Talk I Gave Last Night

[Guest Elizabeth K]

I was invited to speak before my therapist class on diversity, one that she teaches at a local college her. I wrote my girlfriends:

As you know I have had as bad cold and I am home again today. Last night musta taken my last strength - ha! I am accustomed to speaking before groups - school boards for example - in my work - so I usually don't get stage fright. But this subject was VERY personal, as you can imagine. And I think I did a good job, and Lynn said we made real inroads toward gaining understanding of transexuality. I was proud to have been there.

I got there early - hoping to put on my make-up in the women's room. But when in there there was so much taffic I only managed to comb out my hair and put it back up. I decided to present androgynous - in my girl jeans and a beautiful white french cuff shirt that dazzles even me! I did change to some low heeled loafers and I did put in my earrings. But I left my hair in a pony tail. I had my full size purse with me and a scarf around my neck - so I was not really male, but I wasn't that female either - well you know what I mean. People will usually call me ma'am dressed like that so I donno.

I went in early and sat in the student section - and introduced myself to the people around me as Elizabeth. They accepted that. Because of my cold my voice was not that great, but I have learne to compensate with woman speech patterns and such, which I used.

I also had a name card which I filled out - Elizabeth Anne Jenkins. They accepted me a new student - it was a non-traditional class and most were in their late twenties to early forties - learning to be management level, business people, mainly.

So in came Lynn, who came over and said hello - one of the students tried to tell everyone there was a new student - Elizabeth, but Lynn said no, she is the speaker tonight.

So they had a pop quiz - then Lynn introduced me.

I didn't let on what the 'diversity' part was going to be about. I let my hair out and combed it down. I thought that would get them interested and it did! wow! Learned that in HS speech classes - to get attention be slightly different - and OMG are we trans different! HA!

I had them from the start. I talked at first about being 1/4 mixed blood Native American Indian, of not being anglo-saxon, being Catholic - in other words, NOT your typical WASP male - then I said, and of course I am not male... but I was born that way.

Silence - wow. Then I presented.

I spent about 20 minutes with notes - then put them aside - and we had an informal discussion. At the end I took personal questions.

There was about a 30-70 mix guys to girls. The women took to me immediately - after all I was one of them. I think I even won the guys over and they were nodding their heads in agreement at the end! And I saw some tears - I did get slightly emotional - the real issue that seem to 'pop out' is how we transsexuals have such hard lives. At the end four or five stayed to ask a queston or two. Many thanked me for coming.

It was a wonderful thing - real contact with real people - no rejection at all - none!

That was my talk!

[Sally]

Lizzy,

I said it before in that good luck poem - you are our best possible representative - smart, pretty and articulate - the perfect spokeswoman for us.

You are a strikingly beautiful woman so they don't mind looking at you and even wondering if you are telling them the truth.

You are passionate about this issue and so willing to inform and educate - never backing away from the challenge of personal questions.

Congratulations, Lizzy - great job!

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Katrina Reann]

Elizabeth,

That is soo very cool. I am glad that you made that instant connection with such a diverse group. Much has been learned in the last few years with all the documentaries on transsexuality. And I truly think that you are one of the pioneers in taking us to the next step in educating the public. I have no doubt that you reached many of them and helped them to understand more. Congratulations girl!!! And I hope this is only one step of many for you. Because as I said in your other thread, I think your therapist picked the right woman for the job....And I am glad you kept your shirt on...lol...you did didn't you????....Huggsss

[Guest Michele H]

Ah gal, you made me cry again! I am so proud of you! Despite your cold, you knocked one out of the ball park (I don't do sports but I think that is right). As for your dressing - nothing male about it. Not knowing the school and the class I'm at a disadvantage but I would guess the rest of the woman in the class were similarly dressed. I'm really impressed with the bit of show woman ship at the beginning to get there attention.

[Guest ChalenAustin]

What an inspirational story Liz!

I've been asked to speak at a local HS at their GSA meeting about transpeople and specifically transmen and trans vs. gay issues.

You're story gives me confidence and hope! What a great unintentional pep talk!

Way to go girl!!!!!!! Our little activist growing up

[Guest praisedbeherhooves]

I was invited to speak before my therapist class on diversity, one that she teaches at a local college her. I wrote my girlfriends:

As you know I have had as bad cold and I am home again today. Last night musta taken my last strength - ha! I am accustomed to speaking before groups - school boards for example - in my work - so I usually don't get stage fright. But this subject was VERY personal, as you can imagine. And I think I did a good job, and Lynn said we made real inroads toward gaining understanding of transexuality. I was proud to have been there.

I got there early - hoping to put on my make-up in the women's room. But when in there there was so much taffic I only managed to comb out my hair and put it back up. I decided to present androgynous - in my girl jeans and a beautiful white french cuff shirt that dazzles even me! I did change to some low heeled loafers and I did put in my earrings. But I left my hair in a pony tail. I had my full size purse with me and a scarf around my neck - so I was not really male, but I wasn't that female either - well you know what I mean. People will usually call me ma'am dressed like that so I donno.

I went in early and sat in the student section - and introduced myself to the people around me as Elizabeth. They accepted that. Because of my cold my voice was not that great, but I have learne to compensate with woman speech patterns and such, which I used.

I also had a name card which I filled out - Elizabeth Anne Jenkins. They accepted me a new student - it was a non-traditional class and most were in their late twenties to early forties - learning to be management level, business people, mainly.

So in came Lynn, who came over and said hello - one of the students tried to tell everyone there was a new student - Elizabeth, but Lynn said no, she is the speaker tonight.

So they had a pop quiz - then Lynn introduced me.

I didn't let on what the 'diversity' part was going to be about. I let my hair out and combed it down. I thought that would get them interested and it did! wow! Learned that in HS speech classes - to get attention be slightly different - and OMG are we trans different! HA!

I had them from the start. I talked at first about being 1/4 mixed blood Native American Indian, of not being anglo-saxon, being Catholic - in other words, NOT your typical WASP male - then I said, and of course I am not male... but I was born that way.

Silence - wow. Then I presented.

I spent about 20 minutes with notes - then put them aside - and we had an informal discussion. At the end I took personal questions.

There was about a 30-70 mix guys to girls. The women took to me immediately - after all I was one of them. I think I even won the guys over and they were nodding their heads in agreement at the end! And I saw some tears - I did get slightly emotional - the real issue that seem to 'pop out' is how we transsexuals have such hard lives. At the end four or five stayed to ask a queston or two. Many thanked me for coming.

It was a wonderful thing - real contact with real people - no rejection at all - none!

That was my talk!

Yay! You did well. Good job Lizzy!

[Guest Donna Jean]

Lizzy......

Thank you for doing that for me....

Thank you for doing it for all of us...

You represented everyone of us here and did a super job of it. I'm so proud of you today, Liz...very, very proud.

These people that were there received an insight to us that many don't have opportunity to see. Not exploitative or crude, but honest, sincere and showing us in a light that we need to be seen in...

Thank you, Lizzy....

With Love

Donna Jean

[Carolyn Marie]

Lizzy, I am so very proud of you. Those folks you talked to now see us in a totally new light.

Not as freaks or people to be gawked at or made fun of, but real people with real issues and rights

that need to be protected, just like everyone else.

I can't think of anyone I would rather have represent us than you, my dear friend.

ROUND OF APPLAUSE!! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! HUZZAH!

Carolyn Marie

[Guest BeckyTG]

Sweet, Wonderful, Talented Lizzie,

GO Lizzie! Very nice job of presentation with impact. I mean impact, girl. You inspire me now.

I'm so proud that you did this presentation and you educated some people and changed thoughts and perceptions. More of this needs to be done. I hope you get more invitations.

Thank you for doing it even though you didn't feel good. That says a lot right there.

I love your passion,

Hugs,

Becky