The society of transgenders and the LGBT community have come a long way in the advancement of altering the norms in the modern world and have made strides in achieving acceptance and approval.
Just like with all other developments and situations that had a hard time making a breakthrough in society, coming a long way does not mean that there isn’t still a long way to go - acceptance of transgenders and the gay community is still relatively new to the modern world. The term “transgender” refers only to a person’s identity - not their sexual orientation - and what they, themselves, label their own identity as. The definition of transgender, according to the New Oxford American dictionary, is “identified as a gender other than their biological one”. However, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transgen... describes transgender as “of or relating to people who have a sexual identity that is not clearly male or female”. This can mean a person is gender-fluid, gender curious, no gender or both genders (gender-bending).
According to emedicinehealth.com, “Gender identity is your internal sense of whether you are male or female.” This means that whatever transgenders feel on the inside doesn’t match what physically exists on their outside. Most transgenders explain this as feeling “trapped” in the bodies they were born with. Sometimes they recognize this feeling as children, or later as [young] adults. Essentially, what they recognize is their bodies do not truly make sense to the way they feel about themselves on the inside.
Transgenders usually feel the need to correct these outer-and-inner conflicts so they might feel normal in their bodies and with their identity and have taken advantage of what’s at their disposal. Some people wear makeup, change their hairstyles and fashion in order to make themselves feel more comfortable and reflect the gender they identify as (this is commonly referred to as cross-dressing, although cross-dressing isn’t limited to transgenders. Homosexuals and heterosexuals of either gender can cross-dress). Other transgenders undergo complete surgery to reassign them the bodies they feel are correct for them. This is called sex-realignment surgery, or a sex change and completely reverts a body from one sex to the other. Transgenders that have complete reassignment are referred to as transsexuals.
Statistically speaking, it is very true that “the numbers speak for themselves”- and these numbers are terrifying. According to www.brownpoliticalreview.org, 41% of transgenders of any age have attempted suicide. 78% of transgendered youth have reported harassment at school, and 35% have been victims of blatant physical assault. While an unbelievable 90% of all transgendered adults suffer harassment and discrimination in the workplace. This truth is unbelievable.
In the media, transgendered teens in high school and young adults seem to be targeted the most - the bullying and discrimination has been so frequent that bloggers on Tumblr have resorted to making a “Transgender Teen Survival Guide” (www.transgenderteensurvivalguide.tumblr.com), a blog that offers help to teens conflicted with their choices and options when faced with the reality of being genderqueer (“a catch-all category for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine; identities which are thus outside of the gender binary and cisnormativity”). High school is one of the cruelest places- especially for any person that doesn’t conform to the picture of normalcy that society has created for its every member. It stands as a powerful testament that there are sources that support teens that need to survive being transgender in high school.
Transgenders being discriminated against in the workplace is almost as frequent as the discrimination that comes in high school (proof that sometimes adults still can’t behave like adults). In 2012, Mia Macy- an MTF transgender- was denied a job due to her pending gender transition (http://www.pcc.edu/programs/paralegal/documents/ma...). A completely competent and qualified individual was restricted from a job opportunity specifically because of her gender identity and it is absolutely appalling that this is what happens in our society.
A common misconception is that homosexuality and transgender are the same thing. While sometimes individuals will identify as homosexual at first, it’s only because they truly didn’t understand the meaning of transgender in order to be able to claim it. Many people believe that transgendered people are only just gay or are “taking things too far” when in reality the matter of gender and the matter of sexuality are two completely different things.
In light of the recent increase in acceptance of transgenders, many more celebrities, and famous American citizens have been openly discussing their gender identities and coming out as transsexual to the public. Now and before, celebrities like Candis Cayne (Dirty Sexy Money) and Alexis Arquette (Pulp Fiction) have been comfortable expressing their true identities with the media and the world.
In 2015, former Olympian Bruce Jenner came out as an MTF (Male-to-Female) transgender. This caused an uproar in pop culture news and many people did not agree with it. For months, after his announcement and even still today, Jenner’s face is plastered all over tabloid magazines and a source of controversy and news gossip. Jenner has been on a staggering amount of tabloid magazine covers and has become a source of ridicule for an enormous public audience. The magazines exploit Jenner for every move she makes and everything she does - nails painted, in a dress; it’s all front-page news.
It’s not just adult celebrities, either - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s daughter Shiloh is supported by her parents in her choice to wear suits and answer to the name John.
So, this all leaves someone to wonder - why do others care so much about the choices and decisions of another person? Transgender individuals have just as much right as any cisgender person. Society must stop treating Transgender as a simple trend or statement and realize that some people are just born in bodies that truly do not reflect who they are on the inside.
