THE WORLD CAN be a very challenging, prejudicial place. The sheer number of people on this earth by itself means that there are always going to be huge differences of opinions, beliefs and attitudes. Add in the fact that humans are a ‘tribal race’ and it should come as no surprise that there are always going to be conflicts and disagreements, often over minor or, seemingly, even nonsensical matters.
Given that the so-called ‘herd-mentality’ is prevalent across much of mankind, again, it should be no surprise that, throughout history, majorities have often persecuted or discriminated against minorities; often for no other reason than they are minorities. Having said this, the lack of education and wish to understand others certainly doesn’t help, nor does parents, or those with vested interests, instilling bigoted views into children from an early age.
So, as we gallop along in the 21st century, not much has really changed in so far as the way minorities are viewed; often tolerated but not accepted; often marginalised but without solid reasons to do so. And, in many cases, by people or groups who really should know better!
SOME PROGRESS
OVER THE LAST 10-15 years, one minority which has been around since the very earliest times, Transgender people, has come to the forefront of attention and scrutiny of the media and public at large. The increased visibility of Trans clearly follows the path for recognition and acceptance forged by pioneers from the lesbian and gay male communities. Yet it also has brought new challenges to this minority such as increased, often unfounded, prejudices, curtailment of human rights and so on.
The LGBT banner often represents a, sometimes, uncomfortable marriage of convenience (sexual preferences vs gender identity, and not sexual motives as its core issue) but it has helped bring some commonality for related minorities to work together. It has also raised the flag for minorities who have caused no problems to anyone else, whose only ‘crime’ is who they prefer as partners and who long for richly deserved equality with any anyone and everyone else on the planet. An equality, sadly (unbelievably in this modern world), which is still being denied in many states and countries.
FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES REALLY COUNT
THE FOREGOING MAY seem like a long-winded way to get around to talking about my own Transgender journey but I speak first hand with the knowledge, experience and having been through or dealt with most of the issues minorities like us continue to face.
For all the amazing advances in science and technology, which undoubtedly help Transgender people, whether it is hormones or access to better healthcare or the provision of better surgical procedures, the sad fact is that the medical profession can only know so much. They can only diagnose so much.
Of course, by all means, Trans and other concerned people need to listen to medical experts, therapists, the endocrinologists, the doctors, the surgeons. But when it comes to matters Trans, it is equally important to pay more attention to and place more credence on the opinions of someone who really knows; someone like me who has been through a journey of over 60 years striving to finally achieve the ultimate goal of womanhood.
Since time immemorial to the present day, this has been a journey experienced by Transgender people; a journey that may have no time limit and, for some, no end as they can never, for a myriad of reasons, fully transition to their authentic gender.
So, read on and learn about what it’s really like to have been born Transgender and with a mismatch of mind and body appearance, about some of many issues Trans people face, both externally and from an internal perspective, as well as some of the steps which can be taken to address what clearly is an ‘inbuilt’ problem; a problem with the hard wiring as it were!
I don’t intend the define the various terms in use for Trans people in this book as most readers should (I hope) know the differences. I use Transgender or Trans for those who consider themselves women or at least take some surgical or other (hormonal) steps towards presenting permanently as women. On the other hand, cross dressers or CDs have no such desire to be women permanently, being content to revert back to ‘male mode’ after spending and enjoying a certain period of time en-femme.
This is only my opinion and I am happy to be corrected….
I’m also avoiding the question of sexuality of Trans people as this is far too complex an issue to be considered in the story of my journey.
