The Cutting Edge- January 2014

By

Barbara F. Anderson, Ph.D., LCSW

 

Transgress Press has put out a call for letters from “Our Partners,” partners and spouses of transpeople.  They are seeking personal stories from individuals who are/have been in relationship with people who identify as transgender.  In 2011 they published “Letters for My Brothers: Transitional Wisdom in Retrospect,” an anthology of letters to trans partners.  Now they seek reflections on these relationships.  They are interested in stories about personal identity that address questions such as:

 1) How has your identity been challenged or supported by your partner’s identity?  Has your self-perception of your own gender evolved?

 2) How has disclosure impacted personal, community, family, or work relationships?  Affected your role as a partner or your identity?

 3) How has medical transition affected your relationship?  Has your partner’s desire or lack of such affected your role or identity?

 4) How has your relationship changed?  Has monogamy or polyamory become a lifestyle choice?  What has been the effect on children?

 f you’d like to know more about the project or are interested in submitting a letter of 2500 words or less, contact jess@iamsocialjustice.com

 

Are you aware of the controversy re: the term “trans*” vs. transgender among gender variant individuals, professionals who work with them and activists for the cause?  Some feel “trans*” has supplanted transgender and is more inclusive of all who identify as CD, TG, TS and gender diverse.

 Apparently, the “*” as an abbreviation comes from computer science.  It was prominent as a wildcard character in early operating systems in the 1970’s and remains so in Mac and Windows today.  Many global advocacy organizations have adopted “Trans*” such as GATE—Global Action for Trans* Equality.  A growing number of members of WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) have adopted the term as well, although the “*” has not modified the title of the organization.

 Another point of view comes from a physician/Executive Director of an advocacy organization who says “I am not an asterisk.  Roger Maris may be an asterisk.  Barry Bonds may be an asterisk.  I am not an asterisk.”  These comments have been excerpted from online correspondence between members of WPATH.

 

“Massachusetts: Court Upholds Sex Change for Inmate”  is the headline of a NYTimes article.  The State Department of Corrections is required to provide SRS for an inmate serving a life sentence for murdering  his/her wife.  Michelle Kosilek, 64, was born male but receives female hormones and lives as a woman in a men’s prison.  A federal judge ruled in 2012 that surgery was necessary for her gender identity disorder.  Prison officials have concerns about protecting her post surgically.