Transgender

No, this is not me telling that I am transgender. I'm not. I was born as a girl, I'm still a girl, and I'm pretty sure I always will be. Well, a woman, but you get my point.

I got the idea for this blog after watching 'A Girl Like Me : The Gwen Araujo Story'. It's based on the real story of the real Gwen Araujo. Gwen was born as Eddie in 1985. But from what I've read, she always knew that she was really a girl, that she was born in the wrong body. When she was 14 years old, she came out to her family about it. She started wearing make-up, and girl clothes, and her new name was Gwen. When she was 17, in 2002, she was just like most 17-year old girls. Only she was physically male. She slept with two guys, and they had no idea that she wasn't physically female. When they found out, a few weeks later, they murdered her. Four guys, age 19 to age 22, murdered 17-year old Gwen. They beat her up for 5 hours, struck her in the head with a frying pan, and eventually buried her. It isn't sure when exactly during those 5 hours she died. What is sure is that some of her last words were 'Please don't, I have a family.' During the trial, people defended the murderers, using 'the gay panic defense'. They said that it was Gwen's fault, because she didn't tell them. They called her a liar. They said that the guys were now scared that they were gay, and they just paniced. The fact is, they murdered a 17-year old girl, and they knew exactly what they were doing. Her family lost her and will have to live with that pain for the rest of their lives.

Last summer I was on the set of a tv-show. I was an extra, together with about 15 other people about my age. Some were older, some were younger. I did that for a couple of weeks. On one of my last days there, there was this awesome girl, with awesome clothes. She was there with two friends, and they had a lot of fun. I had a sort of a friend there too, and eventually the five of us started hanging out.
It was almost lunch when some bratty bimbo came up to us and asked the awesome girl if she was a drag queen. The room went completely silent, and everyone stared at the awesome girl. Let's just call the awesome girl 'Jen', it's easier to type =P. You could basically see the pain in Jen's eyes. But she held her head high and said she wasn't. The bratty bimbo wouldn't leave her alone though. It was kinda obvious that Jen wasn't born as a physically female. But the truth is, she was probably the girliest person in the entire room. She had more dresses, more make-up and more heels in her bag than any of us. The bratty bimbo kept asking questions, and Jen said that she was transgender. Of course people kept asking her stuff, and she calmly answered every single question. Even the rudest, most personal questions, she answered.
During lunch everyone but the five of us went outside, and Jen said that she hated questions like that. Of our group, we didn't ask a thing, we didn't care. Jen was a girl, and it was obvious. Jen said that she wanted to be a singer, and she sang a bit of her own song. It was amazing. But one of the bratty bimbos heard it, and came in. She made the meanest comments ever. Jen held her head high, until the bimbo left. Then she admitted that it hurt, and she became insecure. She asked us if she was really bad at singing, if her make-up looked bad, if she should wear different clothes. Of course we said that she was an amazing singer, and that she looked gorgeous, and she did.
But then, while shooting a scene, we all heard the bratty bimbo making bitchy comments about her. No one did a thing about it. The actors didn't care, the directors didn't care, and even the adult actors didn't say a thing. It was the four of us that had to stand up for her. And we did. I don't think I've ever wanted to punch someone so badly as when I wanted to back then. But Jen held her head high and acted better than any of us.
When we had to leave that night, me and Jen were the last two people there. She went to another room to change, and when she came back she looked like a star. It's why I say Jen, not her real name. I'm sure that one day she'll be famous, and everyone will know and love her. She is one of the bravest and strongest people I've ever met. She had no choice but to be tough, because she got mean comments all the time.
When I saw it on tv a couple of weeks ago, my heart broke. It was one of the scenes we had with the bratty bimbo. And I saw everyone stare at her and make fun of her. Yet, she stole the show, even as just an extra.

My point is that girls like Gwen and 'Jen' don't have it easy. I could tell you so much more stories. Some happier, some just as bad as Gwen's story. And it's not just girls, it's guys too. Watch Boys Don't Cry, about Brandon Teena. They get mean comments from so many people. Kids at school, sometimes family, teachers. But why? Is it that terrible of them that they're born in the wrong body? I don't think it is. I think it's terrible, but for them, not of them. It's not their fault. And when they are brave enough to be themselves, and to live the way they really are, I think it's amazing of them. Because they know that it might get tough, but they're doing it. So please, if you ever meet a transgender person, treat them just the way you treat anyone. They deserve just as much love and respect.

I am sorry if I got some of the facts wrong about anything. I don't have experience with transgender-ism, and I'm not claiming that I know a lot about it. But what I do know, is that there is a lot of discrimination against transgender people, and it breaks my heart. Please treat everyone with respect, no matter what.

-xxx- Sam