Journalist hoping to speak to some members of your community

[AdamKovac (imported)]

Hi everybody,

My name is Adam Kovac, I'm a freelance journalist based out of Montreal, Canada.

I've done some reading of literature on castration, in the past month or so, spoken to Tom Johnson and Richard Wassersug, both of whom have written academically about castration and who I believe some of you know.

I'm hoping that some of you would volunteer to speak to me about your decision to get castrated, and how it's affected your life. I'm hoping to get as wide an array of experiences, motivations and stories as possible, because obviously this is a large community, and trying to come up with some kind of prototypical member would be reductive.

I realize that this is something highly personal, and I'm asking a lot. So anything I can do to put your minds at ease, please let me know.

My motivation here is that from what Tom and Richard told me, there's been a lot of very exploitative and sensationalistic reporting around castration. I want to set the record straight. Particularly interesting is that in my conversation with Tom, he mentioned that some feel that those who have undergone castration should be welcomed under the LGBTQ banner, but feel they aren't welcome there. It seems to me that if the LGBTQ community isn't representing you, it's because your stories aren't being heard.

There is no publication at present, as this is still preliminary research, but for what it's worth, I'm hoping that The Atlantic might be interested.

All feedback is welcome, and I look forward to (hopefully!) speaking with many of you.

Thanks,

Adam

[Paolo]

Here we go again...

Be nice, LT!

[C&TL2745 (imported)]

....

I'm hoping to get as wide an array of experiences, motivations and stories as possible, because obviously this is a large community, and trying to come up with some kind of prototypical member would be reductive....

I'm concerned that the term "prototypical member" is even in your thinking.

Men who've lost their testicles (or are about to) have a multitude of quite different stories. Some didn't want to lose their testicles but have (or will) due to cancer either in the testicles or in the prostate. Some see castration as a step toward a sex change. Some simply don't want the sexual urges that they attribute to testosterone. Some are looking for a calmness that they don't think they'll find with testosterone in their blood. Some see themselves as non-male but not female and view their testicles as something foreign attached to their bodies. Some are gay; some are straight; some are bisexual; some are asexual; some aren't sure what they are. Some take hormone replacement therapy, and others don't. Still others take estrogen. Some seek doctors who will do an orchiectomy without a compelling medical reason, and others take matters into their own hands, either by self=medicating or by destroying their testicles so that a doctor will finally have a medical reason to remove them. Some have achieved castration or penectomy by indulging a fantasy that suddenly got too real by accident. Some know exactly why they did it; others are still trying to understand. There are those who have no interest in modifying their own bodies but are intensely interested in what has happened to others, either in real life or in fictional accounts and movies.

Simply put, any attempt to define a "prototypical member" is misguided. There's no such thing.

The EA is unique in welcoming all who have an interest in castration and related subjects like penectomy, urethral reroutes, chemical castration, etc., and even female superiority/dominance, regardless of the reason for their interest, and regardless of whether they're serious or just indulging a fantasy. I imagine many would welcome the support of the LGBT community, but others couldn't care less. Many simply want to get on with their lives as men (or women or nullos) with the public at large not knowing that they've been castrated. And a fair number come here to find out what they need to know and then disappear after that or after announcing that they've finally reached their goal. If you want to write about what happens to them afterward, you probably won't be able to contact them.

I applaud your stated intent to present a non-exploitative, non-sensationalized view of castration and those who've sought it or experienced it. I just think that goal may be out of your reach. I would recommend reading the forum and blogs here for a couple of years before putting even one word on paper.

Sandi

[AdamKovac (imported)]

I'm concerned that the term "prototypical member" is even in your thinking.

Men who've lost their testicles (or are about to) have a multitude of quite different stories. Some didn't want to lose their testicles but have (or will) due to cancer either in the testicles or in the prostate. Some see castration as a step toward a sex change. Some simply don't want the sexual urges that they attribute to testosterone. Some are looking for a calmness that they don't think they'll find with testosterone in their blood. Some see themselves as non-male but not female and view their testicles as something foreign attached to their bodies. Some are gay; some are straight; some are bisexual; some are asexual; some aren't sure what they are. Some take hormone replacement therapy, and others don't. Still others take estrogen. Some seek doctors who will do an orchiectomy without a compelling medical reason, and others take matters into their own hands, either by self=medicating or by destroying their testicles so that a doctor will finally have a medical reason to remove them. Some have achieved castration or penectomy by indulging a fantasy that suddenly got too real by accident. Some know exactly why they did it; others are still trying to understand. There are those who have no interest in modifying their own bodies but are intensely interested in what has happened to others, either in real life or in fictional accounts and movies.

Simply put, any attempt to define a "prototypical member" is misguided. There's no such thing.

The EA is unique in welcoming all who have an interest in castration and related subjects like penectomy, urethral reroutes, chemical castration, etc., and even female superiority/dominance, regardless of the reason for their interest, and regardless of whether they're serious or just indulging a fantasy. I imagine many would welcome the support of the LGBT community, but others couldn't care less. Many simply want to get on with their lives as men (or women or nullos) with the public at large not knowing that they've been castrated. And a fair number come here to find out what they need to know and then disappear after that or after announcing that they've finally reached their goal. If you want to write about what happens to them afterward, you probably won't be able to contact them.

I applaud your stated intent to present a non-exploitative, non-sensationalized view of castration and those who've sought it or experienced it. I just think that goal may be out of your reach. I would recommend reading the forum and blogs here for a couple of years before putting even one word on paper.

Sandi

Hi Sandi,

Thanks for your response.

I brought up the idea of the "prototypical member" because in the few mainstream media article I've found, the journalist seemed to want to establish just that. I get why they do that - it's a complex issue, and in an effort to personalize a focal character, they went too far and tried to make them a symbol for all castrated men. To me, that's lazy, and exactly what I DON'T want to do.

As I mentioned, my focus would likely be on the effort to be recognized under the LGBTQ banner, but that requires context. I'm trying to be thorough in being able to offer that, and that means putting faces on the very diverse castration community.

I see where you're coming from on skimming for a few years, but logistics and quite frankly, my need to make a living make that a bit of an impossibility.

If anybody would like to see samples of my work, I'd be happy to send them. One of my more recent pieces was a profile of Mina Caputo, the first trans heavy metal star, and I think it's a good indicator of my ability to treat sensitive topics with respect.

And just to make it clear, I can't do this without speaking to a lot of you. I won't half-ass an article, and I really think this is something that needs more mainstream exposure. Hell, my brother is a urologist, and he knew very little about castration outside of the cancer treatments you mentioned (though to be fair, he's highly specialized).

Again, thanks for letting me hear your point of view.

[Losethem (imported)]

Here we go again...

Be nice, LT!

Darn!

OK, I'll be firm but polite.

This community has seen journalists come in from time to time. Working in media myself, I get the reason behind sensationalism, etc. (It sells). That is exactly what has happened to us in the past - sensationalism. There has been NO attempt to paint us as anything but freaks, and frankly that has turned off most if not all of us that have actually had physical alterations to our bodies. We simply refuse to take part in any interviews with the media as we've been burned several times. See the Details Magazine article from 2006 - it's the reason I will NEVER speak to another journalist on the record about this subject ever again. My quotes were taken completely out of context and I was made to look like a freak.

After the Details magazine fiasco, I was approached by a TV production company from the UK. They tried to get me to go on camera about my "case" and physical changes to my body. They said I had nothing to worry about as it would never be shown in the US. Other than the fact that I know a lot of people in Europe, and they don't know this about my body, I didn't expect that a media COMPANY wouldn't sell this program to the highest bidder. I was 100% correct in that assessment. Not more than 3 months after it aired in the UK and Europe more broadly, there it was making the rounds on US cable television channels. So, I was essentially lied to by a reporter/the media yet again. I'm very relieved I did not participate.

This in no way means I want to imply you're without integrity. I personally know many reporters who have high integrity. However, those who do not have a shred of integrity have ruined your chances of getting anyone legitimate such as myself to talk to you on the record. So while I'd like to chat, I refuse to do so because of past poor treatment by people who have approached us as you have.

I really hope you'll be the exception to what we've seen in the past. Unfortunately, you have a very high mountain to climb.

--LT

[C&TL2745 (imported)]

....

As I mentioned, my focus would likely be on the effort to be recognized under the LGBTQ banner

Then your focus is wrong. I've been here for several years, and I have yet to see anyone caring much about being recognized under that banner. If you're going to write, don't start with your conclusion and then pick your "facts" to match. That's dishonest and unethical at best.

I see where you're coming from on skimming for a few years, but logistics and quite frankly, my need to make a living make that a bit of an impossibility.

Then write something else to put bread on the table. In the mean time, educate yourself by not just "skimming" but spending a few hours per week reading here. Read with an open mind, not with an agenda. Get to know the people who post by what they write here, not in an interview. Participate by asking questions in open forum. After a couple of years, you may be qualified to write something. Or not. Losethem is right about getting an interview on record. I certainly wouldn't go on record with my full name and contact information, and I'm just the wife of one who has had genital surgery.

....

And just to make it clear, I can't do this without speaking to a lot of you....

Then, in all likelihood, you can't do it.

Sandi

[Wellesley (imported)]

No option to "send private message"

Do you have questions? Survey? etc

What is it you want to know exactly in simple terms? Not everyone on here has English as a first language.

[EvilAvertSword (imported)]

They may seem vindictive, but understand that trust is hard earned in many communities, not just this one.

[Riverwind (imported)]

What LT said, and I might add I also was duped and lied to so no thank you, I wish you will but NO.

[Paolo]

Adam,

What it comes down to is that every time in the past that this has happened (someone wants to do a show/write a story), the community here and those who participate are made out to look like freaks for the sideshow.

The travesty that was "American Eunuchs" comes readily to mind.

Now, while you've done nothing wrong as far as the Boards here, I'll tell you this: It's up to the Staff to protect the Members. Please don't pester anyone. I'm not trying to start a fight, just be respectful please.

The Staff WILL defend the Members here, up to and including IP banning.

I'm also a bit concerned with your statement that this story is very important to your job.

I'd recommend to your superiors that they find something else to get interested in, or they're likely to have one of those folks whom LT loves so dearly (the fantasy wankers) filling their databases with utter bullshit.

Watch out for that.

As the old saying goes, "Fool me once..."

Well, too many have fooled already. Just so you know.