These events are presented on request for quite varied groups. Last year the Peterborough branch of the CAS had both staff and volunteers (300 people, in groups of 50) take in these work shops. All of this is commendable and exciting to see taking place.
In spite of my sincere affirmation of such programmes there is a "however" as is usually the case. Over the past few months I have become aware of a probable difficulty. In every case the leadership and the trainers are sensitive, supportive and informed with respect to transgender issues. The difficulty lies in the area of symbolism, in the context or environment in which the events take place. The transgender community has worked hard over many years to add the "T" to "GBL". It is now standard that in some order all four letters are present it is "GBLT" or perhaps, "TLBG". (As it is still a male dominated world the "G" is usually first). I hope no-one would suggest we go back to the days when the "T" was not seen. Still there is the situation that the "T" is seen in the context of "GBL" Gender Identity is constantly seen, and often experienced, in the context of sexual orientation. For those of us who are secure in our sense of self this is not a problem and we are pleased with the changes in society flowing from the visibility of "GBLT". However there is a potential downside.
Consider the husband, John, who can no longer keep his secret due to emotional stress. He broaches the subject with his wife, Mary, in a sensitive manner. Mary is an aware person and is familiar with the "GBLT" logo. The symbolism has fused in her mind the concept that transgender is a subtype of homosexuality. Consequently, John could well have great difficulty convincing Mary that he is not homosexual. It happens. This is not a negative comment about homosexuality. Yes there are those who are both homosexual and transgender. Still sexual orientation and gender identity are distinctly different. The difficulties for John and Mary are much magnified as a result of the confusion caused by context.
Think about the young person, John or Jane, who knows that they are different. J needs someone to talk to and hears about the Gay Strait Alliance at school. This group is the only option J sees and J is the only non-straight person to attend who is not identifying as either GL or straight. Unless he is an exceptionally secure young person J will probably state that J is homosexual. Those are the apparent options and J needs the acceptance and security of the group. There are a goodly number of transgender people who start off claiming to be homosexual then finally realizing they are transgender. For many homosexuality is the only apparent option and socially, now, the more acceptable. I know of several people who lived in same sex relationships until midlife and then finally admitted to themselves that they are transgender. What is the incidence of transgender misidentification? I certainly have no idea - my guess is that there is no data. But where it does happen there is pain - I have seen it!
There is another result from this situation of context. The statistics concerning homosexual vs. transgender are greatly skewed. In a poster advertising an event put on by CAMH statistics were quoted from a survey done in the USA. The suicide rate for GBLT people were compared to that of the heterosexual population. It was obvious that the data, as far as transgender people are concerned was almost useless. Any transgender data was simply included within the homosexual data. There is no tracking of transgender experience as compared to gender congruent people. The effect of context such as symbolized by the logo "GBLT" has not resulted in the visibility for which the transgender community has hoped.
The professional literature claims that young boys who present transgender personalities usually mature to to be homosexual. Personally I question the validity of this. For example Dr. Zuker from CAMH has stated that a transgender child will grow up to experience a very hostile society. For this reason the child should be conditioned to accept and live within the norms of society. The second choice would be to live a homosexual life. This conditioning can be quite overpowering for a young child. I wonder how many have later realized their mistake. I doubt that any long term follow up has been done. Forty to fifty years would be required.
What can be done? For sure we don't want to go back to the time when the "T" was not included in the GBLT. I have no definite fix to offer. However it will help if transgender people are aware of the situation and become vocal, in a sensitive and appreciative manner, when the effects of this context is noted. In the end it will depend on transgender people being as visible as the Gay/Lesbian community. The transgender community needs to establish more support groups distinctly for transgender youth. Again Ottawa seems to be leading in this process.
Once transgender youth are secure and comfortable in their identity they should and will relate with G/L groups in a healthy manner. At the same time we need to work to overcome the very real, in my opinion, negative effects of context as experienced in the logo "GBLT", and at least some support groups. Context always influences experience and meaning.
*Source unknown
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