Transgender in Trinidad and Tobago
Source: http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2015-07-20/transgender-tt
By Bobie-Lee Dixon, The Trinidad Guardian
Published: Monday, July 20, 2015
"Does someone wake up one morning and haphazardly decide that they no longer want to be the sex they were born as?
Not really, psychologists say. A number of factors play pivotal roles in the decision to change one's gender. In fact, research has shown that it is quite often than not, biological.
This is also the view of local psychologist Dr Keith Lequay who told the T&T Guardian sexuality and gender have a lot to do with genetics and hormones. Lequay said someone can be male but their gender female. He explained someone's physical package may appear to be one thing but that doesn't chime with the person's psyche and mentality. "
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This is good to see this kind of story in a Caribbean newspaper. The Caribbean is a horribly transphobic and homophobic place, worse than the middle east in many respects. Trinidad is somewhat progressive in this regard. People like Jowelle DeSouza (especially her) have helped push this forward. She is out, proud and not afraid, even winning national awards for her animal rights activism. So she is a model citizen.
Yet her gender identity is an issue for many. However she is gaining acceptance and many are now coming around to the idea of what it is to be transgender.
Maybe one day they'll let me change my BC and passport. One day. I hope.