Transgender identification should be recognized, respected
Transgender individuals identify as such because they feel trapped in their bodies. When these men and women know in their hearts that this is who they are, they finally feel comfortable in their own body.
Being transgender is not the same as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual or any other sexual orientation.
In an article by GLAAD, a media force supporting the LGBT community, being transgender is a “person (who) has transitioned and is living as their authentic gender — that is their ‘truth.’”
Unfortunately, being transgender is sometimes considered a taboo.
Among the worst backlash these individuals receive is when others purposely regard them as the wrong gender. If they are male to female and want to be known as a “she,” it is only polite to use the specific pronouns, even if we don’t understand or agree with it.
It is a different story when someone genuinely does not know how to refer to transgender people, but as GLAAD says, “Be polite and respectful when you ask a person which pronoun they prefer. Then use that pronoun and encourage others to do so.”
Accidents can happen, and that is OK, but instead of making a big deal about it, it is better to realize your mistake and then correct it, and for future reference, make the attempt to say the correct pronoun.
That seems simple, but we must also remember the people who refuse to accept a person’s recognized gender.
It is bad enough that transgender people are not accepted, but coming out as transgender can be one of the most difficult things a person can do — and that should be respected.
People will sometimes disregard a person’s decision to live their life as they want to, and not see them as the man or woman they are. This is discouraging, because if a transgender person can see themselves as the gender they were born to be, everyone should.
Respecting a transgender person by seeing them as the person they want you to see them as can send a good message that you are supportive and accept them.
There are inevitably ignorant people who will stand by their beliefs that being transgender is not real, and if one is born a boy or a girl, they are that for life. But those people should be disregarded.
Transgender people are not freaks — they are regular people as everyone else and should be treated as such.
Using the appropriate pronouns shows that support is not far-fetched, and gives transgender individuals a stronger sense of belonging and acceptance — which everyone deserves.
