From Dysphoria to Euphoria
The Transgender Day of Visibility occurred March 31. In his address, President Joe Biden stated, “I want every member of the trans community to know that we see you. You’re each made in the image of God, and deserve love, dignity, and respect. You make America stronger, and we’re with you.”
Unfortunately, there are too many others across our country who want the trans community to disappear for good. Radical legislation is being passed in many states that criminalizes and penalizes transgender persons.
A variety of studies have been done on the transgender community. Interesting findings show they number about 1.3 million total, and most trans adults are younger than 35. In a recent Washington Post—KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) survey,1 transition is defined in vastly different ways. “Most trans people have socially transitioned, meaning they’ve changed their clothing, names or pronouns, [but] far fewer have medically transitioned. [Fewer] than a third have used hormone treatments or puberty blockers, and about 1 in 6 have undergone gender-affirming surgery or other...treatment to change their physical appearance.”
Josie Nixon is a 30-year-old who identifies as nonbinary. She had her epiphany about her gender identity at age 24. According to the Post report, “One night, they cried until they fell asleep, and when they woke up, they brushed their teeth, looked in the mirror and said the word for the first time. ‘I just said, ‘You’re trans.’ Then I crumpled on the floor, crying. I probably cried for like a week.’”
Things have changed drastically since. “As Nixon’s hair grew and their body changed, people sometimes harassed them in bathrooms, and a roommate ‘came out’ as transphobic. Still, Nixon felt newly relieved. ‘The worst day I’ve ever had as a trans person is still better than the best days I had pre-transition,’ Nixon said. ‘That’s not to say that I don’t look fondly on the memories of my life, but not living authentically was terrible, and I would rather live authentically than hide a version of myself to appease people I don’t even know.’”
Michele Angello is a certified clinical sexologist whose practice focuses on helping gender-variant and transgender youth and adults. She writes, “The fear mongering and misinformation land easily with misinformed communities and there isn’t enough ‘gender euphoria’ messaging taking place.”
“Too many are being fed deceptive information that minors are coerced into transitioning.... That simply isn’t true! Kids know a great deal about themselves but don’t always have the verbal ability to express it. As far as adults transitioning, if you are not trans, don’t transition.”
Many trans people encounter discrimination and outright violence at times. A greater percentage of trans people consider or attempt suicide, compared to the general population.
There are others who have arrived at their moment of Uncontainable Joy. Such is the case for Jennifer, who transitioned at age 52. She and her wife Karen, married for 33 years, have faced all the doubts, tears, and fears that are part and parcel with those who make the life-changing move to transition.
In Jennifer’s own words, “My transgender journey began when I was six years old, praying to God that He would make me a girl. A pivotal faith moment in that journey happened 44 years later, in 2010. [On my way to a transgender conference,] I left the house early, switching my attire from the suit and tie I wore the night before to a more appropriate skirt and blouse.
“Listening to a CD [about the miracles of Jesus], I broke down crying and began yelling at God that if Jesus could do all these miracles, why couldn’t He do something simple and let me live my life as a female…. [He answered and said] my mission was to become a woman and to be visible in the community.... This now became very scary because there was the very real possibility that I would lose my entire world as I knew it. I have so many transgender friends who lost everything.”
Jennifer shares the details of her transition, then adds, “It’s been an amazingly difficult and wonderful journey.... My prayers that had begun so very long ago were answered. God, thank you for allowing me to experience uncontainable joy!”
My dear friend Jennifer speaks for so many who have transitioned to live as the person they have always felt themselves to be inside. From dysphoria to euphoria. What a journey. What a change. What a joy—uncontainable, that is!
1 Detailed results are available at washingtonpost.com and kff.org.
David Garrett, a CAMP Rehoboth Board member, is a straight advocate for equality and inclusion. He is also the proud father of an adult trans daughter. Email David Garrett at davidg@camprehoboth.com.