Transamerica

I'm very interested in hearing more reports on transgender issues. I graduated from a women's college last year where some students were FtoM trans, and it was a perpetual hot-button topic on campus. particularly about 2 years ago when we made the student government constitution gender neutral (all references to "she" and "her" became "the student") people talked a lot about whether students who identified as male had a place on an all female campus. the problem always was, while it may be interesting to have that discussion in the abstract, it's uncomfortable to do so when you realize you're talking about the guy in your math class, or your friend who lives down the hall. and I think it was really frustrating for many trans students who just wanted to go about their daily lives when even something as simple as showing up for class or joining a club could be seen as a political act.

the story about trans students at women's colleges has been done most recently in the boston globe, but also in the financial times, and I think we even got a mention in "news of the weird" with the constitution thing, but I think everyone's a little scared of talking to reporters, so I bet there's more to find out.

Sent by Sasha | 4:03 PM | 5-9-2007

Alison, this is a wonderful post since this is what I'm expecting to get from BPP. This is something substantive that gives me a chance to give some feedback to help shape the show.

Yes, I'm interested in this story. Concerning an angle, I would like to know what exactly scientists believe differentiates a homosexual from a transgender person (YES, I know that there are differences).

Homosexuality has a lot to do with sex drive. Having said that, what kind of role does sex drive play in transgender people switching genders? Are many who swap genders sexually attracted to members of their birth gender?

Those are just some thoughts...

Sent by Steve Petersen | 4:08 PM | 5-9-2007

The amount of work that transgender people have done to get themselves taken seriously have barely made it onto the map.

Rather than going with the everyday struggles of a trans-man or -woman, I think it might be instructive to get a primer on how we've gotten to the point where this issue made it to the House.

A lot of public radio listeners can think of a man or woman that this affects; if we can peg what's come before to that person, we further humanize someone who (in this society) often gets short shrift.

Sent by Drew | 4:13 PM | 5-9-2007

I'm thrilled beyond belief that you're engaging this issue, and I look forward to reading what else you come up with on the topic. I think it's sophisticated and terribly relevant, especially to a younger NPR audience (including myself). I would caution against a discussion of "what scientists believe differentiates a homosexual from a transgender person," as Steve Peterson suggests in a comment above. Aside from the fact that how scientists and doctors understand transgenderism tends to be a one-sided, misleading, or totally inaccurate way to describe the phenomenon, I think it's beside the point and somewhat condescending. What I love about your article is that it presumes a basic understanding of and sympathy towards transgenderism, which leaves you free to discuss the actual news and issues at hand. Exploring trans hate crimes (history of, someone's personal experience of, modern state of, etc.)would be much more germane to the story. As a side note, I endorse Joshua Johnson's comment that the student loan scandal and the congressional report on abstinence would be great stories, and a great direction to take the show. Keep up the good work!

Sent by Kate | 1:52 AM | 5-10-2007

The T is often the least understood when it comes to GLBT issues, even by the Gs, the Ls, and the Bs. I'd love to hear more about pop culture embracing it. I also know that many colleges (no just same-gender colleges) are trying to figure out how to respond to transgender students. Plenty of students are confused by having a gay roommate, let alone a transgender one. Thanks for keeping us updated.

Sent by Andrew Jones | 2:14 AM | 5-10-2007

Kate,

I appreciate your feedback on my suggestion -- especially when you state:

Aside from the fact that how scientists and doctors understand transgenderism tends to be a one-sided, misleading, or totally inaccurate way to describe the phenomenon, I think it's beside the point and somewhat condescending.

Sent by Steve Petersen | 8:45 AM | 5-10-2007

Hey Steve, thanks for your reply. Those are great questions, I wish I could answer them--I'm certainly not an expert! I mean, there are definitely scientists and medical doctors working on these issues, but I guess my point is that plenty of other people are as well. The scientific community's explanation of transgenderism is only one way of looking at the phenomenon. So to use it as a complete definition for the radio would be misleading. Other people tackling this topic include anthropologists, sociologists, feminists, queer theorists, artists, and most importantly trans people themselves. Not all trans people view their identities the way the medical community does. For example, to be approved for surgery a trans person has to exhibit what is considered by doctors to be appropriate transgender behavior. Like being a "man stuck in a woman's body" or vice versa. This is totally valid for many people, but there are also plenty of trans people who don't want to switch from one discrete gender to another, but to actually combine genders or live in between genders. So here science doesn't describe (or approve of) the full experience, and in fact is often seen as a "gatekeeper" to trans people living the lives they want in the bodies they want.

I hope this helps explain what I meant! I guess I would recommend Kate Bornstein for further reading. She's a trans writer/performance artist and her books are really funny, interesting, and informative.

Sent by Kate | 5:22 AM | 5-11-2007

Oh, PS, I didn't mean that the scientific understanding of transgenderism is condescending. I thought it would be condescending to radio listeners to try and explain "what is transgender" in the middle of a piece about politics and trans hate crimes. Hope that helps!

Sent by Kate | 5:32 AM | 5-11-2007

Hey Kate,

Great to hear back from you as well.

Well, I think most people know basically what transgenderism is, but like most other topics I reckon most people don't know how much they don't know. While explaining the science behind such tendencies is not necessary in every story about the topic, I think that a deeper than usual scientific explanation would make a great story.

Further, I'm intrigued by the concept that some people want to exist somewhere between the male and female genders, which you've mentioned. Another great story is to examine that notion. Is such a blended identity biological and/or behavioral?

Sent by Steve Petersen | 4:23 PM | 5-11-2007

Because transgendered people are just as diverse a group as any other group comprised of people - there are many aspects of being transgendered that would be worth exploring in a story. One could never hope to tell the whole story even in a "series" of stories! Steve's interest and Kate's interests are both worth discussing and could be touched on briefly in the same story or explored in more depth separately - I think that if people have better knowledge about the term transgender or gender identity - what it really means - other than the simplistic idea of a person "born in the wrong body" -and what it doesn't mean - it is not an indication of sexual orientation - and how evidence of transgenderism can be found throughout history and in many different cultures around the world - that that would perhaps pave the way for compassion and empathy and following that, hopefully, understanding and popular consensus that TG persons deserve the same rights and protections to live their lives with the same dignity and respect that all human beings deserve and which this country's laws strive to protect. Lets educate the hearts of people and maybe their minds will follow!

Sent by Stacie | 1:59 PM | 5-29-2008