1. Understanding the Needs of Transgender Clients Renée Baker, Ph.D., LMT GenderPower.Com 2009 by Renée Baker. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or utilized in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Renée Baker.
2. Contents Introduction Part 1: From My Heart to Yours - A Personal Transgender Sharing (oral) Mystery of gender, a childhood look Growing up and family life Coming out Journey to self Transitional experiences from HRT to surgery Special discussion on hair removal experiences Q&A Part 2 – Working With Transgender Individuals (slides) Terminology History Etiquette Equality, rights and current events Transgender standards of care Marketing to Transgender Clients Back Matter
3. Part 1 From My Heart to Yours A Personal Transgender Sharing (oral presentation)
8. Males & Females Help! Biologically speaking, the onlydefining factor for whether an organism is male or female is the gamete size it produces. Males – sperm or small gametes Females – eggs or large gametes Pssst…we haven’t talked about sex and gender yet.
14. both gametes made different timesAbout ¼ of the fish near coral reefs are hermaphroditic. *Do not use this to refer to intersexed people.
15. Sex Traditional Sex is defined as whether a human is either male or female, or by which gamete they produce. Assumptions about what genitalia should then look like are then made. The Problem Secondary sex characteristics and sexual anatomy are much more diverse. There is spectrum of human males and human females. About 2% of the human population is intersexed having a sexed body outside of what society “expects”. We’re X girl stuff I am Y boy stuff *See A. Lev
46. In birds, the reverse is true (ZZ is male, ZW is female)
47. In many species, males and females have the same chromosomes. The turtle’s sex is determined by temperature of egg laying environment *See Joan Roughgarden reference
59. Gender Our gender role is the social roles we play in life, conscious or not. Our gender identity is how we describe ourselves in terms of gender Including man, woman or androgyne and so on. It is a self description. Person of gender is a term not used much, but I am promoting as an alternative to transgendered and is inclusive of all humans. It puts the focus on that we are persons first. The gender community is an inclusive term for gender variant Individuals and SOFFA (significant others, friends, family, allies)
60. Transgender Crossdressers Masculine Females Feminine Males Transsexuals Drag Queens Intersexed? Gender Queer Stone & Soft Butch Trans Men Trans Women
61. Transgender An umbrella term encompassing all those gender expressions that fall outside of the expected range for a given sex. A term of empowerment for those that use it.
62. DRAG Queens Dressed As a Girl (DRAG) Most DRAG Queens are male identified female performers, often gay Some DRAG Queens are female identified female performers, often lesbian A typical performance is song and dance with lip syncing and comedy It is common for DRAG Queens to support local GLBT community fundraising (e.g., Lone Star Court / Gay Bingo) It is common for DRAG Queens to perform at clubs, organizations and schools as part of GLBT outreach DRAG Queen competitions are common and many earn money by performing DRAG is not universally accepted Miss and Mr. Texas Gay Rodeo Association hosting the UT Dallas DRAG Queen GALA, benefiting the Resource Center of Dallas, 2008. Source: Renee Baker
63. Cross Dressers Cross dressers are those that occasionally wear clothes outside the socially prescribed gender norms Cross dressers are typically male identified and cross dress outside of their functioning male roles Women that wear men’s casual clothes occasionally generally don’t define themselves as cross dressers Many early cross dressers will later identify as trans women Many cross dressers do not identify with the term transgendered Cross dressers often just want to be a “girl for a night” to break from the male role. Majority of CDs are closeted in some respect. Derogatory and Passé - Transvestite A male identified cross dresser with a supportive spouse at Southern Comfort Conference, 2005. Source: Renee Baker
64. Crossdressing Accessories Corsets Hip pads Breast Forms Gaffs Wigs Crossdressers and transgender individuals will often go to great lengths to “pass” or “blend” The opposite of passing is “being read”. Part of the unfolding is to learn not to worry what others think. Passing no longer is a priority and instead self-expression is the key. Dermablend Makeup
65. Bi-Gender Many people reject the notion that we have one gender as male or female Some are androgynous displaying masculine and feminine traits simultaneously Some are gender neutral like “Pat” on Saturday Night Live Other common names Two-Spirit Gender Queer, Third Sex Gender Bender Gender Warrior
66. Trans Men and Women Transsexuals are people that alter their bodies (surgically or hormonally) with the desire to change their sex The term transsexual is a medical term and has a pathological history of abuse by the psychological and psychiatric community “Trans” is often preferred, or just man or woman Transgenderist is someone that feels they are more than a cross-dresser, but not a transsexual Ethan St. Pierre A Female to Male (FTM) Trans Man photo courtesy of www.transfm.org
69. A new beginningThe big transgender question: Should I transition? Transition is often a painful time, fraught with uncertainty, sadness, depression and loss. Transition is a time that is disorienting and reorienting. Solitude is needed for a time of reflection to break patterns and awaken.
72. To hide who we are LGB people come out about their sexuality T people come out about their gender identity The more educated people become about gender and sexuality, the more accepting they are. Acceptance by allowing others to simply be is a great gift of love. Avoiding judgment allows others a chance to discover their authentic selves.
91. Eunuchs by castration Served as guardians for women and children Many were strongly female identified Many became priestesses to the goddess Cybele In the Middle East, Mukhannathun were a group of “feminine men” that would be considered modern day MTF transgendered
92. Medieval History Jehanne or “Joan” is a popular hero for trans men Born in France in 1412 A military leader who defeated the English at Orleans making the way for Charles to receive the crown Dressed as a man as religious duty Burned at the stake alive at age 19 Jehanne D’ Arc Source: wikipedia, public domain
93. Modern History “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty” – NY Daily, 1952 Christine Jorgensen was the first widely known transsexual Woman in the U.S. The first modern day “sex change” was in 1945 The stonewall riots of 1969 were in response of police brutality towards transgender women Transgender women and bi-gender individuals Ignited riots to protest Stonewall was the launch of the modern day gay rights movement.
95. Bathrooms Generally we should allow people to use bathrooms in the gender they are presenting in. A business has a right to decide which bathrooms people can use, or can escort the client off premises.
101. Equality Equality for transgender individuals is the same as equality for anyone else Everyone wants the same opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness If we can understand that everyone has a masculine and feminine side, then we recognize that equality for transgender people is equality for all.
102. Rights Rights are moral principles defining a human's freedom of action in society Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits workplace discrimination based upon sex In 2004, it was ruled that transgender people were included under Title VII However, violence and discrimination is commonplace
103. Example: Jet Pilot Fired Jamy Spradlin was fired in 2006 and lost her flying license It took two years of fighting to get back in the air She still has not found another flying job to replace her first one Jamy Spradlin Source: Renee Baker
104. Example: Police Beating In June of 2008, footage was leaked to the press of a police beating caught on tape Two officers were fired The transgender woman filed suit She was mysteriously murdered “execution style” before trial Grainy security camera footage at Memphis police station shows police officers brutally beating Duana Johnson Source:WMC-TV Memphis, Tennessee Duanna Johnson Murdered Nov. 9, 2008
105. International Bill of Transgender Rights Right to a Gender Identity Right to Freedom From Involuntary Psychiatric Diagnosis & Treatment Right to a Enter Marital Contracts Right to a Conceive, Bear or Adopt Children…to be Parents Right to Sexual Expression Right to Change One’s Body Right to a Gendered Space Right to Free Gender Expression Right to Medical and Professional Care Right to Employment
106. Current Event – Transgender Regret Sometimes, transgender people regret their transition. Christine Daniels, a sports reporter for the LA Times, decided not to transition. He is returning to live as Mike Penner. Data is sketchy, but about one in twenty that begin transition change their minds. Christine Daniels Source: USA Today 2/26/09
109. WPATH The World Professional Association For Transgender Health Mission is “to promote evidence based care, education, research, advocacy, public policy and respect in transgender health.” Publish the “Standards of Care and Ethical Guidelines” for gender transition
116. References R. Baker, “The Mystery of Coming Out”, EDGE Publications, Aug. 20, 2008 R. Baker, “Transgender Pilot Regains Her Wings”, EDGE Publications, June 20, 2008 R. Baker, “Police Beating of Transgender Woman Ignites Controversy”, EDGE Publications, June 27, 2008 R. Baker, “Metroplex Crossdressers Feel Support From Dallas Police”, EDGE Publications, Oct. 10, 2008 A. Beall and R. Sternberg, 1993, The Psychology of Gender K. Bornstein, 1998, My Gender Workbook P. Currah, R. Juang, S. Minter, 2006, Transgender Rights A. Lev, 2004, Transgender Emergence. J. Roughgarden, 2004, Evolutions Rainbow. P. Sherman and J. Alcock, 1998, Exploring Animal Behavior: Readings from American Scientist, 2nd ed.
117. Presentation Description Understanding the Needs of Transgender Clients Renee Baker, Ph.D. www.genderpower.com Most male-to-female transgender individuals undergoing gender reassignment surgery will undergo partial or complete facial hair removal. As transgenderism is an area not always widely understood, many individuals are unsure of how to approach and work with transgender individuals. In this talk, Dr. Renee Baker will present an overview of transgenderism as pertinent to those in the professional hair removal industry. In Part 1, Dr. Baker will share her life experiences as a post-operative transgender woman. She will share her journey in life so others can gain a more heart-felt understanding of some of the challenges one faces in transitioning from male to female. In Part 2, Dr. Baker will present a slide presentation covering issues and etiquette that an electrologist could be made aware of when working with transgender clients. Dr. Baker enjoys interaction and encourages questions even if they are of a personal nature.
118. Renee Baker Biography Dr. Renee Baker was originally from New England, but grew up mainly on the Great Plains of South Dakota. Her father was a Spanish teacher and her mother taught ESL, so her home was that of international diversity. Her brother is a children’s educator and teaches the value of character. Though Renee grew up in a generally happy family, she struggled for years with her own sense of gender. While in her early forties, Renee was finally able to come to terms with being a transgendered woman and made the decision to surgically and hormonally transition from male to female. Renee now feels strongly that we have a long way to go in society to reach gender equality. She speaks whenever she can to help others understand our gender inequality is rooted in fear. Renee holds a doctorate in engineering and spent over 20 years in industry and academia. Renee currently owns her own massage practice providing mind-body-spirit therapy. She also owns her own transgender outreach practice providing diversity training, professional speaking and mentoring. Renee is a volunteer and past board member at Youth First Texas, a nonprofit organization supporting LGBT youth. She also writes stories of human interest for EDGE Publications. Renee has one son Alex and currently lives in Dallas with her partner Wendi and their furry, four-legged animal friends. Renee Baker, Ph.D. www.genderpower.com 3530 Forest Lane, #306 Dallas, TX 75234 214-607-5620
Notas do Editor
Knowing terminology is a way to connect and empathize with your clients.
Knowing terminology is a way to connect and empathize with your clients.
See Joan Roughgarden, page 23.
Flowering plants pollen is the male part seeds or ovule is the female part
Flowering plants pollen is the male part seeds or ovule is the female part
Flowering plants pollen is the male part seeds or ovule is the female part
Sexism or any kind of ism is when we generalize from a single example and then impose that generalization. It is a simplification, and our brains do this naturally, until we are able to step back and re-evaluate the situation to see it as more complex than it was. The brain or ego loves to simplify which is an act of pre-judgement, or prejudice. Sexism is abusive.Assuming people are a way they aren’t is damaging and hurtful.For example:We shouldn’t assume men are aggressive and tough, but allow them to be compassionate and caring.We shouldn’t assume women are docile and weak, but allow them to be intelligent and capable of leadership.
Knowing terminology is a way to connect and empathize with your clients.
Knowing terminology is a way to connect and empathize with your clients.
Knowing terminology is a way to connect and empathize with your clients.
Within two hours of coming out as transgendered to her Human Resources department, corporate jet pilot Jamy Spradlin was put on paid administrative leave. To make matters worse, the Federal Aviation Administration delayed renewing her license to fly for nearly a year while they evaluated her psyche for stability after beginning hormone replacement therapy.Spradlin is 41 years old now, though she grew up as a biological male. She loves to fly. It’s in her soul and her passion, she says. "I’ve been flying since I was 16. I got bit by the flying bug and have to do it." She says it brings her great peace and great freedom, and she loves to share that with other people. But her former Dallas-based corporation said no, they did not want a transgender woman flying their executives around the country. Instead of asking how they could help her transition to female, the corporation’s lawyer asked her, "How can we help you transition - away from the company?" Spradlin does not wish to disclose the name of the corporation.Within four days of her coming out in March of 2006, the company asked Spradlin to tender her resignation. Because she was not in a financial position to fight a legal battle, she agreed to a settlement. Almost a year after being fired, Spradlin was ready to fly again, but her FAA medical certificate had lapsed. Getting that certificate reinstated has taken nearly another year, since last June. It should only have taken two hours as it had in the past, just like a driver’s license. "All of this is because I started taking estrogen," she says.Spradlin went to see her FAA-approved medical examiner, Dr. Gabriel Fried, M.D., in Dallas. Though she passed her First Class medical examination otherwise, when she told the examiner she was taking estrogen, Dr. Fried required two additional things: a letter from her licensed counselor describing her mental stability, and a letter from her family practitioner describing her hormone usage. The details of what Spradlin went through to get her medical certificate back almost requires a flow chart to understand. But the FAA thinks otherwise: Les Dorr, FAA spokesperson in Washington DC, maintains that "nothing happens" when you come out as transgendered to the FAA. Dorr says it is up to the individual medical examiner to determine whether pilots are fit to fly, but says that transgender people undergoing hormone treatment have "potentially associated medical psychiatric conditions." However, Dorr also says FAA chief psychiatrist Charles Chesanow is not aware of any transgender pilot that has ever been denied getting a license, nor of one that has ever lost a license.Though Dorr says the FAA leaves testing up to the medical examiner, the FAA required Spradlin to undergo extensive psychological evaluation, costing her $1400. In addition, Spradlin had to provide the FAA with a copy of her counselor’s therapeutic session notes. Spradlin says she is not aware of any non-transgender female pilots that have had to undergo such stringent evaluation when they began taking hormone replacement therapy. Spradlin believes the system is a mess. "The whole process was utterly frustrating," she says. "No one wanted to take responsibility." She says that most of the issues that came up were due to "lack of communication" and "lack of understanding". She believes that while she wasn’t personally discriminated against, the system unfairly assumes that transgender people are cognitively dysfunctional until proven otherwise. "They really didn’t have a clue, but I don’t blame them for not knowing what to do."Still, Spradlin remains optimistic that the FAA will eventually get it right. "You gotta laugh about it," she says. There was a lesson in all of this, she explains, and that is patience. Even as she was a day away from getting the needed medical certificate in the end, the assigned physician granting her a medical certificate had a heart attack, causing another three week delay. After two years of being grounded, Spradlin now has her medical certificate in hand and expects to find an industrial pilot position in the near future. She lives in Plano, Texas and is an active volunteer in the GLBT community and in her church. She is happy to have her wings back.Dr. Renee Baker is a massage therapist, transgender consultant and board member of Youth First Texas. She may be reached on her website at www.renee-baker.com
It’s been over forty years since Martin Luther King Jr.’s embarked on his impassioned civil rights crusade, battled with police forces and ultimately was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. The recent beating of an African American transgender woman, Duanna Johnson, suggests that discriminatory police brutality in Memphis has not ended. WMC-TV in Memphis recently obtained surveillance footage from the reception room of a local police station, where Johnson was beaten and maced by two police officers. It’s "every trans-person’s nightmare come true," says Donna Rose, transgender woman and a leader in several national GLBT organizations.Johnson was booked on prostitution charges Feb. 12 at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center in Memphis - charges that have now been dropped because the district attorney’s office found no probable cause for arrest. Video footage shows Johnson being brutally beaten by officer Bridges McRae, while probationary officer James Swain holds her down. Michael Silverman of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund says the outburst was not only unconscionable, but extreme and disproportionate to the case. Silverman says they receive many complaints of mistreatment by police, but none on this scale of brutality.Jennifer Donnals, communications director of the Shelby County district attorney’s office, says the case is now being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When the FBI concludes its findings, the Shelby DA’s office will evaluate them for possible state charges. The U.S. attorney’s office will further review the findings for possible federal charges.The Memphis Police Department said in a statement that they are investigating the case. Officer Swain was immediately released from duty after the February beating incident. McRae was placed on non-enforcement status pending an administrative hearing until just yesterday, when he too was released from duty, according to WMC-TV.Donnals says that an investigation into how the video was released to the media is being done by a separate agency, as "release of evidence to the public in this manner could jeopardize a case" against the officers if it comes to trial. According to WMC-TV, the video was released to the media by Johnson’s attorney, Murray Wells, who felt it was an outrage that McRae was not immediately fired and no disciplinary actions were forthcoming. WMC-TV reports Memphis PD director Larry Godwin denies he was slow to hold a hearing until the tapes went public. McRae was fired just one week after the video footage was released to the media, and four months after the initial beating.What exactly prompted the officers to beat Johnson is still unclear. The consensus among witnesses at the event and LGBT organizations is that Johnson’s actions in no way justified the police officers’ violent actions. Johnson was said to have ignored prompts from the officer to stand up after he called her derogatory names such as "faggot" and "he-she."Patrick Callahan, public information officer of Transgender Community of Police and Sheriffs, an international organization of 800 transgender law enforcement officers and personnel, is very concerned about the video footage released. "The actual mistreatment or even the perceived mistreatment of a prisoner while in the custody of police officers sworn to uphold the law and to protect and serve is intolerable," he says.Callahan says that transgender police officers themselves have trouble transitioning in the workplace, and that many have to remain in stealth mode. "Police officers, just like the people they protect and serve, can often be very conservative people and may not easily accept change, particularly a change perceived to be as drastic as the transition from one gender to another." But Callahan thinks that the Memphis PD has more serious issues. "The severity of the attack on Ms. Duanna Johnson...suggests that there may be more severe issues that exist within the Memphis PD that place not only minority populations in danger, but the greater community as well."All those interviewed agreed education is needed. "The entire police department needs education," Rose says. "We need to find ways of turning this inexcusable act of violence into something positive so others will not have to face the same thing." Silverman, who says though we will have to wait for the legal process to mature, believes that Johnson should most likely be [financially] compensated and the officers should be punished. According to WMC-TV, Johnson is making plans to sue the Memphis Police Department. Though Johnson was not available for immediate comment, Wells says he is proud of how she is handling the case.
