Holy mackerel. This is one time that I kinda have feelings of love for a bank. The spot features a trans woman in a totally respectful way. Amazing.
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How sadly timely that we here at Confabulous have been discussing opinions on state funding of gender reassignment surgery: to save $700,000/year, the Alberta Government has now cut the procedure from its list of funded services. The estimated savings amount to about 19 cents per Albertan.
The decision may have dire consequences, highlights a Calgary Herald article:
“Ignorance is fuelling the decision,” said Kris Wells, a researcher at the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services based at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
“This is a case of sacrificing people’s lives. … These medical transitions end up saving people’s lives. This is a community that has higher rates of suicide, depression, drug and alcohol abuse because there is so little understanding.
Opponents of the change plan to file a human rights complaint. For updates and to lend your support, check out the “Reinstate Gender Reassignment Surgery Funding in Alberta” Facebook group.
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Today, in the Academic and Scientific Writing class that I teach at a local community college, I started a unit on the persuasive essay and the art of crafting a convincing argument. In an attempt to stimulate class involvement and interest, I’ve decided to get the students to do a debate. The topic I chose (and this was actually based on student interest) is the following: should the cost of sex- reassignment surgery be covered by Canadian provinci al health care systems? Last week, when I asked students what types of controversial issues they were interested in debating, this was the only topic that elicited a response other than the usual apathetic, blank-eyed stares. Yes, people were actually up for debating this topic! Hurrah!
Now, today, when it came time to divide the class up into 2 groups, the pros and the cons, I thought perhaps the studen ts’ inherent opinions would facilitate the division. But, guess what? Out of the 13 people who attended class today, only ONE thought that sex-reassignment surgery should be covered by health care. One person! My heart sunk.
So, dear readers, tell me this: am I naïve? I really thought that amongst a group of young, 20-ish-year-old students, there would be a much more progressive attitude towards gender. Has anyone else had any experience with presenting trans issues in a non-women’s studies/non-queer studies context and had a more positive response?
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With this past Tuesday being Trans Visibility Day, I started thinking about pronouns, specifically those of the gendered variety. Given the strides feminists have made over the last century, coupled with the increased visibility of trans people in our world, why the heck has no one figured out what we’re supposed to do about those pesky gender pronouns and the problems they cause within the English language? I’m not a language expert, but from what I found on Wikipedia, there are other languages that don’t have gender pronouns at all. And yet English, language of the colonizer, can’t seem to budge an inch. (What a frickin’ surprise.)
I know what I do when I’m trying to avoid using “he” or “she” (or the dreaded “he/she” or “his/her” mess): I use the third person plural (they, them, or their) and hope to god that no one notices. (I mean, I’m an editor and an English teacher. I’m not allowed to make mistakes.)
As I visited Kate Bornstein’s website a couple of days ago, I was reminded of the gender-neutral pronouns—ze and hir—that are sometimes used within transsexual and transgendered circles. Despite ze and hir being presented as viable alternatives to gender pronouns, they never really did catch on, not even in the trans community.
And this leaves me wondering why? Why, even within a community of people who transgress the gender binary, are traditional, gendered pronouns still so prominent? What is it about those pronouns that keeps us so loyal to them? Or, more importantly, what is it about gender that makes most of us feel compelled to pledge allegiance to only one of two camps?
I’m sure everyone would be a lot happier if we could all finally agree that “they,” “them,” and “their” can suitably be used when gender neutrality is needed. I say we start a new movement. ’Cause, honey, my version of the revolution is un-sexist, un-gendered, and uncomplicated.
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Today is the first-ever International Day of Transgender Visibility! Confabulous is giving a big shout-out to all our trans brothers and sisters. I can’t seem to find any information for events happening in Canada, but the organizers do have an official Facebook page if you’re looking for info.
In related news, it turns out we have more “trans” brethren (and sistren) in the natural world than we previously knew. From a report at Discovery News comes a scientific discovery that yet another organism in nature can changes sexes.
To switch from male to female and back again without the help of surgery is a feat that only a handful of organisms can accomplish, including some types of fish, shrimp, snails and worms. Now, a new study adds mushroom corals to the list. It is the first study to show that any coral can change sex in either direction, let alone both.
If only it were that simple for humans!
Update: Like some kind of cosmic unconsciousness, there is a video clip today over at the Globe and Mail featuring an Albanian woman who lives her life as a man after losing her (male) fiance. I have heard before about this “sworn virgins” cultural tradition in Albania, whereby women take on the “man’s role” economically, within the family unit and the community. This clip doesn’t really provide much background or context and raises more questions than provides answers but it’s interesting, nonetheless, on International Transgender Visibility day.
And more update-y goodness to celebrate Transgender Visibility Day! Check out this YouTube vid:
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