Being Trans: A Long-Term Perspective
Channel: Perette Barella
Date: 2023-01-28

I don't normally talk about being Trans, because although I *am* Trans (30 years ago I changed my sex), I no longer *identify* as Trans: I rarely think about being Trans, and though I don't keep it secret, it's not something I consider important enough to talk much about. I've moved on to new things; there's more important stuff in my life, like friendships and jobs and bike trips and software projects and lots more.

*Why I'm speaking up now*
But there's been growing misinformation about Trans folk. Detractors make it sound like it's an unregulated free-for-all resulting in hoards of unhappy post-ops out there. But on the positive side, there's bias too, because most stories focus on those in transition. The long-term perspective is being missed, because, like me, most others have moved on and put it behind them. The few that don't move on tend to be celebrities.

I also don't being used as a wedge. I believe Trans issues are being used to create undue media attention and distraction from real issues. The poor and middle class are struggling with inflation in the aftermath of COVID, some of which is due to government COVID interventions, but much of which is due to corporations using it as cover to jack up their prices---corporations and the rich continue to get richer, faster. Wages are held down, left and right alike, through anti-union lobbying, moving jobs to sweatshops elsewhere, outsourcing, automation. I feel like we're being turned into a hot-button issue, riling up the right to keep them distracted, and keeping us all divided and unable to challenge the policies that ensure the rich can stay rich, and the rest of us can continue to fight over the scraps they throw our way while claiming "People just don't want to work anymore," when the reality is we just don't want to be exploited anymore.

A text variation of this video is available, if you prefer reading: http://perette.barella.org/Social/on-trans-issues.html
There are some differences but a lot of overlap. I write better than I speak, but my writing lacks personality.

*Links*

*World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)*
Website: http://wpath.org
WPATH Standards of Care, version 8: https://www.wpath.org/soc8
One Trans response to the SOC: http://thewrath.org/

*Intersex medical intervention*
Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex_medical_interventions
The True Story of John/Joan: https://www.healthyplace.com/gender/inside-intersexuality/the-true-story-of-john-joan
The subsequent book by John Colapinto: "As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised As A Girl"
There are a number of Ted Talks by Intersex folk on being Intersex,
like this one by Emily Quinn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Ip-STEPKU

*More from me*
My take on Queer issues: http://perette.barella.org/Social/on-queer-issues.html
My web site: http://perette.barella.org
Travelogues of my bicycle trips: http://perette.barella.org/Travels
My software projects: http://deviousfish.com

*Chapters*
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Why this video?
1:14 Why now?
1:25 Goals
2:00 Our numbers
2:43 Changing language
5:16 It's easy! (Not!)
7:40 Follow the (w)path
8:12 Stepping stones
8:49 Social pressure
9:29 Family pressure
11:43 A generation lost
12:22 Visibility's influence
14:10 There is no "Trans Agenda"
15:51 On new terminology
16:45 Dealing with Questions
20:01 Politics
20:09 Trans Activism
21:12 "Gay Pride"
22:02 Effective Activism
23:00 Demonstrably living
24:47 Sports
26:41 Respecting Transition
27:03 Goals
27:39 Outcomes
29:40 Achieving Optimal Outcomes
31:33 Insight Sources
34:03 Human nature
35:01 The Beauty of Success
35:35 My experience
36:55 Time wasted: a common regret
37:58 Wrapping Up