Transgender Support
Some transgender individuals do not feel any ties to a homosexual community; however, this is not as great as the number of transgender people who prefer to refer to themselves as homosexual. Transgender individuals can sometimes feel a stronger sense of belonging in a gay or homosexual community, while others may prefer to belong to a heterosexual community. Transgender individuals can at times feel like they do not belong to any group and be in need of transgender therapy or to be in touch with other transgendered individuals in the form of a transgender support group.
Most people today do not give support to those with issues of transgender. Not necessarily because they don’t want to, but simply because they do not understand. Education is a serious requirement for promoting acceptance and support in the transgender community. Unfortunately, due to phobias, like homophobia, many people, specifically heterosexual, do not want to take the first step; that being education.
Fortunately, there are those today who want to educate themselves about transgender groups. In fact, most transgender groups not only allow, but welcome non transgender people into their communities. The main goal of transgender groups is to promote acceptance and understanding. A transgender teen, for example, has all of the growing pains of other teens, with the added weight of being different, and often looked down upon, sexually. Offering transgender support can be very rewarding. To know that you have committed to such a wonderful cause is an amazing feeling. The first step to offering true support is to understand the community as it is. After you have that understanding you are able to then promote that love to others.
When it comes to individuals who are different than ourselves, we simply must open our minds and our hearts. It is so difficult for people to understand the extent of discrimination that a transgendered person must go through if they themselves are not transgendered. It is recommended by many psychiatrists that people who do not understand the transgender lifestyle should work towards understanding it better. Several Human Resources training courses have opted to include a section on acceptance in the work place to include sexual orientation and transgender co-workers. As a human race, we have a responsibility to try to make the world a better place. By preparing yourself for differences, perhaps by visiting a transgender support group, for many people, these difficulties can be avoided.
By Health Editor
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Recommended Resource:
That’s Revolting!: Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation As the growing gay mainstream prioritizes the attainment of straight privilege over all else, it drains queer identity of any meaning, relevance, or cultural value. What’s more, queers remain under attack: Gay youth shelters can be vetoed because they might reduce property values. Trannies are out because they might offend straights. That’s Revolting! offers a bracing tonic to these trends. Edited by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, That’s Revolting! collects timely essays such as "Dr. Laura, Sit on My Face," "Gay Art Guerrillas," and "Queer Parents: An Oxymoron Or Just Plain Moronic?" by unrepentant activists like Patrick Califia, Kate Bornstein, and Carol Queen. This updated edition contains seven new selections that cover everything from rural, working-class youth in Massachusetts to gay life in New Orleans to the infamous Drop the Debt/Stop AIDS action in New York. This lively composite portrait of cutting-edge queer activism is a clarion call for anyone who questions the value of becoming the Stepford Homosexual. |
