Transgendered Carlsbad women adjusting to new lives

By Valerie Cranston
Special for the Current-Argus
Posted:   08/19/2012 04:29:46 PM MDT

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_21350140/transgendered-carlsbad-women-adjusting-new-lives

Editor's note: This story about Erin Preciado and Jessica Lighthall is not meant to praise nor condemn their personal choice as transgenders. It is an opportunity for them to tell their story and to express to others how unsettling name calling, staring and stalking in public places can be. They would much rather people approach them and ask the questions they are curious about.

Change can be difficult, even if embraced.

Erin Preciado, 57, and Jessica Lighthall, 41, are transgendered. Preciado has had her sex reassignment surgery and Lighthall will be scheduling hers in the near future. The transition is costly and certain established protocols must be followed prior to sex reassignment surgery.

[...]

For Preciado, the transition formally began four years ago. For Lighthall, transition wasn't even a word she heard growing up. However, later in her high school and college years, she found out the process was available and there were doctors who performed sex reassignment surgery.

OK, on the one hand I am always encouraged when someone finds their voice and experiences the freedom of telling their story.  But when will we ever get to the point where this no longer is regarded as news? 

And shame on the newspaper for preceding the article with a disclaimer.  A pitiful lack of journalistic courage if ever there was one.  If you've got the spine to run the story then just run it, and leave the apologies out of it.