Hi,

I was asked what I would say to individuals placed in a juvenile detention center about "bullying and transgender education". Tell me what you think they should know.

Hugs,

Jen   

Hi Jen,

I think a lot of younger people do not have an understanding of the basics of what being trans means. There is a lot of ignorance. Many think it is sexual and a choice when it is how the brain is formed and trans is gender not sexuality. So I would outline something like this:

Vocabulary terms (cis and trans)

Transgender brain differences compared to Cisgender

How gender and secondary sexual characteristics do not align with trans and with cis gender is transparent to secondary sex characterizes. 

Pronouns and preferred name and why it is important

MTF and FTM transition and what it involves

Suicide, physical abuse and sexual abuse rates

Comparison between ethnic groups and the above (refer to Injustice at Every Turn)

What is bullying and how you can stop bullying by just one person standing up and being an ally

I would explain that being trans is something that we're born with. I'd go into how serious dysphoria can be, and that trans people aren't doing it for the thrills or to be different, but because of the dysphoria. If you can talk of some of your experience with dysphoria it might help.

The idea is to make sure they know that this isn't something people are choosing to do. We have to do it.

I will jump in here and say a couple of things...making sure they understand that if they don't deal with their feeling now they will have to at some point because if they are trans it won't simply "go away" ever!! It has outlasted me

The other has already been mentioned but ensuring they understand what it would be like for them...kind of role reversal...try and get them to see that the dysphoria will wreck your life as sure as any other disease they care to mention, dysphoria acts on the heart and the soul of the person and can bring not only emotional turmoil but physical manifestations and finally getting them to understand that being trans in not a lifestyle choice but for many a matter of life and death.

I think that most people think that everyone that is not cis has in some way managed to make a choice to be trans.  It would be good to impress upon them that it is not a choice.  While each of us makes choices on how we behave with respect to our natal sexual anatomy, sexual preference or gender identity, none of us actually chooses our natal sexual anatomy, our sexual preference or our gender identity.  Challenge them to name the time and place they made the "choice" to be whatever it is that they bullying about before deriding someone else for the "choice" they didn't make either.

Stephanie

Thank you all for your thoughts.  I'm working out my notes so that I don't miss anything. 

I have no idea how I get into these things.  but it's nice to know that you all are there to help.

Hugs,

Jen

It's a tough call. I did research for an educational resource in a Juvenile detention centre some 20 years ago, spoke to a group of boys and gosh it was an environment I'm glad I was never trapped in. For me, one of biggest fears about being trans was that I could be imprisoned with men as a man. That fear was stronger before I transitioned but it is still there.

Anyway, my impression of the detention centre was that every kid was acting tough because they needed to present that front, in a group of more than four or five that tough act became a line of defence. The more of them the worse it became. So that's what you are up against in a room full of them. So if you're trying to tell a bunch of kids, some of whom have had very little respect shown towards them by adults, family and peers - and some who have done quite violent things - the chance of getting through a message around bullying, especially of trans people, seems to me a tough call indeed.

Good luck though, I hope you have a lot of success!

Thank You Grace - great points!!!

Hugs,

Jen