http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/04/barbara-walters-interview-with-transgender-children-makes-waves.html love. justice. family. equality. Fri, 5 Sep 2008 20:55:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/04/barbara-walters-interview-with-transgender-children-makes-waves.html#comment-5771 Alan Bardouleau Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:40:04 +0000 http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/04/barbara-walters-interview-with-transgender-children-makes-waves.html#comment-5771 As one who grew up with this powerful emotion of I am a 'girl in a boys body' I sympathise and support the new enlightenment. My mother knew but 'we don't talk about these things dear'. I was encouraged to join amateur theatre groups instead - taking all the scout show parts for a girl. By 12 my emotional turmoil sent me into a depression which ruined my school career. As I emerged at 16 I knew I was not gay as did my many girl friends who I yearned to emulate. I crossdressed in secret as a compromise. I married. Had four lovely children and then innevitably was 'found out' to my dear wifes horror that led after her spending many years to come to terms with it, to divorce. By miraculous good fortune I found my my very dear soul mate who is very relaxed about my 'unusual ways' but led me away from the operation when we were both in our late 50's. She is my wife now. At 70 I look back and wonder at what might have been. There is no rewinding of our clocks. Would I be any better off now as a 'real' woman? I honestly will never know but I do know that we must spare these children the agonies that I and many others endured. As one who grew up with this powerful emotion of I am a ‘girl in a boys body’ I sympathise and support the new enlightenment. My mother knew but ‘we don’t talk about these things dear’. I was encouraged to join amateur theatre groups instead - taking all the scout show parts for a girl. By 12 my emotional turmoil sent me into a depression which ruined my school career. As I emerged at 16 I knew I was not gay as did my many girl friends who I yearned to emulate. I crossdressed in secret as a compromise. I married. Had four lovely children and then innevitably was ‘found out’ to my dear wifes horror that led after her spending many years to come to terms with it, to divorce. By miraculous good fortune I found my my very dear soul mate who is very relaxed about my ‘unusual ways’ but led me away from the operation when we were both in our late 50’s. She is my wife now. At 70 I look back and wonder at what might have been. There is no rewinding of our clocks. Would I be any better off now as a ‘real’ woman? I honestly will never know but I do know that we must spare these children the agonies that I and many others endured.

]]> http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/04/barbara-walters-interview-with-transgender-children-makes-waves.html#comment-1159 Antonio Cordova Tue, 01 May 2007 19:49:16 +0000 http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/04/barbara-walters-interview-with-transgender-children-makes-waves.html#comment-1159 I too was immersed in tears as I listened and watched Barbara Walter's program on transgendered children. Among the most compelling was little Jeremy who wanted to hurt himself for what the world had done to him and my little hero, Riley, who at three was mad at God for what he'd done to him. At such a young age, they profoundly yearn for acceptance and for equality. The sadden look on their tiny faces clearly paints a vivid picture in their pain and of the heavy burden on their shoulders. Their stories, like many before them, pleads for a richer, more diverse, more compassionate culture towards self-expression and self-actualiztion. Oddly enough, clinicly they are diagnosed "transgendered" but I can't come to terms with the label "disorder". Perhaps for the sake of a diagnosis, however, none of this would be if humanity was minus the enormous prejudices, bigotry and hated in the first place! Yes, why can't we just love them for who they are? May God bless Jeremy and Riley and the many they represent. May God give them the strength and the courage in their plight. Perhaps this program may have opened up minds towards a better understanding. And for Jeremy and Riley, a giant leep in humanity. Let us pray. I too was immersed in tears as I listened and watched Barbara Walter’s program on transgendered children. Among the most compelling was little Jeremy who wanted to hurt himself for what the world had done to him and my little hero, Riley, who at three was mad at God for what he’d done to him. At such a young age, they profoundly yearn for acceptance and for equality. The sadden look on their tiny faces clearly paints a vivid picture in their pain and of the heavy burden on their shoulders. Their stories, like many before them, pleads for a richer, more diverse, more compassionate culture towards self-expression and self-actualiztion. Oddly enough, clinicly they are diagnosed “transgendered” but I can’t come to terms with the label “disorder”. Perhaps for the sake of a diagnosis, however, none of this would be if humanity was minus the enormous prejudices, bigotry and hated in the first place! Yes, why can’t we just love them for who they are? May God bless Jeremy and Riley and the many they represent. May God give them the strength and the courage in their plight. Perhaps this program may have opened up minds towards a better understanding. And for Jeremy and Riley, a giant leep in humanity. Let us pray.

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