reflections

Well, I have finished my final project and I must say, I feel like I have learned so much. I had seen a few specials on television on transgender and stuff like that. I watched things about the pregnant man, but I never really understood how they "got that way" or why some people felt that way and some didn't. After reading the books I choose and reading the article, I feel so much more knowledgeable about this topic. I just understand now what they go through and how they become transgender. They frankly are born that way. Outside a certain sex and inside a different one. I could not imagine what it must feel like being born in the wrong body. I would say that if I could experience it for a day, I am not sure if I would want to simply because I think it would be so hard to deal with. I really have a different outlook on those who are transgender and everyone included in the LGBTQ community. Especially with all these recent deaths for those who felt they could not be themselves, this just really shows how important it is for everyone to accept everyone else, no matter if you don't agree with their "choices" or what they do, they are human just like us all and everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with respect. I hope my project will be interesting to others and I hope that those can learn like I did from what I have read. 

terms

So, I know in class last week we were discussing LGBTQ. I know that a few of us were confused on what transgender is, or transvestite and what not. Well, I have found my scholarly article and it clears up that confusion. Here it is:

Transsexual- a term that usually refers to someone who wants to use hormones/surgery to change their sex

Transvestites- "cross-dressers" or those who occasionally wear clothes of the opposite sex.

Transgender- an umbrella term that includes anyone whose gender identity or expression differs from their sex of their birth, whether or not they have surgery.

So that is what I have found so far within the article and that cleared up some confusion for me and I thought others might be interested as well! 

words

Today's class was very interesting. I think that this topic is a hot topic right now and something that we all need to fully embrace. After reading my books for the final project, I must say that my eyes have been opened ten times wider to what we are putting these people through and how they must feel breaks, just breaks apart my heart. To hide, to feel ashamed, to feel stupid and ugly, to feel all these horrible emotions simply because they are gay/lesbian or a transgender? To me it is extremely appalling. As we talked about today in class I am an avid supporter of Perez Hilton and I am checking his site all day, literally, every single day. Within the past few weeks there have been three different stories of a young male, about 11 years old, being bulled for being or thinking they are gay, and that young male taking their life. The mother of one of these young boys was on Ellen today and talked about what happened with her son. Tears were brought to my eyes over what this young boy went through. I myself was harassed and bullied everyday when I was younger in school for being overweight, and some days I thought about what it would be like if I no longer existed, just so the bullying would stop. I overcame what I was going through but the harm was done, and to this day I still am not completely healed. These young boys lives were cut short, because they could just not take the bulling for being gay. GOSH SO WHAT! so what if your gay!! I just cant understand or comprehend why it bothers people SO MUCH! It just makes no sense to me. As a teacher, when I have my own classroom I might have to deal with something like this. Within my classroom I am going to have a no tolerance for bulling, and I hope I can make a difference. I find bulling to be something that can be prevented, all these deaths could of been prevented. I find kids who bully kids who themselves have insecurities and whose parents have no idea what is going on in their children's lives. It makes me sick to think that these kids are the result of these young boys death. No child should ever have to feel unsafe at school, no child should be bullied and no child should ever have to even think about taking their own life for being homosexual. There is nothing wrong with being homosexual, and to me it seems the heterosexuals are the ones with the "issues" because they cannot accept others, they cannot see the happiness of others, and think that everyone needs to be like them. I hope that someday we can get past all these bullshit (sorry for the language) it just needs to be said, there is no excuse for any of this behavior and those who feel that others need to be punished because of their choices, are the ones who need to evaluate who they are and stop worrying so much about other people. I am hoping that through my final project I can connect more with this diverse literature and bring to others information that may be useful to them. Thanks, and if anyone reads this all the way through- thank you for listening to my venting! 

readings/class

Well I have not been on here in awhile and I need to update my blog! Well, I had my 21st birthday last week, and it was very fun. It is very different, the bar scene, something I am going to enjoy I think. I am glad to say that I have met all different people at the bar so far, all different races and cultures and I think it is going to be fun to meet even more people different from me. This class as well as 348 has opened my eyes to different races and culture in literature, as well as in everyday life. I have started reading some of my books for my final project, I have one book done and two more to read. I must say that this young adults going through this transgender transition, is something that I was very closed off to, and honestly knew nothing about. After reading this books I really feel for people who have become transgenders, I cannot imagine not wanting to be a female and be a male or vice versa, they struggle very much and I envy them for their courage to come out and be who they want to be no matter what other people think, if I could be that way with my life when it came to certain things, I think I would be a much better person. They have overcome so much, and I know a lot of people out there have as well, but this is something that is internal and they are fighting with everday until they finally let it out. I again wish I could be more like that. I am interested in reading Boy meets Boy and seeing how that story plays out. I have not found any articles that I thought were scholary enough for this project, but I am going to continue to look until I find one that I like when it comes to this topic. I am looking forward to class next week.