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Psychoanalysis Pastor-a|—Counseling
Individuals & Couples y Jungian orientation
_9_Center' Court River Road,
Northampton MA Putney VT

802-387-5547

Janet Langdon, Mdiv, NCPsyA

 

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Susan McKenzie MS.

Jungian Psychoanalyst
Licensed Psychologist —— Master

 
 

Specializing in issues of Gay Lesbian,
Bi-sexual and Transgendered individuals and couples

Quechee -5- ‘(write River Junction (802) 295-5533
insurance Accepted

  
   

“One of the most
romantic lesbian
destinations on
the planet."
-Planet Out

highiandsinn-nh.com 0 Bethtehem, NH
877 LES—8-INN (537-2466)

A Lesbian Paradise

TRAN SGENDER BY SARAH l=LYNN

The Quest for Integrity

of Body and Soul

The Need for A Trans Support Group in Burlington

WlTHlNTHELGB'I'OCOMMUN|TY.TRANSGENDER/
transsexual people still encounter problems
somewhat ‘unique from that of other queer
folk. For us, it is often not simply a problem of
nonconformity to gender stereotypical roles
or appearance. Appearing “butch” if you are
a female, or “too soft” or effeminate if you are
male, will indeed create problems for you; but
if you still think of yourself as essentially your
birth gender with rough or soft edges to it, you

Confidentiality is
assured. No last
names needed.
No one—way only
solutions offered.

‘ can check the appropriate box on the application

forms when needed and still get by.
For those folks who deep in their souls feel

a compelling need to change their birth gender"

and their physical anatomy,’ there is a much more
difficult road to travel. Coming out in this case
is really a twofold event. The first part has to do
with one’s sense of personal identity in terms of
gender. The second part of coming out has to do
with affectional or sexual orientation. Fixing one
does not necessarily solve the other. Often, deal-
ing with sexual orientation is a delayed second
step; taken only later in life after having gotten
to a place where one is at ease with one’s new
gender identity and body.

When sexual orientation is sorted out and the
need for intimacy becomes more pressing, the
problem then becomes “will a non-trans person
accept and fall in love with a person like me?"
Fearing rejection, I suspect many my age did
as I did, and simply didn’t take the risks to find

‘ out. Transitiorring in 1978, there was abundant

evidence that I, as a transwoman, would not be

I welcome among lesbian women. I eventually left

the gay and lesbian worlds and made my friends
among the straight community. I gave up on the
idea of intimate; relationships for 15 years.

Much has changed since my first coming out
as a trans person, so that finding a same—sex part-
ner is a little less difficrrltin this time of gender
queerness. Still, beneath the more accepting cli-
mate in the queer community, those who cross
the gender lines by hormonal and anatomical
changes still encounter a certain amount of mis-
understanding in the form of “is that physical
change really necessary?”

Well, if being gender queeris thought to be basi-
cally a head—trip in which one legitimately objects
to forced roles and appearances; then yes, these
physical interventions will seem like capitulation
to internalized oppressive social standards. But if
What is going on in trans people is not simply a

Sarah Flynn

political decision, but one that arises from a funda-
mental emotional need for personal integrity and
psychic integration, then this is not a matter of fit-
ting into the external world and its expectations. It
is first and foremost a matter of being honest with
oneself and seeking to express that self honestly
and openly as a whole human being.

I remember the prayer of a trans friend of
mine. “O God,“ she prayed, “make me one way
or the other, I don’t care which, just make me
whole.” She wanted an end to the inner turmoil
and could live with the social consequences.

' The R.U.l.2‘? Queer Community Center pro-
vides a safe space and supportive environment
for those exploring these kinds of in-depth ques-
tions. The Trans Support Group meets the first
Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8 pm at
R.U.l.2‘?. More frequent meetings may be an op-
tion as needed. These are exploratory sessions,
a time of sharing our personal stories, listening
to each other, and giving feedback with the hope
of providing helpful information and emotional
support. Not. everyone who comes decides that
this is their path to follow, but we are here to
help those testing the waters. Confidentiality is
assured. No last names needed. No one-way only

solutions offered. Feel free to call R.U.l.2‘? for a I

call back if you have questions before coming to
the group.V

The Trans Support Group meets the first
Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8
pm at R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center,
34 Elmwood Ave. in Burlington. Contact the
center at 860-7812 for, a call back if you have
questions before coming to the group.

. a Sarah Flynn is the Trans Support Group's facilitator.

 

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