"On The First Day Of School, Nothing Happened"

[babylonsister]

"On The First Day Of School, Nothing Happened"

The American Prospect:

"In Loveland, Colorado -- population 61,000, 92 percent white and heavily evangelical Christian -- Michelle didn't know what to expect when she began to work with the school to facilitate her daughter's transition from a boy to a girl. At first, it was difficult. The school "freaked out when I told them," Michelle says. "When we started with M.J.'s transition, I was envisioning riots." And so Michelle became an advocate for transgender people -- those who identify as a gender different from the one assigned at birth. Michelle organized trainings for the faculty and staff and prepared "cheat sheets" in case any of their students asked prying questions.

But on the first day of school, nothing happened. No flood of calls, no angry protests, and no bullying. Michelle was "happy and shocked" that M.J.'s classmates seemed to get it. When one student made a mocking comment to another using M.J.'s former name, one eighth-grade boy dismissed him with a simple insight. "That person doesn't even exist anymore," he said. "You're talking about somebody who's imaginary." (...)

Many would view the politically red heart of the country as a harsh, unwelcoming, and vaguely dangerous place for the transgender community. When we think of states like Nebraska and Wyoming, we don't think of M.J. -- we think of people like Brandon Teena and Matthew Shepard, both killed in vicious, nationally publicized hate crimes. But the truth of the matter is far more interesting, inspiring, and instructive. Away from the coasts and the urban havens, a vibrant transgender-rights movement is slowly emerging across the mountain and plains states. Through increased visibility, community building, legislative outreach, and face-to-face public education in churches, schools, and neighborhoods, trans people are building a foundation for equality in some of the nation's most conservative regions. (...)

Without doubt, trans people in the mountain and plains states face harsh realities: employment discrimination, obstacles to health care, violence, and few community resources. But even in the reddest of states, successes like M.J.'s are not unique. Moreover, these stories presage even broader long-term change. For each local success or modest legislative action, the effect is the same -- laying the foundation for greater victories tomorrow. After all, as Mike Thompson, the executive director of Equality Utah explains, "If you can convert people in the reddest of states, then you can convert people anywhere.""

more...

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_11/015644.php

American Prospect article:

Trans in the Red States
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=trans_in_the_red_states

[enlightenment]

1. Interestingly, Colorado has a very liberal attitude toward

gender reassignment in at least one regard. My son was born in Denver. He no longer lives in Colorado; and has recently asked the state to change his birth certificate. They will - completely. As in issue a brand new one that indicates he was born male. He has not had "bottom surgery" yet, either.
Many states will only amend the existing certificate, leaving the birth gender on the form. Other states will refuse to change/amend a birth certificate unless the individual has had complete bottom surgery (which isn't always an option or a choice).

There may be a lot of conservative people in Colorado, but I lived there for over 20 years and there were a lot of very liberal people, too. It's not a consistently "red" state - more like measles spots, really - a blotchy red rash across the state.