Thursday, November 08, 2007
Media Matters
By Jacob Anderson-Minshall
November 1, 2007
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Daan Erikson likes to joke about his musical career: “I was in an all-girl band in high school - until I ruined that.” Coming out as a trans guy may have put an end to his garage band but it’s opened the door to a great deal more. Today, the New York University sophomore - who is majoring in both Entertainment Media and Gender and Sexuality Studies - says his experience with the band continues to influence his endeavors. “My interest in the power of media stems from my love of music and the realization that it has power.”
Erikson, who was recently awarded a Point Foundation scholarship to continue his studies, eventually hopes to improve realistic representations of queer people in the entertainment media world. “Creating awareness is the first step,” he explains. “I’m interested in how the media portrays identity.
I’ve been studying marketing and plan to study entertainment law. I think it’s a matter of getting more queer and trans faces on TV outside of spectacle-style talk shows, both in the form of scripted characters and real people. Generally stereotypes become less relevant when there is more diverse representation of different identities. I think that’s already happening to some extent, but there’s a long way to go.”
Erikson is particular focused on television where he sees real problems in the representations of trans people, especially Max on The L Word’s third season, and “any Jerry Springer episode.” Still, he thinks the producers of The L Word redeemed the Max character in the show’s fourth season; and he’s appreciative of the Sundance’s miniseries TransGeneration. “When I came out to my supervisor… she had some knowledge of what it means to be a young transguy thanks to… that miniseries.”
Erikson came out relatively young, but he contends, “It took so long for me to come to terms with identifying as male, partially [because of] a lack of varied representation in the media. When all I saw were bearded, body builder types, I couldn’t relate.” Now, he says, “I can see that standards of masculinity are shifting.”
He identifies as transgender and transmasculine, and says, “I like the label ‘transguy’ best. I identify…as queer because of my attraction for queer females. It’s always interesting explaining to people why I identify as a guy and like girls yet don’t identify as straight.”
Seeing commonalities with non-trans men, Erikson remarks, “In talking to some of my guy friends who aren’t trans, I’ve found that they share a similar struggle. When does one become a man? I believe we have so many words for our different identities because these ideas are complicated. But not difficult.”
Being trans, Erikson says, has impacted his awareness of gender, identities and privilege. “I’m…more conscious of issues surrounding privilege and multiple identities. It certainly has given me a different perspective into the idea that you never know everything about people by how they appear.”
He thinks assumptions based on appearances often occur across generation too, but insists, “It’s unfair to assume that older generations in the LGBT community don’t know about young people.” However, he admits, there are differences. “I find people of my generation to be more open-minded and willing to consider progressive ideas. People are happy to let people identify however they want, so long as no one else’s rights are infringed upon.”
When it comes to political activism, Erikson says, “Young people in general are used to an entirely different type of activism. We’re coming from a different place. I read about the Civil Rights Movement in a history textbook, but I didn’t experience it first-hand. With the advent of the Internet, we’re more connected in ways that were previously impossible. To get more in touch with the younger members of the queer community, it’s important to remember that.” . . .
House bill bans job bias against gays
Measure would exempt churches and military, doesn't cover transgender
By ANDREW MIGA, November 8, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The House on Wednesday approved the first federal ban on job discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
Passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act came despite protests from some gay rights supporters that the bill does not protect transgender workers. That term covers transsexuals, cross-dressers and others whose outward appearance does not match their gender at birth.
The measure would make it illegal for employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee based on sexual orientation. It would exempt churches and the military.
After the 235-184 vote, supporters are expecting a tough fight in the narrowly divided Senate, where Massachusetts Democrat Edward Kennedy plans to introduce a similar version.
A veto from President Bush is expected if the proposal does pass the Senate. The White House has cited constitutional concerns and said the proposal could trample religious rights.
Backers of the House bill proclaimed it a major civil rights advance for gays. "Bigotry and homophobia are sentiments that should never be allowed to permeate the American workplace," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C.
The decision by Democratic leaders to exclude protections based on gender identity created sharp divisions in the party and among gay rights activists.
Republicans, meanwhile, said the bill could undermine the rights of people who oppose homosexuality for religious reasons and lead to an onslaught of dubious discrimination lawsuits.
"This is, frankly, a trial lawyer's dream," said Rep. John Kline, R-Minn.
Protections for transgender workers were in the original bill. But Democratic leaders found they would lose support from moderate and conservative Democrats by including transgender employees in the final bill.
"That's a bridge too far," said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va. "It's better to take it one step at a time."
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, however, said excluding transgender workers was shortsighted.
"As we have seen in many states, the failure to include the transgender community in civil rights legislation from the beginning makes it more difficult to extend protections later," said Nadler, D-N.Y. . . .
By ANDREW MIGA, November 8, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The House on Wednesday approved the first federal ban on job discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
Passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act came despite protests from some gay rights supporters that the bill does not protect transgender workers. That term covers transsexuals, cross-dressers and others whose outward appearance does not match their gender at birth.
The measure would make it illegal for employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee based on sexual orientation. It would exempt churches and the military.
After the 235-184 vote, supporters are expecting a tough fight in the narrowly divided Senate, where Massachusetts Democrat Edward Kennedy plans to introduce a similar version.
A veto from President Bush is expected if the proposal does pass the Senate. The White House has cited constitutional concerns and said the proposal could trample religious rights.
Backers of the House bill proclaimed it a major civil rights advance for gays. "Bigotry and homophobia are sentiments that should never be allowed to permeate the American workplace," said House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C.
The decision by Democratic leaders to exclude protections based on gender identity created sharp divisions in the party and among gay rights activists.
Republicans, meanwhile, said the bill could undermine the rights of people who oppose homosexuality for religious reasons and lead to an onslaught of dubious discrimination lawsuits.
"This is, frankly, a trial lawyer's dream," said Rep. John Kline, R-Minn.
Protections for transgender workers were in the original bill. But Democratic leaders found they would lose support from moderate and conservative Democrats by including transgender employees in the final bill.
"That's a bridge too far," said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va. "It's better to take it one step at a time."
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, however, said excluding transgender workers was shortsighted.
"As we have seen in many states, the failure to include the transgender community in civil rights legislation from the beginning makes it more difficult to extend protections later," said Nadler, D-N.Y. . . .
JEANNE PHILLIPS DEAR ABBY: Let transgender brother have his say
DEAR ABBY: “Anonymous in Arizona” was wondering how to explain to her future children that their father’s brother was born a girl, particularly in childhood photos in which he appears as a girl. While most of your reply was sound — especially how transgendered people are born in the wrong body — I disagree with your advice about the photo albums.
As a transgendered man, I’d be mortified if I knew a photo of me in dresses and pigtails from my youth was included in a family album for my son to see. But I also know many transpeople who wouldn’t mind at all.
It would be reasonable for her husband to approach his brother privately and ask his feelings on the issue. If John doesn’t mind childhood photos in an album, then great. If he does, however, then Anonymous should do her best to find ones of her husband only or have the pictures cropped. — Michigan Transguy
DEAR MICHIGAN TRANSGUY: Many readers agreed with you that the wisest course of action would be to talk to John for his input. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: Although the subject is “something that is never mentioned,” the writer’s husband needs to sit down with his brother and discuss the matter. Surely John has anticipated these things from early on in his new life, and a psychiatrist most likely prepared him for it before he even had the gender reassignment surgery. Ignoring it is probably the worst thing for everyone. — San Jose, Calif., Reader
DEAR ABBY: Anonymous shouldn’t be so sure that John doesn’t know she knows. Most spouses discuss their childhoods with each other, and John probably assumes that his brother had told her about his history.
At some point the children will ask more questions, as will adults. Most transpeople are open about their gender, and Anonymous can use the photo album as an opportunity to teach, as you stated, that John was always male. People need to hear this message so that they, too, can understand. — Libby in Atlanta
DEAR ABBY: I’m also a transman (born in a female body). It was refreshing to read such a sensible reply. Most often, we transgendered folk are treated as freaks, even though it has been proven that gender is determined by what is between your ears, not between your legs. — Mikhail in Grand Rapids . . .
As a transgendered man, I’d be mortified if I knew a photo of me in dresses and pigtails from my youth was included in a family album for my son to see. But I also know many transpeople who wouldn’t mind at all.
It would be reasonable for her husband to approach his brother privately and ask his feelings on the issue. If John doesn’t mind childhood photos in an album, then great. If he does, however, then Anonymous should do her best to find ones of her husband only or have the pictures cropped. — Michigan Transguy
DEAR MICHIGAN TRANSGUY: Many readers agreed with you that the wisest course of action would be to talk to John for his input. Read on:
DEAR ABBY: Although the subject is “something that is never mentioned,” the writer’s husband needs to sit down with his brother and discuss the matter. Surely John has anticipated these things from early on in his new life, and a psychiatrist most likely prepared him for it before he even had the gender reassignment surgery. Ignoring it is probably the worst thing for everyone. — San Jose, Calif., Reader
DEAR ABBY: Anonymous shouldn’t be so sure that John doesn’t know she knows. Most spouses discuss their childhoods with each other, and John probably assumes that his brother had told her about his history.
At some point the children will ask more questions, as will adults. Most transpeople are open about their gender, and Anonymous can use the photo album as an opportunity to teach, as you stated, that John was always male. People need to hear this message so that they, too, can understand. — Libby in Atlanta
DEAR ABBY: I’m also a transman (born in a female body). It was refreshing to read such a sensible reply. Most often, we transgendered folk are treated as freaks, even though it has been proven that gender is determined by what is between your ears, not between your legs. — Mikhail in Grand Rapids . . .
Finding her true self
After difficult metamorphosis, transsexual woman just wants to fit in
Richard Ruelas
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2007 12:00 AM
It sounds odd coming from a person whose large hoop earrings dangle near her Adam's apple, who brushes her long blond hair away from her face with man-size hands and who, despite the strain to raise her tone, still speaks as a tenor. But Michele de LaFreniere, like other transgender individuals, desperately wants to fit in.
She has become a high-profile symbol for the Phoenix area's transgender community, becoming involved in a possible discrimination action against a Scottsdale nightclub. But she is not looking to be singled out. Just the opposite.
De LaFreniere does not want the public to see her as a man who had surgery to become a woman. She just wants to be seen as a woman.
Unfortunately, I'm 6 feet tall, so people are like, 'Ooooh,' " she said. "Whatever."
De LaFreniere knows people stare. She knows people probably think she's a freak. That she's just a guy in a dress.
She's not. What she is, however, is difficult for people to wrap their minds around. She's a transsexual and, more broadly, a transgender individual.
Transgender people feel as if their body doesn't match the sex their brain feels it is. Transsexuals take the step of getting surgery to correct that mismatch.
The umbrella category of gender-identity disorder has been accepted as a medical condition by mental-health professionals, but not by society at large. It's easier to laugh than to understand.
But for those experiencing it, feeling that you were born the wrong gender is torture.
"I don't like being transsexual," de LaFreniere said.
Since living openly as a woman, she has had a divorce, paid for hours of therapy, had an expensive overseas surgery with plans for at least one more and, most recently, became persona non grata at her favorite nightspot. . . .
Richard Ruelas
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2007 12:00 AM
It sounds odd coming from a person whose large hoop earrings dangle near her Adam's apple, who brushes her long blond hair away from her face with man-size hands and who, despite the strain to raise her tone, still speaks as a tenor. But Michele de LaFreniere, like other transgender individuals, desperately wants to fit in.
She has become a high-profile symbol for the Phoenix area's transgender community, becoming involved in a possible discrimination action against a Scottsdale nightclub. But she is not looking to be singled out. Just the opposite.
De LaFreniere does not want the public to see her as a man who had surgery to become a woman. She just wants to be seen as a woman.
Unfortunately, I'm 6 feet tall, so people are like, 'Ooooh,' " she said. "Whatever."
De LaFreniere knows people stare. She knows people probably think she's a freak. That she's just a guy in a dress.
She's not. What she is, however, is difficult for people to wrap their minds around. She's a transsexual and, more broadly, a transgender individual.
Transgender people feel as if their body doesn't match the sex their brain feels it is. Transsexuals take the step of getting surgery to correct that mismatch.
The umbrella category of gender-identity disorder has been accepted as a medical condition by mental-health professionals, but not by society at large. It's easier to laugh than to understand.
But for those experiencing it, feeling that you were born the wrong gender is torture.
"I don't like being transsexual," de LaFreniere said.
Since living openly as a woman, she has had a divorce, paid for hours of therapy, had an expensive overseas surgery with plans for at least one more and, most recently, became persona non grata at her favorite nightspot. . . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
