20/20 Speacial: Transgendered Children

[tpdncr4christ]

Did anyone else watch it? It really opened my eyes to allot of things about transsexuals that I didn't know about before, mainly the fact that it wasn't a want to be a different sex, it was a need. The fact that a six year old boy can stand in the shower with nail clippers attempting to remove his anatomy is astounding to me. The spacial got me thinking about myself, and about how we treat sexuality in general and how transexuality is usually mentioned as a side note to homosexuality. Did anyone else see this spacial? Thoughts? Reflections?

[Gregory_de_Bois]

Didn't see it, but there was also a section of CBS' Sunday Morning News that was about a Transgender Man>Woman who played tennis. It was a fascinating story, and I can't remember her name for the life of me. It got me thinking, though, 'cause I never really understood the whole transexual thing (I mean you really can't unless you experience it). I think it's funny that most Christians are so opposed to transgender-ness, I mean some of the greatest men in the Bible were "transgender" (or one of the kinds of eunuchs), I mean Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were all either gay or made-eunuchs. I think God really revealed this to me this weekend.
Namaste,
Greg

[u-dog]

Long time no read, stranger. How ya been?

[Gregory_de_Bois]

good. I had a play and mock trial. it is all over now HURRAY!

[u-dog]

Austin,

We watched it and thought it was very sensitive. I don't think Barbara Walters has ever done anything better. Like you I sort of "got" some things about transgender persons that I hadn't before. And you are right that the young ages at which these kids know that something is amiss is very convincing.

I don't want to suggest that I didn't believe that there WAS such a thing as Transgenderism, but I guess somewhere in the back of my mind there must have been some reluctance to believe it or some doubt about it because looking at those little kids and listening to their parents was a real eye-opener and helped me to see the whole experience in much broader and deeper terms.

I'm interested in knowing what Ben and Charlie thought about it and also Sherry. Care to comment guys and gal?

Dave

[Emproph]

Care to comment guys and gal?

What about we gals with guys' bodies, can we comment?...

[Emproph]

Brought tears to my eyes ... Barbara W. did a good job.

I usually feel like we LGBTs are being exploited for Network TVs profits and ratings ...

But this one was different ... felt like it to me, anyway.

It did to me too, because they used kids. And yet it didn't feel that they were being "used."

Come to think of it, it was really a story about parents loving their children enough.

[u-dog]

What about we gals with guys' bodies, can we comment?...


That's who I was addressing!! Are you a Transgender person Emproph? If so, I missed that somehow! Sorry.

[Emproph]

Are you a Transgender person Emproph? If so, I missed that somehow! Sorry.
Technically yes, why? Are you accusing me of being a good actress?

[u-dog]

Technically yes, why? Are you accusing me of being a good actress?

I'm not accusing you of ANYTHING, my sister, but you argue like a boy! ( is that like saying that your slip is showing?)

[Sherrie Z]

Austin,

We watched it and thought it was very sensitive. I don't think Barbara Walters has ever done anything better. Like you I sort of "got" some things about transgender persons that I hadn't before. And you are right that the young ages at which these kids know that something is amiss is very convincing.

I don't want to suggest that I didn't believe that there WAS such a thing as Transgenderism, but I guess somewhere in the back of my mind there must have been some reluctance to believe it or some doubt about it because looking at those little kids and listening to their parents was a real eye-opener and helped me to see the whole experience in much broader and deeper terms.

I'm interested in knowing what Ben and Charlie thought about it and also Sherry. Care to comment guys and gal?

Dave


Hi Dave!

I just now saw this post several weeks later ... sorry I missed it earlier ... I'm guessing that I might be the Sherrie you're requesting a response from ... maybe because I posted a thread about this program, and commented about it in another category? If so, thanks for asking ... : )

From the thread discussion above, it appears that you might have assumed that I am transgender myself ... so just to clarify, I'm actually not ... so I don't want anyone to think that I'm any kind of expert, LOL ...

But since you asked ... I have known a little about trans issues for quite awhile, but just this year I have made a point of learning more ... and as someone who made a point of reading online comments about this program from members of the trans community (that is, aside from this forum, as well as here too) to see what the response to the Barbara Walters program would be ... and from what I read, I think it would be safe for me to say that in general this program was very much appreciated and welcomed ... as also confirmed here by Emproph. : )

For myself, I thought it was an excellent program, very well done ... and aside from the very emotional and touching aspects of the program ... and shifting to strategy for education, it was a great way to introduce the mainstream world to TG issues. It clearly illustrated that for most people, gender identity is not a choice and is not always a given. Many people don't yet understand that sometimes people are born with physical characteristics that don't match with their gender identity in the more usual way. When such young kids are suffering from this lack of understanding, it is much harder to dismiss.

Hopefully more people now will remember that trans adults started out as trans children, and that nobody of any age should ever have to suffer due to this lack of understanding. I think that this program went a long way to increase that understanding.

Hugs,

Sherrie Z

PS The CBS Sunday Morning program mentioned in an above post was in reference to their segment about Renee Richards (former pro tennis player and now physician) ... she recently wrote a book called "No Way Renee: The Second Half of my Notorious Life" ... her earlier book was titled "Second Serve" (1983).

[DanaH]

First, I want to say how much I am enjoying Soul Force. This is my first day here.

And, yes, I am transgendered. (see my profile).

It seems that most of the members here are Gay or Lesbian. I knew when I was in junior high that I was similar to the 2 other gay boys I knew, but not quite the same.

I have participated in many interviews from grad students trying to do a study, and I think the question that best describes us (and you) is this?

What makes a man a man and a woman a woman?
or
What causes a man to be attracted to another man or woman or vice versa?

I'm so glad that I have come to the point of finally accepting me, and others like me. I know God loves me...... Someone I have read here often talks about "priviledge", I'll look up her name.... I was born a white male, in a backward small county where only 2 black people lived (and the fact that we knew that was scary enough). Now, my best friend in the world is a black transexual. Talk about a journey!!!!! Give up priviledge? My therapist asked me long ago if I was ready to give up my white male status, and yes I understand that status now.

OK, Yes of course I am, I've been pretending to be male long enough.

I didn't see the program you are talking about, but I understand the statements about it. Most transgendered people do realize something is amiss about the time they understand the difference between boys and girl.s. I would guess that's about the time most Gay or Lesbian people realize something as well. And, I want to add in Bi-sexual, as I have a good friend in DC who is, and she talks about it with all the conviction and emotion as any T or LB person I ever met. I thank God for meeting her to help me understand.

Since there aren't many T people here, please feel free to ask anything.

Be kind - I'm new.

[Sherrie Z]

Welcome, Dana!

It's very nice to have you join us ... : )

I see you're from a small Illinois town ... I used to live in Chicago many years ago. I'm in San Francisco now.

Hugs,

Sherrie Z