Tom Gabel, Lead Singer of Against Me

[sinderella81]

I heard about this article this morning on KROQ and they were talking about the comments to it (don't read them btw, it'll only piss you off).  And I really just have to commend Tom Gabel for being true to himself and making that decision ... it can't be easy.

Kevin and Bean actually asked for transgender or those who know transgendered people to call in and it was really fascinating.  They had a FTM transgendered call in, the ex-wife of a transgendered call in (they're still friends :D ) and the mother of a child who is living as a girl ... and when she's 16 will make the decision for herself whether she wants to keep going ...

I was really intrigued and wish they'd had a longer segment on it ...

That's all. :D

Comments

[there-was-a-boy.livejournal.com]

I've been really fascinated by transgender culture recently too. I read a novel called Trans-sister Radio and it was really great! Check it out if you get the chance. I also have a few other books that I haven't read yet.

[cinderella81.livejournal.com]

Ooooh I'll have to look it up!!!! The culture really is fascinating.

[taylorgibbs.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is courageous in the public eye like that.

DH has two BFFs. The three of them worked together for a long time in Australia, and when DH was in major emotional trouble, one of these friends flew from Switzerland to AUstralia and quite literally saved his life. That's across the world--friends like that come around once in a lifetime.

Anyway...about a year after Dh and I married, the Swiss friend contacted us. She was transitioning (M to F), and wanted DH to know. A couple of years later, a rare genetic issue kick started the other friend into puberty in her late forties. She always identified as a man, yet it was the shock of her life when she started growing breasts and hips. She was intersexed all along (Genetically, no outward physical characteristics, as I understand it) and now lives as a woman.

What are the odds that two of three friends now live their lives as women? They're amazing ladies, and it has been wonderful to see the grace and sensitivity DH has embodied when rolling with the changes.

I haven't met Willa (Swiss friend) yet, but I have met Zoey (Aussie friend) when she came over to North America to support a friend who'd had the same genetic issue and was having surgery. Meeting this group of women--this sisterhood--changed my life, and it changed Dh's as well.

Zoey, by the way, stayed married, though she and her spouse are no longer intimate. They tried many years to have a son, and finally succeeded and are co-parenting him. I hope he realizes what a lucky little guy he is.

I know many of us have felt the uncomfortable in our own skin/awkward/self esteem issues, but can you imagine living every moment of every day knowing your body and spirit don't match? I can't imagine a deeper level of pain.

A friend of mine was a set of twins. Both had gender identity issues. One killed himself, the other is living happily as a man, married in Canada--can't marry in their state pre surgically, as gender isn't legally reassigned until post-surgery--and they're raising a beautiful little girl. If only his twin had managed to struggle on.

That level of pain has to be all-consuming. I wish Laura every happiness and peace.

[cinderella81.livejournal.com]

Wow ... what an amazing couple of stories! So very fascinating how the world is ... how unique people are ...

I, too, wish Laura every happiness and peace.