I'm not going to say that I am an expert in this area, but I am trying to become educated. I have the fortune of knowing a transgender individual and his ongoing journey has been an eye-opening lesson for me.
From the open rejection he faces from his mother to the loving and open acceptance he receives from his sister, he has been both blessed and cursed to encounter the extremes in reactions he will no doubt face throughout his life.
I encourage you to read the article this post title links to above. There is hope for the transgender community even in the Red States, of which Texas certainly qualifies.
In much the same way that Gays and Lesbians have slowly entered the mainstream consciousness and, current political defeats notwithstanding, reveal themselves as simply human, so does the trans community need to be willing to step forward and engage society. When they do, more people will come to understand them and recognize their essential humanity.
I will continue to seek to learn the lingo, to understand the differences between transgender, intersexed and transvestite, and to support fully any decision that my transgender friend makes. Even if I seem a bit confused at times. I don't have to understand everything, I just have to accept him for who he is.
That should be enough.
2 comments:
A friend of mine is going through the process of testosterone shots right now. I have known him for over eight years, before he started questioning his gender identity.
I found out about his being trans a year and a half ago. I was one of the last people he told because he was so afraid that I would reject him and his friendship.
I have friends from all walks of life. In fact, most of my friends don't even know each other. I don't care what a person looks like, whether the friend is male or female. What I care about is whether the person cares about others, is fun to be around, and has some sense of ethics.
In the end, it's not the vessel that's important, it's the content of character.
Well said. Thanks for posting the transcript of MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech. It's been a very long time since I read it and it seemed very appropriate not only for Obama's win but for this issue as well.
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