Transitions, Transitions!
It's because of our transitions that
every one of us knows who he is,
and what God expects him to do.
--with a nod to Tevye the Dairyman, by Sholem Aleichem
"Two Families Grapple with Sons' Gender Preferences" on All Things Considered
Please listen to this story (click on title) from NPR's All Things Considered, about different ways to manage gender identity in young children.
I am blessed with a family that is supportive of my (and other peoples') transgender identity. When my brother heard the story, I am proud to say he was moved to write a letter to NPR. He wrote:
My hat is off to reporter Alix Spiegel for her excellent stories on child trans-genderism. Her coverage of a very difficult and sensitive issue represents a true step forward in the public discourse.
However, I was surprised and a little disappointed to see Alix repeatedly use a conventional "frame" in her reporting and her questions to interviewees. She refers over and over again to the concept of "the sex you were born with." Although this notion is the one accepted and understood by most people, it is in fact mistaken and overly simplisitic. It implies that sexual identity is entirely dictated by external sexual characteristics.
Modern embryology and neurology are now revealing that the development of sexual identity is very complicated and does not always yield "100% men" and "100% women," physically and mentally. Like many non-obvious social truths, it may be a long time before our culture has assimilated this information. --Mark Dzmura
My Sister's Challah!
Read About Recent Transgender Jewish Events in the US
Click on the words "Trip Report" in the title of each event.
Trip Report: Second Transgender Religious Leadership Conference - Berkeley, CA, Spring 2008
Trip Report on the Nehirim West Retreat - Petaluma, CA, Spring, 2008
Click on "Trip Report" to read about the Nehirim West Retreat for GLBT Jews.
Trip Report: Transgender Leadership Conference, Spring 2008
Sponsored by the Transgender Law Center, held on the campus of UC Berkeley.
Torah Queeries website.
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