a panel appearing in my class this week

Comment by Vanessa Sheridan on February 9, 2010 at 7:45am

Rabecka, I hope you'll use this opportunity as a way to learn, grow, and observe the dynamic that occurs when "straight" people are able to have a dialogue with openly transgender persons. I've been speaking/doing presentations like this in classes for many years, and it's always an enjoyable experience. I've found that if you treat people with respect, they will usually respond the same way. I hope the experience is a good one for you and the other attendees.

Comment by Jenn on February 9, 2010 at 4:34pm

Hi Rabecka, you should be on the panel.

The real question is for the audience. I'm sure each of them thinks they know what being transgendered is all about. But in reality they don't have a clue unless they are TG themselves. The non transgendered person lives with congruence between mind and body. How could they even imagine the screaming voice inside your head that says over and over again, "I'm a girl, don't you get it."

For the women in transition, I'd first ask if expressing themselves as a woman has cured their inner dysphoria. From there it's all about process. Making a testosterone poisoned male body behave like a female body is not easy, but it's doable. In so many ways it's like acting, completely immersing yourself in a persona, becoming that person and making it believable. In this case that person is who you are.

I hope you can give us a detailed description of the class dialog. I know you will write a great paper. Please publish it here as well.

Hugs dear girl, Jenny

Comment by Bobbie Jane Amelie Schmidt on February 10, 2010 at 1:27am

I have been part of panels like the one you will see many times already. In fact I will be on a panel in just 2 weeks and 2 more panels in late March. The entire time I am in front of the class is just fun. Its enjoyable to hear the questions that are asked some I never thought of. But the best part is to hear back from the class, instructor or just one of the students and learn how what we told them has changed their lives. To hear positives that happen because of our presentation is so rewarding. Also most of the class were so unaware of what we live with most of our lives, the frustration, emotional turmoil, anger, fear, etc. It can be shocking to some of the pupils.

Then to tell them about the surgeries we do, laser and electrolysis sometimes for years, discrimination, job problems, loss of family and friends, hormones and how they effect us. On top of that the enormous cost to do all of these things. It staggers their minds and to see the awe in their eyes, that we put ourselves through all of this to be content and happy.

Its nice to educate and if I can do that with the young guess how many others they will tell? We need the young to support us because they will be the doctors, therapists, politians and lawyers of the future. Teaching the young and other age groups is benificial for all transitioning in the years ahead. Thus I hope that if you are able to be on a panel please do your part and have a fun time doing it.
Huggs, Bobbie Jane

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