A list of organizations and resources that I have found particularly useful. Includes: Home, School & Family | Support for Significant Others | Legal Resources | Support for those Transitioning | Online Communities | Supportive Religious Resources | Gender Newsfeeds
Science, religion and social commentary offer useful lenses for understanding transsexuality. But they are no substitute for getting to know the people themselves. In fact, I think that they often get in the way. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources becoming available that vividly portray transgender lives. Here are a few that I have found particularly helpful.
Sometimes it is easier to learn from video. Here are some brief clips of people offering tips for being a good ally.
I worry that we sometimes make gender too complicated. I don’t need to understand someone’s religion in order to respect their right to have one. If you’re not curious about gender but want to be respectful, here are four simple things that will get you by.
This “test” makes a serious point with a little mischievous humor. Transition is, in fact, a very personalized journey. Not all female transsexuals undergo everything listed here. The factors listed below are common to many transitions but are far from universal. With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy.
You don’t have to become an expert in all forms of gender identity, no more than you need to understand every religion. But there are four basic things that are worth understanding.
I learned something important during my transition: How people treat me defines them – not me. If they can’t see past your stereotypes, it is they who are limited. Don’t just follow these guidelines for our sake. Follow them because they make you a better person.