The Washington Post has a nice article about Christine Jorgensen, the woman who became famous in the 1950s for her transgender surgery. There’s the usual, expected tales of bigotry — exclusion from bathrooms (that never changes), discrimination, prurient curiosity about her genitals, the New York Post declared that she wasn’t really a woman, etc. — but one thing stood out for me. When she went off to Denmark for her surgery, she informed her parents, and they replied back:
It was also time to tell her parents the reason for her trip, which she had withheld for fear of causing them hurt and confusion. In the letter that was soon to be shared with the rest of America, she reassured them their daughter was “healthier and happier than ever.”
Though her parents struggled to grasp the full meaning, they cabled back: “We love you more than ever.”
Awww. That’s how it should be for everyone — there are a lot of parents today, 70 years later, who need to learn what loving your children involves.
I see the reply from the parents and well, all’s as it should be for any decent person.
I did find cause for alarm when I viewed the photograph. Had to blow it up 280%, which means I need new glasses and a chat with my ophthalmologist, as it should be impossible for my prescription to change.
Good compression on the image though, no distortion of major significance at such a high magnification.
It’s a roller coaster ride. What with the reports this last week that Uganda has passed another anti-LGBT law that’s even more draconian than the law passed in 2013 (and was subsequently declared unconstitutional), the haters were out in force, cheering President Museveni on. It’s simply chilling to get a glimpse of the murky depths of a murderous soul who would gladly imprison or even execute people simply because they hate them so much.
I’ve never been able to understand such people. How is it possible to hate so much? And one thing I’ve learned about bad people is that they actually like being bad. They think it’s pretty neat to be a thoroughly rotten soul.
Hopefully this new law will be struck down by the Ugandan Supreme Court just like the last one was. Which is another thing about bad people: they never give up. They never regard any defeat as definitive. Instead it’s the signal for a renewed and more intense effort.
Absolutely this. best advice I’ve seen from PZ. Except it should read :”A lesson for parents everywhere”.
There is a brand new documentary film out about intersex people called Every Body that looks good. Democracy Now did a piece on it this morning, and a couple of the show guests featured in the film mentioned the love they got from their parents (along with some bewilderment).
https://www.democracynow.org/2023/6/12/every_body_julie_cohen_film_intersex
@2. moonslicer :
Truth.
Exhibit A : The female Slaver anti-Choice lobby in the USA.. Of course, in the States, they’ve captured the Supreme Court.
I’m a lurker by nature, but my current circumstance demands that I comment on this post. I am sitting in a vacation rental in a town far from home while my daughter is in the next room completing her prep for tomorrow’s gender affirming surgery. It has been a long road to get to this point, with many challenges along the way, but I am hopeful that tomorrow will lift at least some of the burden she’s been carrying for so long. Long before she was able to articulate the nature of her struggle, I felt that my job as a parent was to do my best to help my child become the person she wanted to be. I always thought that meant support in reaching life goals, developing talents and skills, building relationships. And it does mean that. It just turns out that it also can mean something more literal, too. By doing all I can to help her feel at home in her body and in that body in the world, I think I’ll also be helping her along the path to self-creation, whoever that self may turn out to be. It has been and will continue to be a lesson in letting go of expectation and attachment and opening myself to the present and the future as it comes.
Abort The Court!
@ ^ seversky : yes! Or at least remove those who lied their way onto it and have done and will keep doing so much damage. I don’t understand why that hasn’t been made more of an urgent and top priority by the Biden admin and Democratic party.
Thomas, the Handmaiden OfBarrett & jkavanaugha t the very leats need to be impeached and should never have been allowed onto it and as for the domestic enemies of the better ideals & Democracy of the USA that is the Federalists Judge- rigging group well..
It is usual for people to fear what they do not understand. A common response, unfortunately, is aggression.
But then, hoe difficult is it to say: I don’t understand, but I love you nonetheless?
It should be noted that mainstream media in the 1950s – a decade we associate with conservative values – had no problem whatsoever with calling her a woman (or “girl”, sexism was a thing) and respecting her pronouns.
https://blogs.loc.gov/families/files/2022/06/Boy-Turned-Girl-Rejects-Fabulous-Show-Offers.jpg
Somehow we’ve gone backwards since the fucking 1950s in respecting trans people. :-(
How is that even possible?
@ moonslicer, # 2: Bad guys don’t realize they’re bad. They see themselves as heroes.
@cotopus, best wishes that everything is going well today with your daughter and you.