Trans*/Gender 101

Open-heartedness is the best arrow in the quiver in the fight against ignorance. Ignorance may seem to come from the outside, but within the LGBTQ community, there is still work to do. The queer rainbow is more than the sum of its basic colors, and in order to fully appreciate the spectral grandeur of our community, we must continue to educate ourselves.

Even we flub, and it's important to take valuable lessons and teachable moments when offered, especially regarding the dangers of making assumptions about our transgender friends.

Here is a list we've compiled:
TRANSGENDER LEARNING RESOURCES

• Transgender Glossary of Terms (GLAAD) Includes transgender-specific terminology, and problematic/defamatory terms, as well as names, pronoun usage, and descriptions.

• Transgender FAQ (HRC) Answers about sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transitioning, FTM, MTF, and other frequently asked questions.

• Tips for Allies of Transgender People (GLAAD) An introductory list of things to do to support our transgender brothers and sisters, as well as things to avoid.

• Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (National Center for Transgender Equality) A study on the societal/institutional discrimination transgender people face regarding education, employment, housing, public restrooms, healthcare, and law enforcement.

• TransGeneration (Logo TV) A documentary series that looks at the lives of four transgender students, as they try to balance the social, psychological, and medical challenges of being transgendered college students.

• 52 Things You Can Do for Transgender Equality (National Center for Transgender Equality) A list of things you can do to help move transgender equality forward, from the personal to the political.

EVENTS

If you're looking for something a little more immediate and intimate, consider taking a short roadtrip to attend the opening reception of "Pioneering Voices: Portraits of Transgender People," at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio, Saturday, January 25, 3-6pm in Fellowship Hall. The same group is hosting a screening of TRANS, an indie documentary, Sunday, January 26, 1-3pm.

Closer to home, there's the fourth installment of the TGQ Social, a gender-diverse gathering of transgender and genderqueer folk, their advocates/allies, and people of all gender identities and expressions. The event takes place Saturday, February 8, 6-9pm. at Spiderhouse Ballroom.