ABC's 20/20: Barbara Walters on transgender youth (April 27th)

[Sherrie Z]

From the ABC news website for 20/20

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/


COMING UP

Friday, April 27th at 10 p.m. EDT: Barbara Walters looks at the lives of children trapped in their own bodies, wanting to be the opposite sex.

[Emproph]

I identify.

[Sherrie Z]

Oh good ... I couldn't access it on my old computer, but I'm glad to hear that they've got a good promo video for the program ... : )


The ABC news website has this article about the program:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3072518&page=1

The article includes sidebar links to a PFlag article about trans kids and family issues, and the DSM-IV description for Gender Identity Disorder

ABC says: Watch "My Secret Self: A Story of Transgender Children" this Friday on "20/20" at 10 p.m. EDT

[Britt.]

It's set up to Tivo, in case I miss it for some reason.

Barbara Walter did an exclusive interview w/ Advocate.com in case anyone wants to read it.

[Sherrie Z]

Great interview with Barbara Walters ... thanks, Britt!



And here is yet another article related to the 20/20 program:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3077906&page=1

[Emproph]

This is on now.

[BrianB]

Originally Posted by Emproph

This is on now.

The first little girl ripped my heart out when she sang "In My Own Little Corner". She seemed much happier as a girl. It makes me wonder why did God give her a penis? Is God cruel? I'm struggling with this one.

[u-dog]

Brian,

To answer that question we would have to know ALL that God knows and we cannot. Perhaps these children are open to a particular kind of grace or blessing that those of us born into the appropriate bodies are blind to and can mediate that grace to the rest of us in ways that no one else could? I would like to think that and I do believe it possible, but its just speculation.

Faith suggests that there IS a purpose to their predicament ... OR that their predicament is random but that a loving God of Resurrection will weave it into blessing for them and for us.

Of course the same question can be asked of us gay folk. Why would God do this to us?? Beats me. But I CAN see and feel that God is weaving this life of mine into a blessing for me and for others.

Its part of whats so frustrating (and ironic) about the RR Christians. They are so busy telling God what he thinks that they can't even "wonder" what God might be trying to give them.

Sigh

I thought the 20/20 show was WONDERFUL. I have never seen b=Babawa Wawa do ANYTHING any better than the work she did with these families.

Dave

[BrianB]

Originally Posted by u-dog

Brian,

To answer that question we would have to know ALL that God knows and we cannot. Perhaps these children are open to a particular kind of grace or blessing that those of us born into the appropriate bodies are blind to and can mediate that grace to the rest of us in ways that no one else could? I would like to think that and I do believe it possible, but its just speculation.

Faith suggests that there IS a purpose to their predicament ... OR that their predicament is random but that a loving God of Resurrection will weave it into blessing for them and for us.

Of course the same question can be asked of us gay folk. Why would God do this to us?? Beats me. But I CAN see and feel that God is weaving this life of mine into a blessing for me and for others.

Its part of whats so frustrating (and ironic) about the RR Christians. They are so busy telling God what he thinks that they can't even "wonder" what God might be trying to give them.

Sigh

I thought the 20/20 show was WONDERFUL. I have never seen b=Babawa Wawa do ANYTHING any better than the work she did with these families.

Dave

You're right Dave. There is a verse that says "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." You have to play the cards you are dealt. Perhaps I just wanted an excuse to call God cruel. After all, I'm in a wheelchair from a birth defect and gay. Yet God has given me the grace to bear what I need to do to live. He has brought me through some bad situations, sometimes miraculously. Yet the RR christians say that if I had enough faith I could walk out of this chair.

It really is all about trusting God isn't it? Hopefully these families can trust God and not become bitter. The 20/20 program was very nicely done

[Pathfinder]

What a leap! I watched the program Friday night and couldn't help, but hope it touches the hearts and minds of people who before had not thought about or been exposed so directly to this issue. What was really amazing was the fact I knew my parents were watching it!!! (My mother had actually told me about it while I was at dinner earlier in the evening.) I am not out to either of them, but who knows, maybe it's about time.....

What really touched me was the little girl who began telling her parents as early as two that she was a girl and not a boy. How amazing that this child was so aware of who she was at such an early age!

My hat is off to Barbara Walters, 20/20, and ABC for having the courage to air such a program, as well as the children and families who participated in the interviews. Their stories touched me greatly. As I said earlier, I can only hope it touches the hearts and minds of others as well...

[marutidas]

In Buddhism, people like these children, are born like they are to come back and help other people.

Now while Buddhism is agnostic, I think it a good starting point for my little train of thought here.

WE all have our suffering for a reason, there is not doubt about it. It is also hard to see what will come of our suffering until we get near the end of it.
To say God is cruel just because in our eyes he made mistake or making a cruel joke just because don't understand.

My thought is everytime God make a people like these children, helps us question what makes us a man or a woman. Where does the soul end and Gender begin. Having known a few Transgendered people, gender is a wholly different concept, it is fluid. Gender identity seems to place more in the mind and heart than in the plumbing. I think this true for Gay and Lesbian people, Most Lesbians more Masculine that most women and Gay men more Feminine than most men. Just a theory.

If we take a look at these stories haven't these children already helped us by starting to have conversation?

~~~Maruti Das

[Allyson]

Originally Posted by BrianB

The first little girl ripped my heart out when she sang "In My Own Little Corner". She seemed much happier as a girl. It makes me wonder why did God give her a penis? Is God cruel? I'm struggling with this one.

Hi friends! Sorry for coming late to the party...and in the interest of full disclosure, I should probably mention that I haven't seen the program. But I've basically lived it, so that must count for something!

For a long time--almost 30 years--I was haunted by the same question. I begged, pleaded, and cajoled God to take away my trans-ness. I made deals with him. I swore I'd never "dress up" or express myself in a feminine way again...only to break my vows a week or two later. No matter what I prayed, no matter how hard I cried, no matter how much Scripture I read or committed to memory, no matter how hard I worked to serve him, I never changed.

Last year, after so much frustration, I realized I had arrived at a decision point. I could only see two possibilities that explained all the data points of my experience. Either I had been wrong about God my whole life, or I he didn't want me to change. It felt like balancing on the edge of a knife. I felt like I was in danger of losing my faith entirely. I cried a lot. I couldn't sleep. My family and friends knew something was wrong, but I felt like I couldn't tell them what it was--I was still closeted.

And then, something finally clicked. I don't know what it was, but one day, I just sort of looked at myself in the mirror and said, "God made me transgendered, and he thinks I'm beautiful just the way I am." It was perhaps the most powerful epiphany I've ever experienced. (I'm weeping again just writing this.)

I have no idea why God makes people the way he makes them...but I love who he made me. And I love him for who he made me.

I realize now that I never suffered because God made me transgendered. I suffered because I didn't know how to accept that God made me transgendered.

[Sherrie Z]

For anyone who missed this 20/20 program ... the above posted links from ABC news, along with these following additional links provide what is basically a transcript of the program.

For your convenience, here are the two links posted above:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3072518&page=1

http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3077906&page=1

*****************************************

The above posted links from the ABC news website tell the stories of two of the three transkids featured in the 20/20 program ... here is the third:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3088298&page=1


Here is an article about family issues from the viewpoint of the parents featured in the 20/20 program:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3091754&page=1


Related info:

*** Also see the sidebar links alongside the ABC news website articles for additional related info

*** Also see the exclusive interview with Barbara Walters from Advocate.com (see link above, posted by Britt)

[Britt.]

I <3 tivo. Since it's still in my tv, & I have a DVD burner, I can show it to people who haven't seen it, & probably should. Someone requested a copy today, in fact.

[Britt.]

Plus I like to say tivo. It's a cool word.

[Sherrie Z]

Originally Posted by Allyson

And then, something finally clicked. I don't know what it was, but one day, I just sort of looked at myself in the mirror and said, "God made me transgendered, and he thinks I'm beautiful just the way I am." It was perhaps the most powerful epiphany I've ever experienced. (I'm weeping again just writing this.)

I have no idea why God makes people the way he makes them...but I love who he made me. And I love him for who he made me.

I realize now that I never suffered because God made me transgendered. I suffered because I didn't know how to accept that God made me transgendered.

Amen, Allyson! Beautifully said ... and it is up to all of us to work toward making sure that you -- and all LGBT people, of all ages -- won't have to suffer because of those who don't yet understand that God loves you just as you are.

[Sherrie Z]

Originally Posted by Britt.

Plus I like to say tivo. It's a cool word.

LOL ... : )

And it's a cool offer too ... and such a quick response!

[Dash]

Originally Posted by Allyson

Hi friends! Sorry for coming late to the party...and in the interest of full disclosure, I should probably mention that I haven't seen the program. But I've basically lived it, so that must count for something!

For a long time--almost 30 years--I was haunted by the same question. I begged, pleaded, and cajoled God to take away my trans-ness. I made deals with him. I swore I'd never "dress up" or express myself in a feminine way again...only to break my vows a week or two later. No matter what I prayed, no matter how hard I cried, no matter how much Scripture I read or committed to memory, no matter how hard I worked to serve him, I never changed.

Last year, after so much frustration, I realized I had arrived at a decision point. I could only see two possibilities that explained all the data points of my experience. Either I had been wrong about God my whole life, or I he didn't want me to change. It felt like balancing on the edge of a knife. I felt like I was in danger of losing my faith entirely. I cried a lot. I couldn't sleep. My family and friends knew something was wrong, but I felt like I couldn't tell them what it was--I was still closeted.

And then, something finally clicked. I don't know what it was, but one day, I just sort of looked at myself in the mirror and said, "God made me transgendered, and he thinks I'm beautiful just the way I am." It was perhaps the most powerful epiphany I've ever experienced. (I'm weeping again just writing this.)

I have no idea why God makes people the way he makes them...but I love who he made me. And I love him for who he made me.

I realize now that I never suffered because God made me transgendered. I suffered because I didn't know how to accept that God made me transgendered.

Wow!

I remember years ago, the first time I believed that God loved me. Changes everything...

Still had a long way to go, but it was a complete change of direction for me.

[Sherrie Z]

From contactmusic.com

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf...atings_1029564

EXCERPT:

Meanwhile, last Friday's 20/20, featuring an hour-long report by Barbara Walters about transgender children, placed second among overall viewers, but, in an anomaly for a news magazine, which usually draws older viewers, placed first among adults 18-49.