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Transgender speaker educates Luther

Date 11/4/1999 12:00 AM | Topic: News

Labels do not fit Jo Ryan.

As a transgender person, she faces daily questions, comments, and discrimination.

Ryan, a graduate student at the UNI, spoke to a crowded Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall on Oct. 29 as a part of GLBTA's Coming Out Week. Her speech, entitled "Transgender 2000: Igniting the Transgender Revolution," touched on the personal and political aspects of being a transgender person.

"Transgender is an inclusive, umbrella term. There are a vast array of identities that fit under this transgender umbrella. I see myself as an androgynous individual."

In her thorough speech, Ryan outlined the history of transgender persons and the present activities of the movement.

"When you know your history, you are empowered. Finding one's past is an integral part in finding one's identity. So much of transgender history is not known to us and recovering some of that lost history is crucial to reclaiming our identities."

She cited current problems faced by transgender people.

"Hate crimes are a serious problem. Many are not reported because we are considered 'gender trash' or 'disposable people' by society. The system works against us and makes the hate crimes look and feel as though they are our fault. Internalizing the oppression is a serious problem and should be stopped."

Ryan states that institutional discrimination is a big problem.

"We face job discrimination, housing discrimination, and family rejection. We live in fear everyday and the system works against us."

Ryan offers points of definition and encouragement.

"Being transgender is really not being a given identity. It's about a gender continuum in which we deny the paradigm of the bi-polar, rigid gender conformity that exists currently. People should be able to live the gender they want."



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Elizabeth Kephart
Chips Editor-in-Chief

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