Out in a class, advacacy?

[MandyTS]

Hello all,

I did something scary yesterday, but ever since the beginning I knew I would do it...

The teacher (of the 40 person class) asked who would like to tell their own unique story to class, I chose the second to last week...

I started talking about cycling and the discovery of Kallmann's and IS, then I went into the feeling of being a girl ever since birth, my dealing with testicular cancer and my transistion... and the theme, that for all you (education students) I can almost guarantee that you will see someone who is at some level gendre dysphoric in your career... and that diversity (the theme of the class) is more than skin deep.

I had an interesting discussion with many of the students after class. The first is that... oh my gosh you are brave sharing your story. I also got more than one working teacher who said "oh my gosh, I had a student(s) like that in my career". Overall the experience was positive, and quite heartwarming...

It all about being comfortable in who YOU are!

Mandy

[FionaAlexis]

Hi Mandy,

Firstly, congratulations, it is message well worth delivering to such a group. I think we've all been in situations where we have the opportunity to tell our story or voice a view that will indelibly stamp us as transgendered but we mostly let it slip by.

I do agree that feeling comfortable about who you are is very important - but I also think how receptive and open minded you believe your audience will be, is also important - maybe more so.

Fiona xx

[Jasmine Ellis]

CONGRATULETIONES DEAR. Very, brave of you and sounds like it went ok, well done......:thumbsup:

[lydia7]

Such a tender story Mandy, thank you for sharing...

[Katrina]

Mandy, good for you! I wish I was as brave as you are...you are truly an inspiration to all of us.