You know how, when you need some gift-buying inspiration, you go to a favourite shopping website and click on the options? You can select gift ideas for men, women, kids, or a specific celebratory event. Well, the people who put the products under those categories have some really limited perceptions of gender. I have two […]
This week, I was with a group of women, and one of them introduced herself as Vivian. Someone said, “Oh, I thought you were called Vi,” and the woman replied “You can call me Vi, or Viv, or Vivian. Just don’t call me late for dinner.” It’s an old joke, and I’m sure she has […]
There was a deep-seated resistance tied to some happy moments in the past that I didn’t want to let go of. My therapist said something then that has stayed with me ever since. He said “You are one … Source: Real Stories, Real People: When Your Child’s Gender Changes, So Do You
I did something a little out of the ordinary this week. I went to see a hypnotherapist. Yes, really I did. It relates to an ongoing dilemma that I have. Ever since my youngest child began the transition from female to male, I have found it really difficult to get the pronoun right. I have been […]
Long Line-ups How many times have you been to a concert or play and, at the intermission, found a long lineup for the women’s washroom and a much shorter one for the men’s? We have all experienced that totally ridiculous segregation. On the other hand, at fairgrounds and outdoor festivals we all use the communal, […]
Houston, you have a problem. You just voted to repeal an ordinance that would have banned discrimination on the basis of age, race, or sex, and I don’t think you know what you have done. You bought into the propaganda that made you afraid. You were lead to believe that predatory men dressed as women […]
Caitlyn Jenner was on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine last week and created her own Twitter account. She has also created a firestorm of interest in transgender issues. This has been coming for a long time, and most people have noticed Jenner’s appearance changing over the years. We didn’t think too much about it, […]
It would be easier to learn a complete new language than it is to learn to refer someone by a different pronoun. Calling Jamie “he” is turning out to be far more difficult than I would ever have thought possible. It’s not that I object to the idea, but the word just won’t come out […]
One of my children has outed me on Facebook. It was not exactly a secret, but at the same time I wasn’t quite yet ready for everyone in my world to know that I am the mother of a transgender adult. The big story, of course, isn’t mine. If this were a movie, my part […]
Snowbird of Paradise 