Comments on: Local Newspaper Invitation http://jmcl.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/local-news/ Transitioning from Male to Female after 40 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:42:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Allyson http://jmcl.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/local-news/#comment-265 Allyson Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:14:44 +0000 http://jmcl.wordpress.com/?p=293#comment-265 Very, very well played, Joyce. You should consider forwarding your responses to NCTE and the other advocacy orgs. It makes an excellent model, I think. Very, very well played, Joyce. You should consider forwarding your responses to NCTE and the other advocacy orgs. It makes an excellent model, I think.

]]> By: Jacky V. http://jmcl.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/local-news/#comment-263 Jacky V. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:44:49 +0000 http://jmcl.wordpress.com/?p=293#comment-263 That's great! Thanks for making a difference! That’s great! Thanks for making a difference!

]]> By: Joyce http://jmcl.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/local-news/#comment-262 Joyce Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:09:09 +0000 http://jmcl.wordpress.com/?p=293#comment-262 Already followed up, as you hoped, Jacky: Joyce, Thank you for the compelling e-mail. I think it would serve our readers well to know more about the issues you brought up. Perhaps you could direct me to some of the support groups you mentioned. Do you know if anyone tried, but failed to add gender identity to EEO non-discrimination language at BFU? Thank you again for your time and insights. Hyacinth And my reply: The most interesting story in compassionate Bedford Falls is its PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter (national website is http://community.pflag.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=194&srcid=-2 )- I've written to the president to see if she wants the group to have any stories in the press, but suffice to say it's old-school Bedford Falls looking out for its diverse fellow-citizens, and that includes the transgendered, as well as the lesbian and gay community, as well as PFLAG's main constituency, parents and friends of those other populations. It's the best story in town, in my opinion. Bedford Falls does not have a chapter of COLAGE (national website: http://www.colage.org/), which would be a support goup for kids with LGBTQ parents -- they have terrific resources for kids (and just come out with a new publication for "Kids of Trans" that my children approve of). I wish we did have a chapter. I'm sure you're aware of BFU's various support groups for students through the student mental health center. And we have the only psychotherapist specializing in transgender issues (among his other specialties) within 400 miles right here in town--people come here from hundreds of miles away to see him. I don't know if he wants publicity, but you'd never figure Bedford Falls to have such a talent. Regarding EEO language, no, it has not been attempted, so its absence isn't from any sort of obstruction, but from just not considering the different kinds of diversity that benefit universities and their communities. I suspect there will be a push to add this language to BFU's EEO statements in the next year or so :) Joyce Already followed up, as you hoped, Jacky:

Joyce,

Thank you for the compelling e-mail. I think it would serve our readers well to know more about the issues you brought up.

Perhaps you could direct me to some of the support groups you mentioned. Do you know if anyone tried, but failed to add gender identity to EEO non-discrimination language at BFU?

Thank you again for your time and insights.

Hyacinth

And my reply:

The most interesting story in compassionate Bedford Falls is its PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter (national website is http://community.pflag.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=194&srcid=-2 )- I’ve written to the president to see if she wants the group to have any stories in the press, but suffice to say it’s old-school Bedford Falls looking out for its diverse fellow-citizens, and that includes the transgendered, as well as the lesbian and gay community, as well as PFLAG’s main constituency, parents and friends of those other populations. It’s the best story in town, in my opinion.

Bedford Falls does not have a chapter of COLAGE (national website: http://www.colage.org/), which would be a support goup for kids with LGBTQ parents — they have terrific resources for kids (and just come out with a new publication for “Kids of Trans” that my children approve of). I wish we did have a chapter.

I’m sure you’re aware of BFU’s various support groups for students through the student mental health center. And we have the only psychotherapist specializing in transgender issues (among his other specialties) within 400 miles right here in town–people come here from hundreds of miles away to see him. I don’t know if he wants publicity, but you’d never figure Bedford Falls to have such a talent.

Regarding EEO language, no, it has not been attempted, so its absence isn’t from any sort of obstruction, but from just not considering the different kinds of diversity that benefit universities and their communities. I suspect there will be a push to add this language to BFU’s EEO statements in the next year or so :)

Joyce

]]> By: Jacky V. http://jmcl.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/local-news/#comment-261 Jacky V. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:39:03 +0000 http://jmcl.wordpress.com/?p=293#comment-261 Good on ya! It's funny how often media people assume we're just itching to tell our "stories" to the press. I believe in public education and sensitisation but, as Mara Keisling advised you, it has to be for the right reasons AND boundaries are important. I think it's good that you made it a point to educate this journalist. Hopefully, the points you raise get followed up. And you're right - reading personal story after personal story about transition isn't going to change society. Rather, the public needs to be educated about injustices and discrimination as well as on the positive outcomes a transition can have on a person: a fulfilling life, etc. Good on ya! It’s funny how often media people assume we’re just itching to tell our “stories” to the press. I believe in public education and sensitisation but, as Mara Keisling advised you, it has to be for the right reasons AND boundaries are important.

I think it’s good that you made it a point to educate this journalist. Hopefully, the points you raise get followed up. And you’re right – reading personal story after personal story about transition isn’t going to change society. Rather, the public needs to be educated about injustices and discrimination as well as on the positive outcomes a transition can have on a person: a fulfilling life, etc.

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