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http://chronicle.com/article/Coming-Out-in-Class/132403/ (http://chronicle.com/article/Coming-Out-in-Class/132403/)
Coming Out in Class
By Rachel McKinnon
June 25, 2012
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I think it's important for students to see successful trans people in professional positions. The media portrayal and general public knowledge of us is terrible. All too often, the only reason to talk about trans people is to make fun of us, or to pity us because of the discrimination, violence, and hardships we encounter.
....So I want people to see that trans people can be happy, contributing, and inspiring members of the community. I also want students to have to confront the unfamiliar, and to question their biases and assumptions. I hope doing so will make them better people, and make the world a little bit better for trans persons in general.
Here's how I went about coming out.
Congratulations on such a professional effort. Having someone lecturing on Gender issues who is TS will give substance to the subject. The students will have to get their heads around it if they want to pass that unit.
I came out in a Tutorial in my Gender Studies class. I felt it was a supportive environment and have seen at Uni that people really only notice that I am a fairly 'out' Lesbian if anything. Let's face it Universities can be pretty diverse.
Karen.
THATS NICE TO KNOW THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH GOING TO SUCH A POSITION REQUIRED GOOD TIME.