While transphobia obviously is nothing new in the media, it is rather shocking to see such a blantant example in the decision to publish this article without any perspective of what it is like to be a transgender youth. As Autumn points out, via GLSEN's research report on the experiences of trangender students in school, Harsh Realities:
- Two-thirds of transgender students felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation (69%) and how they expressed their gender (65%).
- Almost all transgender students had been verbally harassed (e.g., called names or threatened) in the past year at school because of their sexual orientation (89%) and gender expression (87%).
- More than half of all transgender students had been physically harassed (e.g., pushed or shoved) in school in the past year because of their sexual orientation (55%) and gender
expression (53%). - More than a quarter of transgender students had been physically assaulted (e.g., punched, kicked or injured with a weapon) in school in the past year because of their sexual orientation (28%) and gender expression (26%).
- Most transgender students (54%) who were victimized in school did not report the events to school authorities. Among those who did report incidents to school personnel, few students (33%) believed that staff addressed the situation effectively.
Short of that, even an apology isn't good enough.
A Facebook group has started to encourage a letter writing campaing. Go join and tell your friends.
Queerty also has a good blog post.
10 comments:
I read that article, and I was offended at first (I'm not transgender, but I am lesbian). But when I finished reading it, I noticed that at the end the girl said that if he had been honest from the beginning, the girl would've stayed with him. It wasn't about being disgusted by transgender people, it was about wanting honesty in a relationship.
I didn't find it offensive, however, I did feel bad after reading it. Why does gender matter. Like really. Yes, Derek should've been open from the beginning, however, Sherri should've been a bit more understanding. You fall in love with someone because of who they are INSIDE, not what they are on the OUTSIDE. I have been dating my girlfriend for almost a year, (it'll be a year on Monday, November 16th,) and im white, and she's black, the outside doesn't matter. but my friends would ask me: what's it like kissing a girl? my answer is ALWAYS the same: it's not something I think about. I'm kissing the person I love, because I love her for who she is. I dont think about the fact that Im kissing a girl and not a guy, and Sherri shouldn't have been so extrememly upset because she fell in love with Derek on the inside. I just dont understand some people.
this is Sheri the girl from the article...
I dont see how anyone could find this article offensive. I still love Derek after everything that happened it in no way has anything to do with the fact that he was trasgendered that we broke up. we are still friends to this day. so im sorry if you found it offensive cause it wasnt meant to be. Not every love story turns out how you expect it to i thought i would be married to derek by now but thinkgs change.. the way i feel never will though gender isnt an issue.
Thanks,
sheri
thnk you for sharing travesti
The treatment of transgender or anyone that's different than the status quo is appalling. In S.E. Asia transgender people are worshipped as being the embodiment of everything that is good in both man and woman and considered holy, and given special status. I wonder if western culture would ever be able to see it this way.
Doubt it.
Seventeen has previously written positively about the Day of Silence and written an article about a former GLSEN national student leader, but after this article
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