Dear Argus,
What did I ever do to hurt you? Nothing, I swear! I thought we were friends! So why is it nearly impossible to pick you up without finding an article that makes fun of and often delegitimizes transgender and intersex identities? The example I have in front of me is from the Nov. 6th, 2007 edition where a student says, in response to “What were you hiding from your parents this Parents’ Weekend?” — “I had my first period.”
I’m not arguing for political correctness. I’m asking for respect. 1.4 percent of people are born intersex. Sometimes a child is raised as ’male’ and has a period when ze reaches puberty. To anyone to whom this has not happened, can you possibly imagine how traumatic that would be? Why is it so traumatic? It doesn’t have to be. It’s because people like this student think this is something to make fun of. Now, I’m not trying to attack a specific person. I’m reflecting on the fact that we, as a society, are taught that trans and intersex identities are meant to be made fun of.
Well, we’re here, we’re trans/intersex/both and we’re not going away! So, Argus, please be nice. If people are going to say trans/intersex-phobic remarks, please tell them that it’s not very respectful and don’t publish them.
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