GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

I found the documentary interesting yet horrifying at the same time. I apologize in advance if this sounds incoherent and rambling. Just woke up and my thoughts are still fuzzy.

Susan was not very educated on what it really means to be transsexual. I believe she would have been standing on better ground if she wasn't outed prematurely but she probably still wouldn't have 'gotten it'.

One thing that I related with but later became appalled at after hearing what she thought later was how out of place she felt at one of the conventions she went to. Where she felt disconnected with a lot of the transgender community. I feel a bit disconnected with crossdressers and transvestites but would never alienate them when it comes to human rights. When she made a comment about someone being an ugly guy in lipstick I was horrified. This showed how truly disconnected she is with just general human rights. All of us (gender benders) should be able to express ourselves the way we want/need to. She was basically saying “I am a better transgender than you are”.

And during a time when it would have really been time for her to step up she said it was okay to leave the transgender community behind but just come back for us later. WHAT?!! That was THE perfect time to urge them to take us with them. Especially the timing of the documentary being aired while ENDA is about to come out of hibernation. Again it shows how disconnected she is from the community as a whole and seems to be very self-centered.

Another thing that bothered me was when she was in front of the cameras after she was first outed. When she was asked what she wore to an event and proceeded to appear kind of giddy giving details. She should have simply said “an appropriate outfit' or something and maintain a more professional demeanor. But then I have to think this was during her plans to come out and got blind-sided by a journalist and maybe her head just exploded. I can relate to this in a way.

I am glad that CNN aired something like this and especially during a time when ENDA is about to get fired back up. At least some people will see the struggles we face and perhaps find some kind of compassion and not fight ENDA so hard. Perhaps it is a bit selfish of me in wishing that Susan was 'the one' to stand up and fight when it really counted. I wish she would have urged our inclusion at the Human Rights convention and also sued the City of Largo. Those two things would have made her a hero. But then I think that she was thrust into this and who are we to demand her to be an activist? We all should be able to live our life the way we want/need to and if being an activist is not what we want to do then we should be able to just be ourselves.

I transitioned in a public office at the University I work at but am lucky that I had full support there. I am going to be an activist here and try to help an effort to design protocols so others can have a less bumpy ride. But this is my choice and Susan should have the same choices to live her life the way she needs to.

There is no single saviour for us. Nobody is perfect. Some can live in stealth, others have no choice. Nobody knows what Susan went through, and you never will. Because you are outed so publicly, and prematurely by the media, you either hide, or throw yourself out there, and do your best. I'm happy for those of you who can live your lives privately, the way it should be. None of you has the right to criticize without having been there. I know what it's like.I have people calling me a "media whore" because I have done interviews and written articles. These are all of your own opinions, about other human beings. Try to have a little respect, as you hide behind your computers.

Episode 3 actually. Spike had a marathon.

Well said IMHO.

I saw the show and was underwhelmed. But another girl here said it helped her very redneck father come to terms with her transition, so I suppose something good came of it.