Male, female, other: Raising transgender awareness
Posted: Aug 30, 2016 7:11 AM EDTUpdated: Aug 30, 2016 7:11 AM EDT
(WBNG Binghamton) From the moment a baby is born, we ask if it's a boy or a girl -- but those generally-accepted gender designations are not true for everyone.
"There's the misconception and unfortunately, it's one of those unquestioned truths in life, that you can only be male or female," said Sapphire Crimson Claw [name changed for privacy], of Endicott.
Sapphire is non-binary.
"I’m not trying to become male, I’m just trying to become less female," said Sapphire. "There is a significantly large number of people all around the world who think neither of these labels fit me, or I'm a combination of both."
Non-binary, gender fluidity, transgender. All of these terms indicate a person whose gender identity doesn't conform to the sex which they were assigned at birth.
"It's really difficult because everything is gendered, absolutely everything is gendered," said Sapphire. "You can't pick up a razor without it being pink or blue."
It's not just objects that are gendered -- pronouns favor male and female distinctions.
"When you don't feel feminine, most of the time and you get called 'she, ma'am, miss.' It just kind of starts to grate on you," said Sapphire.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Patricia Jordan said there are lesser known, rarely used pronouns other than the typical ones: his, hers, she, he.
"It’s totally geared toward identifying a person as male or female," said Jordan. "They do have other words. I’m not seeing people use them. 'Zee' is one word instead of 'she.' But that doesn’t happen too often."
When former Olympian Bruce Jenner transformed into Caitlyn Jenner, discussions surrounding gender identity spiked.
"Caitlyn has the money, she has the publicity, she has the support," said Jordan. "If the average transgender person wants to completely transition, it's very difficult."
Sapphire said most transgenders are not as widely supported as Jenner.
"Online, people are outrageously mean about this," said Sapphire. "I'll tell them, 'You're killing kids with these attitudes."
An American Foundation for Suicide Prevention study found 41 percent of transgender people in the U.S. have attempted to take their own lives.
"One of the impacts that non-binary genders and transgender gender identities face is not being recognized by society, the impacts that this has on mental health and well-being on a person is that it dramatically increases risk of suicide," said LGBT Program Coordinator with Identity Melanie LeMay.
There is help locally.
Transgender support groups for adults are now being offered at M4 Project, and youth can go to Identity.
Both are located on State Street in downtown Binghamton.
"I think that tremendous progress has been made particularly in the arena of marriage equality," said LeMay. "But I think we are far from done in trying to ensure that everyone is treated equitably."
Sapphire is writing a book about being non-binary, in the hopes of raising awareness about different gender identities and increasing acceptance.
"Just be open minded please, it’s really not all that hard," said Sapphire. "It’s not hurting anybody."
"There's the misconception and unfortunately, it's one of those unquestioned truths in life, that you can only be male or female," said Sapphire Crimson Claw [name changed for privacy], of Endicott.
Sapphire is non-binary.
"I’m not trying to become male, I’m just trying to become less female," said Sapphire. "There is a significantly large number of people all around the world who think neither of these labels fit me, or I'm a combination of both."
Non-binary, gender fluidity, transgender. All of these terms indicate a person whose gender identity doesn't conform to the sex which they were assigned at birth.
"It's really difficult because everything is gendered, absolutely everything is gendered," said Sapphire. "You can't pick up a razor without it being pink or blue."
It's not just objects that are gendered -- pronouns favor male and female distinctions.
"When you don't feel feminine, most of the time and you get called 'she, ma'am, miss.' It just kind of starts to grate on you," said Sapphire.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Patricia Jordan said there are lesser known, rarely used pronouns other than the typical ones: his, hers, she, he.
"It’s totally geared toward identifying a person as male or female," said Jordan. "They do have other words. I’m not seeing people use them. 'Zee' is one word instead of 'she.' But that doesn’t happen too often."
When former Olympian Bruce Jenner transformed into Caitlyn Jenner, discussions surrounding gender identity spiked.
"Caitlyn has the money, she has the publicity, she has the support," said Jordan. "If the average transgender person wants to completely transition, it's very difficult."
Sapphire said most transgenders are not as widely supported as Jenner.
"Online, people are outrageously mean about this," said Sapphire. "I'll tell them, 'You're killing kids with these attitudes."
An American Foundation for Suicide Prevention study found 41 percent of transgender people in the U.S. have attempted to take their own lives.
"One of the impacts that non-binary genders and transgender gender identities face is not being recognized by society, the impacts that this has on mental health and well-being on a person is that it dramatically increases risk of suicide," said LGBT Program Coordinator with Identity Melanie LeMay.
There is help locally.
Transgender support groups for adults are now being offered at M4 Project, and youth can go to Identity.
Both are located on State Street in downtown Binghamton.
"I think that tremendous progress has been made particularly in the arena of marriage equality," said LeMay. "But I think we are far from done in trying to ensure that everyone is treated equitably."
Sapphire is writing a book about being non-binary, in the hopes of raising awareness about different gender identities and increasing acceptance.
"Just be open minded please, it’s really not all that hard," said Sapphire. "It’s not hurting anybody."