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

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! 

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! 

Amy

LOL, great minds! 

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. 

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