{"id":58043,"date":"2017-11-17T20:00:42","date_gmt":"2017-11-18T01:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/for-transweek-glaad-goes-beyond-the-surface-of-what-it-means-to-be-trans\/"},"modified":"2017-11-17T20:00:42","modified_gmt":"2017-11-18T01:00:42","slug":"for-transweek-glaad-goes-beyond-the-surface-of-what-it-means-to-be-trans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/for-transweek-glaad-goes-beyond-the-surface-of-what-it-means-to-be-trans\/","title":{"rendered":"For #TransWeek, GLAAD goes “Beyond the Surface” of what it means to be trans"},"content":{"rendered":"

For #TransWeek, GLAAD goes “Beyond the Surface” of what it means to be trans<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

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GLAAD<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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This Trans Awareness Week (#TransWeek<\/a>), GLAAD sat down with transgender people and their families for a look beyond the surface of what it means to be trans<\/a>. This video<\/a> series explores a variety of issues affecting the trans<\/a> community.<\/p>\n

The people spotlighted in “Beyond the Surface” speak about their experiences with trans<\/a>\u00a0representation in the media, societal expectations and gender roles forced onto children from a young age, and the specific risks transgender people (especially trans<\/a> youth) face. But they also talk about the positive\u2014family bonds that are stronger than fears, the ways in which things are changing for the better, calls<\/a> to action against anti-trans<\/a> policies and rhetoric in our daily lives, and messages of love and resiliency\u00a0for transgender youth.<\/p>\n

Here is a deeper look beyond the surface:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Ivory Aquino, she\/her<\/h3>\n
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“Claim your power…Don\u2019t wait for anyone else outside of yourself to validate you\u2026You’re worthy of love, you are enough as you are. “<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Ivory, an actress known for her role in the ABC miniseries When We Rise<\/em>, discusses her experiences as a trans<\/a> actress and shares a message for trans<\/a> youth of self-acceptance. Ivory discusses how seeing beauty pageants helped her realize her identity a a trans<\/a> woman<\/a>, and how the expectations society put on her made her realize that she was different.\u00a0She also talks about childhood bullying and how hopeful she is for the future, given the increase in trans<\/a> representation in the media.<\/p>\n

Transgender people are disproportionately at risk for harrassment, homelessness, and suicide. Though transgender representation in the media is on the rise, it is still marginal: only 17 transgender characters<\/a>\u00a0were counted broadcast, cable, and streaming TV shows in GLAAD’s recent 2017-2018 Where We Are on TV\u00a0<\/em>report<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Jodie Patterson, she\/her<\/h3>\n
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“And then Penelope said, ‘No Mama, I don’t feel like<\/em> a boy<\/a>, I am <\/em>a boy<\/a>\u2026The more I started listening to Penelope, those initial fears went to the background.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jodie, owner of her own beauty company and mother of five, discusses her experiences raising her transgender son, Penelope. She talks about her concerns as a parent of a transgender child, especially given the violence transgender people face.\u00a0Penelope began telling his mom that\u00a0he was a boy<\/a> at the age of three, and Jodie talks about how she raises her children to love and respect themselves. She talks about the importance of acknowledging that, while Penelope being trans<\/a> is a part of his story, he is so much more than his one identity as a trans<\/a> kid.<\/p>\n

Violence against trans<\/a> people, especially transgender women<\/a> of color, is on the rise in the United States. Transgender youth are disproportionately at risk for bullying and harrasment at school. Despite this and other adversities, there are very limited legal protections in place for transgender people.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Tiq Milan, he\/him<\/h3>\n
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“It’s really important for us to see that we exist, and that we’re happy and that we’re healthy, and that we’re loved, but at the same time what’s even more important is that we are in control of the images that we see.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Tiq, an advocate, journalist, and media consultant, discusses why he works as a media advocate. He talks about the need for trans<\/a> people to be represented in all aspects of media content creation, the specific risks faced by trans<\/a> people, especially trans<\/a> youth, and the dangerous false misconceptions behind current anti-trans<\/a> policies. He also discusses the difficulties in being out and visible as a trans<\/a> person, how the media narratives around trans<\/a> people need to shift, and the importance of beginning conversations that will ultimately lead to a shift in opinions around trans<\/a> people.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Chris and Courtney Rhodes, he\/him and she\/her<\/h3>\n
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“I wish I had an easier or smoother life… or it would be easier if I was cisgender… but this awakening and falling back in love with myself \u2013 I don\u2019t know how I could have gotten it any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Chris and Courtney Rhodes are identical twins that discuss their experience of coming out together initially in high school as lesbians<\/a>, and then again once Chris realized that he was trans<\/a>.\u00a0They discuss their relationship and how it has evovled as Chris has transitioned, family reactions to their coming out while living in rural Texas, and the lessons that they both have gained from Chris’s transition. They also talk about the importance of respecting everyone regardless of identity, the strength it takes to be authentic, and Chris’s journey to self-acceptance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Family acceptance can be so important for those in the transgender community. There is research<\/a> that suggests that family acceptance can be an a large factor in positive mental health outcomes for transgender people. In fact, the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey<\/a> found that\u00a0trans<\/a> people whose immediate families were supportive were less likely to report a variety of negative experiences related to economic stability and health, such as experiencing homelessness, attempting suicide, or experiencing serious psychological distress.<\/p>\n

Transgender people and issues of particular importance to the trans<\/a> community are more than the surface-level representations and narratives often presented by the mainstream media, and it’s important that we all have a deeper understanding of them. All of the hardships discussed in this series contribute to a climate of hostility that makes it difficult for transgender people to simply live<\/a> their lives. But these negative conditions\u00a0are not irreversible, and they are not the entirety of what it means to be trans<\/a>, as these videos<\/a> show. The stories of Ivory Aquino, Jodie Patterson, Tiq Milan, Chris and Courtney Rhodes\u00a0and so many others show how complex and intricate this really is, and why all we need to continue pushing beyond mere surface-level representations of the trans<\/a> experience. \u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to producing this video<\/a> series for #TransWeek, here are more actions GLAAD is taking to accelerate acceptance, and foster a climate of acceptance:<\/p>\n

We’re proud to be going Beyond the Binary, and to provide examples of how our language can change to be more inclusive of people of all gender identities. Take the pledge to go Beyond the Binary today!\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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It’s #TransWeek<\/a>! Let’s look #BeyondTheBinary<\/a> at 5\ufe0f\u20e3 ways you can be gender inclusive with your language. t.co\/wqkF7cskrm<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vodgJhTTbs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 GLAAD (@glaad) November 13, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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For Trans Awareness Week, GLAAD’s offers some ways to take a stand in the fight against anti-trans policies.<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition, GLAAD hosted a Q&A Twitter chat<\/a> on the subject of trans<\/a> masculinities:<\/p>\n

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\u26a1\ufe0f Creating our own trans<\/a> masculinities: trans<\/a> men<\/a> discuss for #TransWeek<\/a>t.co\/aaXrqKk51y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 GLAAD (@glaad) November 15, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Want to share your story, speak out, or read more from others? Use or read through the hashtag #TransWeek on social media, and join the conversation today!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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November 17, 2017<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n