitioning, but the media coverage of it. I can think of a few stories that have come out over the years that seemed to sensationalize detransitioning stories as evidence that transgender motives are flippant and/or superficial.

I agree, absolutely, that this person has the right and privilege to reverse course! I worry, however, that detransition stories compromise those seeking initial transition.

Personally, I'd rather not have my father read this, lest he spend the next ten years reminding me that I could still turn back.


Maddy

I agree and I don't feel comfortable when I hear about a detransition story because it gives more ammo to those who are against us, thinking it's a phase or it can be changed or ->-bleeped-<- is not legit etc.  It's kind of the whole "well if this person changed their mind, then you can too" as if you and that person are mirrored images of each other with the exact same life story.

Best of luck to the person though.

Quote from: MadeleineG on August 06, 2013, 08:19:57 PM
To clarify, I'm not challenging de-transitioning, but the media coverage of it. I can think of a few stories that have come out over the years that seemed to sensationalize detransitioning stories as evidence that transgender motives are flippant and/or superficial.

I agree, absolutely, that this person has the right and privilege to reverse course! I worry, however, that detransition stories compromise those seeking initial transition.

Personally, I'd rather not have my father read this, lest he spend the next ten years reminding me that I could still turn back.


Maddy

I agree but detransition is something that still happens in our community, for one reason or another. I think it's important to report detransitioning despite the bigots that will latch onto it for "proof" of invalidating our gender identities.

If someone wants to use it against me, I'll just show them 10 articles about people who are happier after transitioning for every 1 detransition story they show me. If they've known me long enough, they'd see that I'm actually happier since starting my transition so it makes the whole thing moo (a cow's opinion). ;)

Amy

Quote from: MadeleineG on August 06, 2013, 07:46:02 PM
I cringe every time I read a public de-transition story. :(

I cringed as well, because of the NY Post's overly sensationalistic approach to the story of this person's de-transition.

De-transitioning is an issue in our community. I know it all too well, from personal experience. I didn't de-transition due to not being trans, I de-transitioned due to considerable discrimination. 

I wish them all the best, and hope they find peace. I really don't want to hear what happened to Cristine Penner again!

Shana

I know Don (Dawn) Ennis and he's, in my opinion, mentally I'll, gender dysphoria notwithstanding. We all know that many in our community halt HRT, with some resuming sometime in the future, however blaming it on some sort of "global amnesia" is cowardice, at best. He has caused great damage to transgender acceptance and understanding. Many people will now look at us wig-wearing nuts because of his absurd claims. Honesty would have done wonders to help our (his) cause. He feared losing his three children, wife, and life of male privilege.

Please don't email me with pseudo-science comments about amnesia, because I don't buy it for a second, and I know for a fact why Don reversed course because it came from his own lip-stick painted lips.

Bizarre. There isn't any point in my life that I didn't believe I was a woman or I didn't believe I should have been born female. Extrapolate that.

Quote from: DrZoey on August 07, 2013, 11:26:10 AM
I know Don (Dawn) Ennis and he's, in my opinion, mentally I'll, gender dysphoria notwithstanding. We all know that many in our community halt HRT, with some resuming sometime in the future, however blaming it on some sort of "global amnesia" is cowardice, at best. He has caused great damage to transgender acceptance and understanding. Many people will now look at us wig-wearing nuts because of his absurd claims. Honesty would have done wonders to help our (his) cause. He feared losing his three children, wife, and life of male privilege.

Please don't email me with pseudo-science comments about amnesia, because I don't buy it for a second, and I know for a fact why Don reversed course because it came from his own lip-stick painted lips.

When i seen this i was thinking the same he gave into family, friends and public pressures. Thing is i know many who will not even think of dipping there toes in the water because things in the media like this adds more to there fears.

Oh well my life goes on and being thick skin i just do not care what others think anymore. I am way past the fear. I am happy.

Izz

Quote from: DrZoey on August 07, 2013, 11:26:10 AM
I know Don (Dawn) Ennis and he's, in my opinion, mentally I'll, gender dysphoria notwithstanding. We all know that many in our community halt HRT, with some resuming sometime in the future, however blaming it on some sort of "global amnesia" is cowardice, at best. He has caused great damage to transgender acceptance and understanding. Many people will now look at us wig-wearing nuts because of his absurd claims. Honesty would have done wonders to help our (his) cause. He feared losing his three children, wife, and life of male privilege.

Please don't email me with pseudo-science comments about amnesia, because I don't buy it for a second, and I know for a fact why Don reversed course because it came from his own lip-stick painted lips.

Yeah, I don't think he is being honest about it.  I'm fine with detransitioning, but the amnesia thing makes it appear that we are mental and can be cured.  It's a convenient excuse for him that hurts us in return.  Sorry, I can't really view him in a favorable light at all.   

Another "black eye" for Trans folks is all that is!  ::)  He blames his transition on everything but his self honesty. His mother gave him female hormones to make him look younger? Or its his wife's fault? Oh, and then he gets a check up and its a hormone imbalence? He fails to mention anything about seeing a therapist and getting his letter for HRT. If he did, then maybe his Endo would have caught the hormone problem(If that's even a legit cause for GID). Or is his HRT experience just the illegal hormones his mom gave him? That would be a key piece of info don't ya think Don. I call BS on the whole thing. Just look at the second paragraph in the story:

"ABC News editor Don Ennis strolled into the newsroom in May wearing a little black dress and an auburn wig and announced he was transgender and splitting from his wife. He wanted to be called Dawn."

Funny, that's not the way most Trans folks go about coming out at work. The average person reads that artical and will think all Trans folks "are a few cards short of a full deck".

Yeah, thanks Don! Nice job! Is this it, or should we expect more comments that will damage Trans acceptance & understanding for the rest of us?  ::)

If somebody feels they need to de-transition, fine. Just don't throw the rest of us under the bus while your at it! :-\

I was on a talk show yesterday with Dr. Maddie Deutsch and I thought I was tough! She said it like it is, -He threw the entire transgender community under the bus with his selfish transient global amnesia story. I love her!

Anyway, I have a better descriptor for transient global amnesia....Bull!





Edited for profanity.

Quote from: learningtolive on August 06, 2013, 08:13:14 PM
He was transitioning for 3 months but after two days he decides it's all a lie? It could be possible that he did go through some sort of break down or mental episode.  Then again, it's more probable that he tried it, didn't like it and looked for an excuse. 

I have no problem with detransitioning, but these are the kind of stories that my family uses to try and "convince" me that I'm making a mistake.  This story is going to haunt me if they read it.  I can see my family now throwing it in my face saying that I am having a psychotic episode (apparently for 13 years) and they will be able to snap me out of it in a day or two with the proper treatment.  God, please don't let my family see this story.  :icon_cry:

I agree with you.  There remains a stigma among the uneducated (about issues of gender dysphoria) public that we are crazy or deluded.

There are good reasons why some people stop or detransition - but very, very few of them because they "came to their senses."  If you have a long-standing sense of dysphoria, then you are neither crazy or deluded.

Quote from: DrZoey on August 07, 2013, 11:26:10 AM
I know Don (Dawn) Ennis and he's, in my opinion, mentally I'll, gender dysphoria notwithstanding. We all know that many in our community halt HRT, with some resuming sometime in the future, however blaming it on some sort of "global amnesia" is cowardice, at best. He has caused great damage to transgender acceptance and understanding. Many people will now look at us wig-wearing nuts because of his absurd claims. Honesty would have done wonders to help our (his) cause. He feared losing his three children, wife, and life of male privilege.

Please don't email me with pseudo-science comments about amnesia, because I don't buy it for a second, and I know for a fact why Don reversed course because it came from his own lip-stick painted lips.

I was thinking this same thing in the back of my brain, glad you clarified it!

This whole thing smells like an Ugly Betty ripoff to me.

A coming out article from 08 May 2012:

ABC News Producer Don Ennis Is Now Dawn Ennis, Comes Out As Transgender (http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/abc-news-producer-don-ennis-is-now-dawn-ennis-comes-out-as-t)

Dawn has been incredibly forthcoming about her decision, maintaining it's not a midlife crisis or her playing dress-up, but a very conscious and important decision she's made.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs3-ec.buzzfed.com%2Fstatic%2Fenhanced%2Fwebdr01%2F2013%2F5%2F8%2F10%2Fenhanced-buzz-7068-1368023484-18.jpg&hash=d6fb880b75b2da641e598a3ca86580d36e638470)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs3-ec.buzzfed.com%2Fstatic%2Fenhanced%2Fwebdr06%2F2013%2F5%2F8%2F10%2Fenhanced-buzz-27408-1368024379-21.jpg&hash=ad593be7da6aea1e408db36d99e19309453a8900)

http://www.nyctransgenders.com/the-truth-about-the-abc-news-editor-targeted-by-the-new-york-post/ (http://www.nyctransgenders.com/the-truth-about-the-abc-news-editor-targeted-by-the-new-york-post/)

In a recent article authored by Tara Palmari of the New York Post titled "I'm a guy again!  ABC newsman who switched genders wants to switch", excerpts from an E-mail that Don Ennis sent to his colleges were taken out of context.  The result of the misleading dialogue by the New York Post has left the Transgender community with new wounds and created unnecessary tension within the community......

There's a strong smell of BS about this.Global amnesia what I think is that he made a wrong decision and won't admit it.Genuine TS people are collateral damage because of this.

So now its the NY Post that lied or mislead what he said in the email? If that's the case, then he needs to sue the NY Post. I actually have a hard time believing that everything in the NY Post story was false or taken out of context. The crap about his mother giving him female hormones to make him look younger and prolong his acting carear? The part about using fake ID's? The hormone imbalance & amnesia? When he was diagnosed with GID, did he mention to his therapist/doctor that his mom gave him unsupervised hormone treatments? I would think a reputable therapist/doctor would have done some test to see if his problem wasn't hormone related? The ABC story states he was on a doctor supervised HRT. How did a doctor not pick up the hormone imbalance with his lab work. Its the first thing they do before prescribing HRT! And he claims his mothers illegitimate HRT caused the hormone imbalance?  ::)

Why did it take so long for his doctors to find the hormone problem? It doesn't mention anything about feeling Trans/different from a young age. Having an operation that would allow him to live as the man he was? The whole story stinks of BS! I still think he's a World Class D-bag and that his behavior has damaged the Trans community significantly!

And the story from Everything Trans in NY seems to clear him of his role in this with out giving any creditable info on why he was not at fault. Whats up with that? Jennifer Lopez can stick it too! >:(

I have a hard time believing that an amnesia that lasts 24 to 48 hours would cause 7 years of trans feelings and 13 weeks of transition.  It doesn't add up.

Yeah, would have been much better if he'd shown some honesty. I don't buy the amnesia story for a second.

What's worse, I can see the transphobic bigots out there using stories like this to hurt the community. Things like "See here, they're not really women, just deluded men. And that's why they shouldn't be allowed in women's restrooms, or DV shelters, or any other space for women."

Thanks for the link, Keaira. I read through that and it helps contextually. I am still skeptical.  The reality is that none of us will ever know exactly what was going through his head. Mainly, I think what he did and how it was handled was not the best, but how many of us have not made mistakes? I have in my own early transition. Okay, maybe none like that, but i have made some.  He is just in a big spotlight. 

I feel sorry for him more than anything. I would bet he has some big demons lurking in his closet, and given this debacle they will be soul crushing and paralyzing. He may have caused harm to our community, but he has to live with himself the rest of his life. Jmho.

He went back in time, good for him!
But blaming his mother and wife for his TG tendencies is ab-so-lu-te-ly hilarious!

More power to him.  Although, it sounds like he might have multiple personalities AKA DID.  I hope he explored that possibility before announcing that he is unashamedly and unabashedly a man.  Otherwise, he might just end up with another little case of amnesia and people will accuse him of being the boy who cried wolf.  Multiple personalities is serious business.

There's not much that we get through the media anymore that isn't skewed to make the reader believe one way or another, add to that this person's incredible story that comes off as pure fabrication resulting from some kind of delusional episode along with all the other hype, makes me wonder why anyone would waste their money on a newspaper subscription. This individual's irrational story will most certainly make anything he has written on the pages of his employer's newspaper extremely suspect. I believe that he has destroyed his own career as a news person and has dealt a severe blow to the credibility of transgender issues. Everything he has said, all of his motives are extremely suspect and totally irrational beyond belief.

Well, whatever his motives, dillusions or stupidity, We will be the ones doing damage control. People will believe his story because there is a large part of the population who blindly follow the news, no matter how fantastic the story. It's kind of like when people believe Jesus appeared on a piece of toast. They'll swear its a miracle but the brighter people of the world would reason that Jesus has better things to do than create an image inside a loaf of bread. Or he is a real prankster. :P
I guess we will see just how many sheeple there are in this world and go from there. ;)

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