Thursday, 23 February 2012

• Part 6 of Transgender Autobiography (up until now!)

  *this is the newly added section to my story, enjoy!*

  Part 6 September 2010 till Early 2012

  In September 2010, I started seminary. I came out while there via the student newsletter in April of 2011. My time there is in hope of being able to educate and change the minds of those who are going to be future leaders of the church. While not the perfect fit for a transgender female with liberal leanings, it is be a place where I made friends and was challenged. I did 3 major independent studies, all relating to transgender issues, allowing me to further my knowledge of my faith and of my identity.

  In late 2010 I was asked to be on the board of GIFT (Gays in Faith Together), and began to get involved in advocacy work. In 2011, I founded my own organization, the Transgender Education Collaboration (www.trans-edu.com). In 2011, I was voted to become Vice President of the Board at GIFT. It was in 2011 that advocacy became a critical part of what I do in life. In November 2011, I was privileged to help put together a Transgender Day of Remembrance Service for the community, attended by 100+ people. Advocacy is important to me, and I will always want to push to make a difference in the community.

  2010 to 2012 was a time where I very much re-formed my friend circle, and refocused my energies. Besides my loving and supportive wife, I began to choose friends and colleagues that actually accepted me as female. I found many close friends who help me in coming to truly understand and be happy with myself. While still holding out for some friends changing their opinions, I realized that it was healthier to focus my energies on friends that truly cared about me. I also have begun to ask friends to always refer to me as M (M is my final decision on a female name, chosen in 2010), and to refer to me using female words and pronouns. While I may not be changing my body, I would like to be understood and perceived as how I identify- female.

  I also feel that during this time I have finally “come out to myself”, in that I have really come to understand and accept myself. I am no longer afraid to proudly proclaim myself as female. To go out in public presenting as female, in fact, in late 2011 I went downtown during the midst of a busy art festival while presenting as female, and it was incredibly freeing. I attended a friends wedding as a female, and was accepted as such. I have realized that I “pass” as female, and while I have qualms with the concept of passing (it places a lot of emphasis on your gender being your appearance), I do feel blessed in that the general public perceives me as the female that I identify as. I have gotten to the point that it seems strange to think that there was a time when I was so ashamed about something that I am so happy about now. I am female, why be ashamed of that?

  My mother has made strides in understanding my identity, as has much of my family. In fact, my aunt listed me as her niece on Facebook. It is great to also have supportive family members who are growing in their understanding.

  I do not know what the future holds. I am hoping to find a job at a church that is accepting of transgender individuals. But what will that end up looking like- will they be expecting someone who is surgically transitioning, which is not in my plan, and not be okay with someone whose gender presentation ranges from androgynous male to girly girl? We shall see where life is headed!

  • 12:00 PM
  • 41 Views
  • 0 eProps
  • 0 Comments