 |
Paula's Online Journal
02 Dec 1998 - Tis the Season
The holiday season, hard to believe. Where has the Fall gone? Halloween seems like such a distant memory. I think about Pamela Ann beginning full-time living this week. I am so happy for her, I wish her the best and admire her courage to move forward. To face the trials of dealing with her family issues and to stand up for herself, to be who she is.
I haven't heard from some of my friends for a bit, I wonder how they are doing? Hopefully, some of them will be at this week-end's banquet. I'm looking forward to this event, to get to dress up and have an evening out. I've been saving my outfit for a while now, so it will be nice to actually wear it. I sure miss the outings with Teri (hey you, what's going on these days?).
I have been touched by my friends, who continue to send their best. I am so honored to be in their lives and have them in mine. They keep me going, give me hope and strength.
I watched a recent "Dateline" show about a man in a small Wyoming town who is a cross-dresser. Out of curiousity of how they would cover this story, I watched. I almost just ignored it because of how they promo'd the segment, very sensationalistic (is that a word?). Anyway, this person dresses all the time, less wig and such. He has been out for a while, suffering the bites that can come from living in a small, rural town (5000 population). His family has suffered as well, but remain fully by his side. In terms of his family, they were quite sensitive and showed a loving and very together family.
I was bothered by the notion that they presented "all of us" as transvestites, cross-dressers - even when asking about surgery. They presented a short interview with Richard Doctor, introducing him as someone who has had over 1500 clients during his career. Neither used the term transgender, again, only tranvestite. So in their statistics of 2+ million, the public only associates this number with transvestites. Not to put tranvestites down, but we are not all cross-dressers - for many of us do not believe we are cross-dressing.
It seems so rare (outside of the more honest stations like A&E, Discovery) that these programs spend time really educating themselves about a subject. While they present themselves as attempting to educate the public, they themselves fail to spend the energy. Perhaps it is their own bias' and the idea that it is viewership that is most important after all.
I had great respect for the man and his family (he identifies as a heterosexual male). I admire his courage to be himself, for his family to stand by his side, because of who he is inside. I have no higher respect of the program, nor of its many relatives. While the public may know more about the man, they really know nothing more about transgenderism nor that it exists - say outside the idea of transvestitism. The really sad thing is that as not everyone receives the cable stations (I am on that list), I am only influenced by what is available on the main, local stations - yes, I know, pretty sad.
The program makes it pretty clear, that my interactions with others, my coming out to my friends will have a greater, positive impact than what is presented in main stream media. I think, perhaps one day?
Ah, the holidays, my hardest time of year some times. I am trying to get off my bottom and try and do some volunteering. I am thinking of contacting a local AIDS organization. I have a strong need to give of my energy, to those that are less able. It is a way to appreciate what I am able to do, to have, to be. To reach out, to say, yes, you are a special, valuable human being. This fills my thoughts so much more than what I want, or what I should buy for so and so.
I have special thanks to Teri, Patti, Jody, Mary Lane, Sue and Lori. Your thoughts, inspirations and love really touch me. I feel a big hug whenever I think of you.
My thoughts and love are with you this holiday season.
|
Previous Entry
