The 411 on Transgender 101

Transgenderism. What is it? Who is it? If faced with it, how do we handle it? These were the questions answered by keynote speakers Laura A. Jacobs and LGTBQ advocate Emet Tauber in a presentation entitled “Transgender 101” held by the GLOW organization at Westchester Community College on April 6.

Tauber, 21, is a senior at SUNY-Purchase and is currently serving on the National Advisory Board of GLSEN, The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, an organization for students, parents, and teachers that try to affect positive change in schools. Tauber has experience with addressing the issues on LGBTQ both personally and publicly.

Tauber took the time out to give the audience a brief history on his personal experiences. With both parents passing away at an early age, Tauber was faced with a very difficult childhood every since he could remember.

As a child Tauber always knew he wasn’t straight and was very isolated from other kids. Later in life he went on a journey “googling,” where he found a meeting that was being held about transgender people. After attending the event and meeting new people, it was then that Tauber knew that he was transgender.

“Literally the next day, I came out to my [adoptive] parents,” said Tauber.

Although his parents were understanding, they were really worried about what life had in store for their recently transitioned son. Soon Tauber informed his high school advisor, whom like his parents, had no prior knowledge of the topic.

This was the first time Tauber’s private and religious school had to deal with a case like this. For a while the topic was left alone, until the following school year when Tauber’s advisor gave the entire faculty and staff a crash course on Transgenderism, but because she knew so little, she gave them the basics. The whole ordeal was not a pleasant one either.

“My advisor made me write a general letter to every teacher, I don’t recommend that to be the way to come out,” said Tauber.

High school was tough for Tauber. Not being able to use neither male or female restroom caused him to use the handicapped restroom and the coach’s office to change after gym classes.

Despite his trials and tribulations, Tauber continued positive and even became an advocate. He was fortunate enough to work for TSER, Trans Student Educational Resources, the largest trans conference in the US. TSER is by youth for youth, with no one working there over the age of 25.

Tauber stays devoted to spreading important information about trans youth.

“Trans youth are more likely to drop out, not attend college and commit suicide. They also suffer from depression,” said Tauber.

Tauber informed the audience on some very important tips on how to approach transgender people.

“There is a difference between gender identity and gender expression, which people tend to mix up. Also, always ask people their pronouns and never assume,” said Tauber.

Tauber stressed the importance of being educated on the facts of transgenderism for both students and professors.

“Professors should expect to have at least one transgender student in their class, we’re not unicorns, we do exist, “ Tauber said.

After Tauber’s presentation, Laura Jacobs took to the stage. Jacobs is a psychotherapist, activist, lecturer and writer devoted to the diversity of gender identity and sexual expression.

Jacobs likes to refer to herself as transgender and genderqueer.

“It’s fun for me to play with gender,” said Jacobs.

Her PowerPoint presentation gave very important information for the event and discussion, and she started with the big question “What is Trans?”

“For those who don’t know, trans is shorthand for transgender, and an umbrella term for anyone who feels or expresses a gendered identity other than that assigned at birth or outside the norms of society,” said Jacobs.

Most people know Laverne Cox, Chaz Bono, and Janet Mock, but those are celebrities. Trans goes way beyond what you see on television.

The first modern day sex changes were performed between 1920-1930. And the terms go far more deep than just trans. As the years have passed, terms such as binary, non-binary, genderqueer, and androgynous have surfaced making transgender people easier to refer to, allowing everyone to have a place in society.

Most of the time, someone who is trans will be open to let you know their preference. However, if they are not, no means no, so just leave the conversation as is.

Celebrating Black History Month: A Reflection of African-Americans in Our History

When the topic of Black History Month is brought up, names such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and George Washington Carver are usually at the top of the list. However, what some might not know is that Black History Month has more depth than the famous “I Have a Dream…” speech or Carver’s interest in peanuts and his 300 ways of using them as resources. Black History Month is about the acknowledgement of black identity within the fabric of U.S. history; most notably, the Civil Rights Movement.

Black History Month can inform people about less commonly-known historical figures like Ruby Nell Bridges Hall — born September 8, 1954, an American activist and the first black child to attend William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white elementary school in Louisiana during the 20th century; her full story could be found on biography.com.

Westchester Community College’s President Belinda S. Miles spoke on what the month means to her:

“For me, this celebration provides an excellent opportunity for reflection. Black History Month gives us all an opportunity to become a bit more aware of how we are connected to our past, who we are as individuals, and our relationship to the larger community,” said Miles. “It is a time of pride and awareness, and an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments of the past as we look toward the future,

History.com tells us that Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, educator and publisher first established “Negro History Week” in 1926 to recognize and honor the contributions of African Americans in the development of the United States. The second week of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. The Federal government would later go on to expand the week to a month-long celebration in 1976 to what we now know as National African American History Month or Black History Month.

The March on Washington, which took place in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963, is arguably one of the most monumental moments in black history, where more than 200,000 Americans gathered for a political rally in the name of jobs and freedom. Organized by a number of civil rights and religious groups, the event was designed to shed light on the political and social challenges African Americans faced nationwide.

“In terms of historical moments, there are so many, but the March on Washington has special resonance for me with its focus on racial justice and equality,” said Miles.

Miles added that one her favorite historical figures is W.E.B. Du Bois.

“He was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard and he was a champion of education all of his life. He once said that ‘Education must not simply teach work – it must teach life.’ I have thought of that often in my position as a community college president,” she explained. “It is important to recognize the need for a full, liberal education which should include knowledge which can be applied to the workplace.”

Due to the widespread interest in black history, some schools have incorporated black history into their curriculum in the hopes of starting an intellectual movement that would advance social change. Social change that would open doors for more historical figures like General Colin L. Powell and President Barack Obama in the future.

Prior to his death in 1950, Carter G. Woodson pressed schools to shift from studying black history one week a year to studying black history throughout out the year. Woodson’s ultimate goal was to have black people learn of their past all year so that the annual celebration would no longer be necessary

“We need to have more crucial conversations during which we can share our thoughts and opinions and cross boundaries to develop new relationships, friendships, and understanding,” said Miles.

Countries around the world, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, have also devoted a month to celebrating black history and in honor of the holiday WCC will be holding its usual full slate of cultural events that are available for viewing on the school’s website under calendar events. Events include a Black History Month opening program with keynote speaker Dennis Rahilm Watson and a Black History Month film showing of the Golden Globe and Academy Award nominated film, “Selma.”