Tonight I was listening to the "This american life" Podcast and it had a story I figured I'd share.

The show was called "somewhere out there (http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_E ... pisode=374)". It is available for free download at this link and it'll be available until the end of the week on iTunes for free.

The second story (of three) is about 2 boys, 8 years old, that have always lived their lives as girls. They are transgendered. The kids talk about their struggles as do the parents.

It'd be a good listen for some of the folks on this board. Take a listen.

The segment about the two kids begins about half way through the show. It is outstanding. Highly recommended for EVERYONE who reads the Archive. It's very clear that gender does not have to match the plumbing system. These two little girls just happen to have boy-parts.

Thank you, Incuse, for posting this one!

Thank you very much for posting this link, Incuse. For one thing, it reminded me of the time we spent together at the August 2008 Midwest MoM. I really enjoyed your company.

I highly recommend this streaming story from 'This American Life'. The entire show is excellent. The section on the transgender children, Thomasina and Lily (a psuedonym), runs from about the 30 minutes mark to end at 48 minutes into the show.

This is a sensitive look at the difficulties transgender children and their parents face. Of course, there is joy, too, in that these children can be themselves. I don't want to say more, lest I impart my own bias.

I will say this left me in tears. Many issues discussed are things I have written about right here. And while there can be advantages to transitioning as a child versus a post-pubertal transition, the fact remains that transgender folks of all ages experience difficulties. I am among them.

Hugs,

Danya

The episode reminded me of something I did as a child.

I use to stuff my underwear with washclothes and push my equipment down as far as I could between my legs. I'd think of myself without my genitals. I didn't want to be a girl, but I didn't want to be a boy. If I recall correctly (time line wise) I started doing this shortly after a news broadcast where a guy in prison in Texas had requested to be castrated. That was when I learned I could separate myself from my genitals. It just felt right for me to do the same.

The story in this american life brought back those memories. After being molested when I was young, I repressed a lot of the things I did as a child. So it was nice to have something brought back to me.

One thing I could completely relate to is one of the girls in the story mention in one part that she didn't feel like a boy or a girl. she was what she was.

That's how I feel. I am outwardly male, just because it's convenient to do so to an ignorant world, but inside, I'm me. Not male, but also not female.

As Jesus would say, I can't pigeon hole myself. I'm happier that way.

Guys, girls, and others. Take a listen to the episode. It really is a good one.

incuse (imported) wrote: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:04 pm One thing I could completely relate to is one of the girls in the story mention in one part that she didn't feel like a boy or a girl. she was what she was.

That's how I feel. I am outwardly male, just because it's convenient to do so to an ignorant world, but inside, I'm me. Not male, but also not female.

As Jesus would say, I can't pigeon hole myself. I'm happier that way.

Guys, girls, and others. Take a listen to the episode. It really is a good one.

Incuse, my friend, I felt totally comfortable with you at last year's MoM exactly because you were being yourself, nothing more or less than that. What a great place to be.

Hugs,

Danya

...

incuse (imported) wrote: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:04 pm I use to stuff my underwear with washclothes and push my equipment down as far as I could between my legs. I'd think of myself without my genitals. I didn't want to be a girl, but I didn't want to be a boy. If I recall correctly (time line wise) I started doing this shortly after a news broadcast where a guy in prison in Texas had requested to be castrated. That was when I learned I could separate myself from my genitals. It just felt right for me to do the same....

That's how I feel. I am outwardly male, just because it's convenient to do so to an ignorant world, but inside, I'm me. Not male, but also not female.

LOL I did the same thing, still do sometimes. I'd go to bed wearing too-tight undies with it tucked back, hoping it would be gone by the time I woke up. Since then I've become comfortable, happy even, with being a man (and a decent looking one at that)....but I still want those parts gone. My true wish is to be totally smooth but otherwise male (including hormones). Maybe I should post an update 'cause I haven't really posted on here in a while.

Thanks incuse, As you know, I do understand this very well. Christina and I had a very close relationship, kinda like a big sister in a way. She told me that when she was like 3 yrs. when she knew she was a little girl. I cried thinking she had to grow up as a male, but deep in her heart she was a little girl. God I miss her so much. I enjoyed listening to the story incuse, thanks very much. I would love to see an update on these children in the future. I'm happy to see they're living their lives as they should be, little girls. Hopefully thier future will be not to bad for them.

Big Hugs, Lilac