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Transgender identity and lives

Transgender identity and lives. Ground Rules. Use “I” statements – speak for yourself and your experiences. Try not to speak for others or for groups of people.

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Transgender identity and lives

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  1. Transgender identity and lives

  2. Ground Rules • Use “I” statements – speak for yourself and your experiences. Try not to speak for others or for groups of people. •  Accept that you can (and will) make mistakes surrounding diversity training. We are all fallible and don’t know everything there is to know. If you make a mistake, apologize (sincerely) and move on. •  Hear (not just listen to) what others are saying, especially if it is a viewpoint different than what you believe. Each person has their own experience that is the “truth” for them. •  Be willing to learn! It isn’t enough just to sit through a Safe Zone training if you aren’t willing to learn. •  Be here. There are always countless other things we could be doing, but you chose to be here. Be involved with the conversation, don’t dominate, and listen attentively.

  3. Ground Rules cont’d •  Respect the privacy and confidentiality of what is said and shared during this session. Feel free to express your thoughts and know that others will keep them confidential. •  Please turn off all cell phones or electronic devices that might distract or interrupt the session. •  Have fun! This experience is a fun one because you are becoming one of a growing number of Safe Zone Allies on campus and that means something important to the campus community! •  Others you might have? Mention that now to your facilitators!

  4. Terms to know: • Trans*: an umbrella term for the whole transgender community the asterisk is used to include non-binary identities. • Outing or to Out someone: to tell others who don’t know about someone’s identity without their permission. This can be dangerous and can cause people to get hurt. • Passing: when a trans* person is read as the gender they identify by other people without question. Many trans* people find this term offensive because it makes it seem as if trans* people are “fooling” others.

  5. Terms to know cont’d: • Gender Identity or more simply, Gender: someone’s innate sense of self and their gender. • Sex: One’s biological characteristics that may or may not match their gender identity. • Gender Expression: How someone externally expresses their gender. How someone dresses can never truly tell you how someone identifies, so never assume based on what you see!

  6. Special note about Sex and Gender • Sex and Gender are often used interchangeably, but they really shouldn’t. • Trans* people’s identities often don’t match what their biology is.

  7. diagram

  8. Trans Symbols "The stripes at the top and bottom are light blue, the traditional color for baby boys. The stripes next to them are pink, the traditional color for baby girls. The stripe in the middle is white, for those who are intersex, transitioning or consider themselves having a neutral or undefined gender. The pattern is such that no matter which way you fly it, it is always correct, signifying us finding correctness in our lives.“ -about the flag from creator Monica Helms Trans pride flag Trans identity symbol Genderqueer pride flag

  9. Common Trans* Identities • Trans man/FTM- a term used by men who were female assigned at birth (FAAB). Some that would be labeled a trans man may prefer to think of themselves as a man with a transgender experience. • Trans woman/MTF- a term used by women who were male assigned at birth (MAAB). Some that would be labeled a trans woman may prefer to think of themselves as a woman with a transgender experience. • Genderqueer- an identity that does not follow the gender binary. A genderqueer person may identify as between male and female or they won’t base their identity off preexisting notions about gender. May or may not use gender neutral pronouns. • Transsexual- a term falling out of use to talk about those who have medically or legally transitioned to live as the gender with which they identify.

  10. Other Trans* Identities • Bigender-identifying with two genders • Agender- identifying with no gender • Cross-dresser- someone who wears clothes that are typically worn by those who are the “opposite” sex • Gender Fluid- an identify that flows and morphs between two or more genders over time. This can be every month or every day, it depends on the person. • Intersex- while not a trans* identity, many who are born with varying degrees of male and female biology have their sex chosen for them, which may or may not match with how they identify later in life.

  11. Other RelevantTrans* terms • Gender varient- another term used to talk about those who are not cisgender • Cisgender- someone who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth • Gender Identity Disorder (GID): A “mental illness” as described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV). It will be removed from 2013’s DSM-V and replaced with Gender Dysphoria, which is not a mental illness. This change is very welcomed as it means trans* people can receive treatment without having to be labeled with a mental disorder which could prevent them from getting certain jobs. • Gender Dysphoria: Not only a listing in the new DSM-V, but is used by trans* people to describe the distress and anxiety that many feel about certain parts of their body. More on this later. • FAAB- Female Assigned At Birth (born with a vagina, uterus, XX chromosomes, etc. • MAAB- Male Assigned At Birth (born with a penis, testicles, XY chromosomes, etc.)

  12. Gender Neutral Pronouns: What Are They? Using correct pronouns is important: it validates a trans* person’s identity. Here’s a handy pronoun guide of common pronouns. *Singular they follows all the same rules as plural they, except one: instead of themselves, use themself. Chart adapted from http://web.mit.edu/trans/

  13. How to say them and use them Ze went to hir bedroom. I am hir sibling. Zeis proud of hirself. They went to their bedroom. I am their sibling. They are proud of themself. You should be fairly familiar with these… She went to her bedroom. I am her sibling. She is proud of herself. He went to his bedroom. I am his sibling. He is proud of himself.

  14. How to ask what pronouns to use… • If you are unsure of how someone identifies, it doesn’t really matter unless you are talking to or about them. • The best way to find out what pronouns to use is to just ask. • But ask them privately and respectfully, if you ask in front of a group, it can unnecessary out someone!

  15. Make Every Conversation Gender Inclusive • Accept that sex and gender are not the same. • Not all with male anatomy (penises, testes, chest hair, Adam’s apple, etc.) are men and not all men have male anatomy. • Not all with female anatomy (vagina, clitoris, uterus, breasts, etc.) are women and not all women have female anatomy. • When talking about access to abortion, contraception, pelvic exams, etc. recognize that not everyone who accesses these services are women and not all women need these services. • Instead of “women’s rights” say “reproductive rights”. • Instead of “women seeking treatment” say “people who need treatment” or if specifically talking about vaginas or the uterus, say “those assigned female at birth”. • Never say “a transgender” or “a trangendered person” • Saying “a transgender” dehumanizes transgender people. • Saying “transgendered” makes the trans* experience sound like something that happened to someone, instead of a part of their life. • Don’t say “men and women”, “ladies and gentlemen”, etc. • Instead say “everyone”, “you all”, etc.

  16. Transitioning • Many trans* people choose to transition in one way or another. Not all trans* people transition in all areas of their life for a multitude of reasons. Here are some parts of transitioning: • Social: asking others to use new name, different pronouns, presenting in a way that better matches one’s gender identity • Medical: beginning Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), having top or bottom surgery, having other surgeries or procedures (electrolysis, facial or bodily feminization or masculinization, liposuction, etc) • Legal: name change, changing sex markers on legal documents,

  17. Dysphoria • Dysphoria can be debilitating, making going out in public difficult or impossible. • Dysphoria can also affect romantic and other personal relationships. • Dysphoria can be caused by many things including being misgendered by others or just looking at one’s anatomy. • Not all trans* people experience dysphoria in the same way or about the same things.

  18. Issues faced by transfolk • Lack of access to trans-specific or trans-accepting doctors and other health care professionals. • Large amounts of violence towards the community. • People often invalidate a trans* person’s identity when they find out that person is trans*. • Trans* people often have to be labeled as having a mental disorder to receive care. • Being misgendered (wrong pronouns, people using “Ma’am” instead of “Sir” and vice versa, etc) • Inability to find well fitting clothes that match their gender identity. • Trans* youth are often kicked out of their house or abused in their homes. • Trans* adults often lose family, partners, and their kids once out.

  19. Keep in mind… • The trans community is diverse and varying, just like every community. Not everyone agrees on everything. • There’s nothing wrong with “looking trans”. Even if someone isn’t “passing”, it doesn’t mean that they are any less than what they identify. • When in doubt, ASK!

  20. Campus Resources Safe Zone wou.edu/safezone WOU Campus Organization safezone@wou.edu Triangle Alliance trianglealliance@wou.edu WOU Student Organization Advisor: CarliRohner WOU Stonewall Center (503) 838-8367 Werner University Center, 108C ASWOU's Gender and Sexual Diversity Advocate aswougender@wou.edu ASWOU's Director of Equal Rights Organizer asosera@wou.edu Student Health and Counseling Center (503) 838-8313 Campus Public Safety (503) 838-8481

  21. Local and National Resources Salem GLBTQ Resources www.salempride.com Extensive list of resources, links and organizations in the Salem area. OSU Pride Center http://oregonstate.edu/pridecenter/resources/corvResources.php Human Rights Campaign Foundation www.hrc.org National Consortium of Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resources in Higher Education www.lgbtcampus.org PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) www.pflag.org National Center for Transgender Equality http://transequality.org/index.html

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