Comments on: Ruby-Sachs: Trans Confusion?

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:34:41 +0000

I’ve been living as a girl and “passing” as a girl for two years, and i am still not sure if i want to have any surgical changes. I am still sadden that i lost my biological capability to have my own children. Btw. I am in my 20s. Never been married. I am a trans woman who only likes men.

By: Inclusive Lesbian

Inclusive Lesbian — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:44:46 +0000

I found the USA today article ultimately serves transphobia and the notion that all transsexuals are confused beings created by society. Any lesbian or gay man has suffered that familiar canard. “You just haven’t met the right guy yet…”

Trotting out Paul McHugh from Johns Hopkins and his dated study from the 1970′s was a particularly low blow. Offering no rebuttal by researchers who have in the ensuing 30 years found indications of biological bases for transsexualism is a major breach of journalistic integrity.

Ms. Ruby-Sachs needs to look at her own issues with transgendered people as indicated in a recent article about Ugly betty which totally ignored a positive portrayal of a transgendered woman while she went on and on about how a gay man was portrayed. Just note how your banner picture has to blare the surgical-status of that woman, as if that were relevant top any reader.

By: Dave W

Dave W — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:32:17 +0000

Tom makes a good point…maybe we don’t need more roles as Ruby suggests, but should avoid creating these stereotypes for children that end up haunting people all their life. This applies to hets as much as us, as we all have known a butch girl or fem guy who is totally straight but just doesn’t fit the gender norms society expects.

But she also makes a good point about the spectrum all of us fall on, somewhere. Here in Western Mass during our marriage fight I met a trans person from our community when my (now) husband and I were on a panel to answer questions for PFLAG. Many of the parents wanted to understand why their kids want to get married and we offered to try to explain.

This trans person sometimes presents male, sometimes female. His/her (have no idea which to use) position on marriage was very interesting and a nice addition to our discussions. One night she showed up looking like a pretty middle aged woman with a nice outfit, pearls etc and then another night was quite manly, sord of looking like a retired factory worker with plaid, jeans, boots etc.

My point is he/she was very comfortable in both outlooks and it fealt natural (to us anyway)…it wasn’t a bid to get attention, it was a true expression of how he or she fealt that day. I think it was harder for us, honestly, as we were looking at a very different person each day.

Anyway, point well taken. We’ve all had to deal with some sort of gender dissapointment (my father hated that I didn’t want to play baseball, finding swimming not “tough” enough) and what trans people deal with is just an extension of that.

By: TJNV

TJNV — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:49:46 +0000

Anyone remember the show “Free to be, you and me” from the 1960s or early 1970s? We need an updated version. I was alarmed when our adopted 13 year(he has been with us since age 4) old said that sewing is for girls. My husband LOVES to quilt.
People should just be free to be themsleves.
While I like pick up trucks and power tools I am sure there are still plenty of nelly things about me. And while I have never wanted to be a woman, doing drag on a couple Halloweens cemented that I did not want to be a woman. Also I feel that many women are held back by what society still tells us what a woman should be, while men get ulcers from not being in touch with their emotions.

Tom in Long Beach