Transgender School

What caused Vice President Kamala Harris's sudden surge in popularity after Joe Biden stepped down and endorsed her as the Democratic candidate for president? And how can her unexpected candidacy shift the dynamics of the 2024 presidential race?

The political landscape has changed dramatically. Harris’s candidacy brings renewed energy and hope to many, thanks to her firm stance on LGBTQ+ rights and progressive policies, and the record-breaking funds she raised so quickly are a testament to it.

In today's episode, we discuss the positive impact of Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race and Kamala Harris's subsequent nomination. We also delve into Harris's impressive career achievements, which justify her rapid popularity on social media and her robust record on LGBTQ+ rights. You'll also hear why it is crucial to support a candidate who understands diverse experiences, who can advocate effectively for LGBTQ+ rights, and who is willing to lead the fight for equality and justice in the current political climate.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Kamala Harris's rapid ascension in popularity (2:30)
• Kamala Harris's record and impact on LGBTQ+ rights (4:40)
• A bit about Kamala Harris's commitment and dedication to justice and equality (10:00)
• Why we must support Kamala Harris (13:30)

Resources Mentioned:

• Become a volunteer for Kamala Harris's campaign
• Mobilize.us

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

• Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo
• Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content
• Transgender School on Medium
• Instagram
• Website
• Facebook
• Community Facebook Group
• YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine keeping who you really are hidden for 62 years, knowing deep inside that you are not the person that others see. Can you feel the pain of what it would be like to be unable to live as your true self because you could lose everything?

On today’s episode, we welcome back our dear friend, Alicia Arballo, who was kind enough to be our guest on episodes 18 and 19 two years ago. Having transitioned at 62 years old, Alicia has taught us and many others so much about what it was like to have the courage to finally let the world know that she’s a woman.

We’re thrilled to share with you that Alicia has published a moving, beautiful book of poetry called Transition. Her poignant poems about the heartbreaking realities of coming out as transgender and the euphoria of living authentically moved us deeply and we couldn’t wait to talk with Alicia about them.

We’re also incredibly grateful to Alicia for being willing to read us a few of her poems, which we know can be very emotional, and we invite you to share that emotional journey with us, as there is so much to learn from it.

Alicia is a natural storyteller who has been writing poetry since she was a little girl, yet it wasn't until her transition that she felt the urge to share the feelings, sensations, challenges, and joys of her journey with us all.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Alicia's passion for telling stories (5:10)
• "Christine." The importance of representation (12:50)
• "Checkout Counter." Daily, trivial moments for some, unforgettable for others (17:50)
• "Joyce." The anxiety and relief of showing up as we really are (29:20)
• "Dead name." The pain of rejection (34:00)

Resources:

• Get a copy of Alicia Arballo's book, Transition

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

• Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo
• Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content
• Transgender School on Medium
• Instagram
• Website
• Facebook
• Community Facebook Group
• YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gender-affirming care saves lives. It'll be hard to think about anything else once you've listened to today's episode. Fear, isolation, self-harm, self-hatred, and frustration are some of the feelings many trans people feel all the time, and it only gets better when they can come out.

In our last episode, Sophia Alexander shared her thoughts on the manosphere and the political landscape in America. Today, she opens up in the most vulnerable, genuine, inspiring, and brave way to share her story and how she came to embrace her trans identity.

You'll hear about Sophia's difficult childhood, growing up surrounded by violence against LGBTQ people in a traditional family and an even more conventional society, and lacking not only the support from like-minded people but also the resources to reach them. You'll also hear about the dark places Sophia has gone to, the ways that coming out and transitioning improved her mental health, her thoughts on what the future looks like for trans people in the military, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Sophia's challenging upbringing (3:50)
• What lack of gender-affirming care can do to people (14:10)
• Why Sophia decided to join the military (19:20)
• Sophia's post-military life and her decision to transition (27:00)
• When being trans becomes a "social liability" (35:00)
• The torturing feeling of being trans and not transitioning (43:10)

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

• Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo
• Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content
• Transgender School on Medium
• Instagram
• Website
• Facebook
• Community Facebook Group
• YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Misinformation spread by politicians and other influential public figures, the growing polarization among young people, and widespread political cynicism are key elements contributing to our increasingly divisive political landscape.

In today's episode, our dear friend Sophia Alexander shares her perspective on the US political landscape just a few months before the 2024 elections. Sophia is a former US Navy Electronic Warfare Specialist and is politically active in her local community. Despite her impressive achievements as a Navy veteran and student leader, she struggled with her gender identity for years. Embracing her true self was a pivotal moment in her life, leading to self-acceptance and empowering her to advocate for others.

You'll hear Sophia's thoughts on Republicans' strategies to derail the transgender movement by unearthing old and divisive issues like bathroom bills and trans athletes, and the influence of media and talking heads from dark corners of the internet in promoting these kinds of discussions. Sophia also addresses fear-mongering tactics used to scare the common folk about trans issues, the manosphere's selective appetite when it comes to addressing mental health issues, the myths about "mutilating children" often overused by the far right to confuse people, and much more.

Make sure to tune in for next month’s episode with Sophia to learn more about her life, including beginning and stopping her transition multiple times because of external pressures and expectations.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A bit about Sophia's background (1:20)
• Transgender issues and political distractions (6:20)
• Why Republicans are so attached to transgender issues (13:40)
• Sophia addresses the myths around detransitioners (15:50)
• How cynicism on political issues and misinformation impact young people (19:00)
• Sophia explains why local politics and community engagement are crucial (26:50)
• Protect the kids. Sophia talks about why the far right loves that type of rhetoric (31:30)

Connect with Jackie and Bridget:

• Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo
• Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content
• Transgender School on Medium
• Instagram
• Website
• Facebook
• Community Facebook Group
• YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy & Parenting

What does it actually mean to be an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist or parent? It may not be what you think. Today we’re honored to welcome Dr. Rebeks Clark Mane and Aba Horthy, highly trained therapists who specialize in this field as well as having their own lived experience as members of the community. The four of us explore this critically important topic with more depth and detail than we’ve ever gotten into before.

What if we lived in a world where the model of responding to coming out (from parents, therapists, and others) was not about how hard life would be as an LGBTQIA+ person, but rather normalized and celebrated the experience and the uniqueness of the individual? This is what Rebeks and Aba teach us about in new, eye-opening ways.

We know that outcomes are significantly more positive when LGBTQIA+ youth and adults are affirmed, encouraged, heard, seen, and believed. But what specifically does that look like? And, what might we be doing unknowingly that’s causing harm, even if we think we’re trying to be supportive?

Rebeks is a transmasculine nonbinary therapist who loves working with folx in the "gray spaces" of identity. Aba is a queer mixed nonbinary therapist passionate about helping clients find and express their authentic selves. Both are Associate Marriage and Family Therapists and LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapists.

Throughout our conversation, Rebeks, Aba, and Jackie share parts of their story, their relationship with their families before and after coming out, and the role affirmative therapy (and non-affirmative therapy) played in their journey. They also provide tips and advice for therapists and parents dealing with their kids' transition, how to support queer, nonbinary, and trans kids, and how to avoid disconfirming words and actions that can cause deep trauma.

We also discuss the BIPOC queer, trans, and nonbinary experience, the white supremacist roots of the binary approach to queer representation, the informed consent model for gender affirming surgery, letters needed for surgery and their purpose, the need for cisgender folks to listen and learn with an open mind, gender policing, gender gatekeeping, media representation, the recent episode of The Problem with Jon Stewart called The War Over Gender, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy is (3:54)

The current consent model for hormone therapy and surgery and the problems with it (7:07)

What parents can do when they’re struggling with their kids' transition (18:44)

Change in sexual orientation is entirely normal at any age and for any gender (21:12)

How to avoid the trauma of being disconfirmed for trans and nonbinary kids (30:40)

The damage gender reveal parties cause (43:32)

What trans, queer, and nonbinary people's mental health and suicide rates look like when they are surrounded by love and support (56:43)

Resources:

Horthy & Mane Therapy website

The Problem With John Stuart - The War Over Gender

Connect with Rebeks:

LinkedIn

Connect with Aba:

LinkedIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.