[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] imagine if every 30 days you lost a
imagine if every 30 days you lost a
imagine if every 30 days you lost a friend client co-worker or loved one to
friend client co-worker or loved one to
friend client co-worker or loved one to suicide or murder imagine looking around
suicide or murder imagine looking around
suicide or murder imagine looking around your people your community and wondering
your people your community and wondering
your people your community and wondering who’s going to be next that’s been my
who’s going to be next that’s been my
who’s going to be next that’s been my reality for more than four years now I
reality for more than four years now I
reality for more than four years now I work with transgender people and the
work with transgender people and the
work with transgender people and the rates of suicide and murder in the trans
rates of suicide and murder in the trans
rates of suicide and murder in the trans community are sky-high two percent of
community are sky-high two percent of
community are sky-high two percent of the general population of the United
the general population of the United
the general population of the United States will attempt suicide at least
States will attempt suicide at least
States will attempt suicide at least once in their lives and that’s horrible
once in their lives and that’s horrible
once in their lives and that’s horrible but compare that to the fact that
but compare that to the fact that
but compare that to the fact that forty-one percent of trans people will
forty-one percent of trans people will
forty-one percent of trans people will attempt suicide at least once in their
attempt suicide at least once in their
attempt suicide at least once in their lives and that isn’t due to some innate
lives and that isn’t due to some innate
lives and that isn’t due to some innate deficit or mental health issue that is
deficit or mental health issue that is
deficit or mental health issue that is directly due to the way that society
directly due to the way that society
directly due to the way that society treats transgender people my name is
treats transgender people my name is
treats transgender people my name is Jonah and I think I’m a fairly boring
Jonah and I think I’m a fairly boring
Jonah and I think I’m a fairly boring nerdy person I’m a registered nurse I
nerdy person I’m a registered nurse I
nerdy person I’m a registered nurse I like fishing I collect ancient coins i
like fishing I collect ancient coins i
like fishing I collect ancient coins i paint i play too many video games and
paint i play too many video games and
paint i play too many video games and I’m a transgender man often once someone
I’m a transgender man often once someone
I’m a transgender man often once someone hears those two little words transgender
hears those two little words transgender
hears those two little words transgender man that becomes Who I am to them I’m
man that becomes Who I am to them I’m
man that becomes Who I am to them I’m reduced to those two little words my
reduced to those two little words my
reduced to those two little words my wife likes to say that being trans is
wife likes to say that being trans is
wife likes to say that being trans is one of the least interesting things
one of the least interesting things
one of the least interesting things about me although I don’t actually know
about me although I don’t actually know
about me although I don’t actually know what she does think is the most
what she does think is the most
what she does think is the most interesting thing because she’s usually
interesting thing because she’s usually
interesting thing because she’s usually just telling me that my hobbies are
just telling me that my hobbies are
just telling me that my hobbies are boring but let’s back up a second and
boring but let’s back up a second and
boring but let’s back up a second and talk about sex and gender gender
talk about sex and gender gender
talk about sex and gender gender identity is our own internal innate
identity is our own internal innate
identity is our own internal innate knowledge of who we are it’s between our
knowledge of who we are it’s between our
knowledge of who we are it’s between our ears it cannot be seen sex on the other
ears it cannot be seen sex on the other
ears it cannot be seen sex on the other hand is a combination of the genetics
hand is a combination of the genetics
hand is a combination of the genetics the organs and the secondary sex
the organs and the secondary sex
the organs and the secondary sex characteristics that we have and sex is
characteristics that we have and sex is
characteristics that we have and sex is by no means as simple as x x equals
by no means as simple as x x equals
by no means as simple as x x equals female and XY
female and XY
female and XY equals male about one in four people has
equals male about one in four people has
equals male about one in four people has what’s known as a disorder of sexual
what’s known as a disorder of sexual
what’s known as a disorder of sexual differentiation and basically what that
differentiation and basically what that
differentiation and basically what that means is there are a lot of different
means is there are a lot of different
means is there are a lot of different conditions where the person’s sex
conditions where the person’s sex
conditions where the person’s sex doesn’t fit within those neat little
doesn’t fit within those neat little
doesn’t fit within those neat little molds of male and female not too long
molds of male and female not too long
molds of male and female not too long ago we thought of race in absolutes as
ago we thought of race in absolutes as
ago we thought of race in absolutes as well if someone had one drop of
well if someone had one drop of
well if someone had one drop of african-american blood they were
african-american blood they were
african-american blood they were considered black now though we often but
considered black now though we often but
considered black now though we often but not always understand that ancestry is
not always understand that ancestry is
not always understand that ancestry is frequently a rich blend and mixed-race
frequently a rich blend and mixed-race
frequently a rich blend and mixed-race people don’t have to simply be one race
people don’t have to simply be one race
people don’t have to simply be one race or another and yet our society expects
or another and yet our society expects
or another and yet our society expects everyone to fit within this binary
everyone to fit within this binary
everyone to fit within this binary system of gender to be either male or
system of gender to be either male or
system of gender to be either male or female social constructs of gender are
female social constructs of gender are
female social constructs of gender are introduced early and are woven
introduced early and are woven
introduced early and are woven throughout our lives oh you’re having a
throughout our lives oh you’re having a
throughout our lives oh you’re having a baby is it a boy or a girl pink vs blue
baby is it a boy or a girl pink vs blue
baby is it a boy or a girl pink vs blue women race children men don’t cry smile
women race children men don’t cry smile
women race children men don’t cry smile if you’re a woman do the head nod to
if you’re a woman do the head nod to
if you’re a woman do the head nod to guys if you’re a guy so
these social constructs ignore that
these social constructs ignore that there is such a wonderful variety of
there is such a wonderful variety of
there is such a wonderful variety of identities and genders and ways to be
identities and genders and ways to be
identities and genders and ways to be they create the assumption that if
they create the assumption that if
they create the assumption that if someone is trans they must want to be
someone is trans they must want to be
someone is trans they must want to be the opposite gender but gender is really
the opposite gender but gender is really
the opposite gender but gender is really a spectrum of possibilities from a
a spectrum of possibilities from a
a spectrum of possibilities from a gender to gender queer and transgender
gender to gender queer and transgender
gender to gender queer and transgender and so much more it’s incredibly
and so much more it’s incredibly
and so much more it’s incredibly important to realize there is no one
important to realize there is no one
important to realize there is no one right way to be trans and no checklist
right way to be trans and no checklist
right way to be trans and no checklist that says this is how you transition I
that says this is how you transition I
that says this is how you transition I do a lot of trainings for medical and
do a lot of trainings for medical and
do a lot of trainings for medical and behavioral providers to teach them how
behavioral providers to teach them how
behavioral providers to teach them how to provide competent care to transcend
to provide competent care to transcend
to provide competent care to transcend dividuals once a co-worker of mine saw a
dividuals once a co-worker of mine saw a
dividuals once a co-worker of mine saw a flyer for one of these trainings and
flyer for one of these trainings and
flyer for one of these trainings and asked so how did you get into working
asked so how did you get into working
asked so how did you get into working with trans people I said well I’m trans
with trans people I said well I’m trans
with trans people I said well I’m trans myself and then the floodgates open I
myself and then the floodgates open I
myself and then the floodgates open I got all sorts of cringe-worthy questions
got all sorts of cringe-worthy questions
got all sorts of cringe-worthy questions so what’s your girl name do you have a
so what’s your girl name do you have a
so what’s your girl name do you have a penis have you had the surgery my
penis have you had the surgery my
penis have you had the surgery my favorite one was does your wife know
my wife of 10 years at this point no
my wife of 10 years at this point no don’t tell her but it hasn’t all been
don’t tell her but it hasn’t all been
don’t tell her but it hasn’t all been funny anecdotes I’ve been through a lot
funny anecdotes I’ve been through a lot
funny anecdotes I’ve been through a lot of difficult things because I’m trans as
of difficult things because I’m trans as
of difficult things because I’m trans as well I’ve been discriminated against at
well I’ve been discriminated against at
well I’ve been discriminated against at work I lost friends and family when I
work I lost friends and family when I
work I lost friends and family when I came out I’ve even been assaulted
came out I’ve even been assaulted
came out I’ve even been assaulted multiple times even before I knew I was
multiple times even before I knew I was
multiple times even before I knew I was trans I scared women in public bathrooms
trans I scared women in public bathrooms
trans I scared women in public bathrooms because I was fairly masculine women
because I was fairly masculine women
because I was fairly masculine women have yelled at me threatened me even
have yelled at me threatened me even
have yelled at me threatened me even pulled Mesa on me when I was 18 and
pulled Mesa on me when I was 18 and
pulled Mesa on me when I was 18 and newly out i decided i was going to start
newly out i decided i was going to start
newly out i decided i was going to start using the men’s room in public our
using the men’s room in public our
using the men’s room in public our reasons that if i identify as male and i
reasons that if i identify as male and i
reasons that if i identify as male and i scare women in public bathrooms i should
scare women in public bathrooms i should
scare women in public bathrooms i should use the men’s room in public even if my
use the men’s room in public even if my
use the men’s room in public even if my ID still listed me as female shortly
ID still listed me as female shortly
ID still listed me as female shortly after I was attacked in a men’s restroom
after I was attacked in a men’s restroom
after I was attacked in a men’s restroom by several guys they realized I was
by several guys they realized I was
by several guys they realized I was trans they yelled slurs they began
trans they yelled slurs they began
trans they yelled slurs they began kicking and punching me they broke ribs
kicking and punching me they broke ribs
kicking and punching me they broke ribs I yelled for help but none came well
I yelled for help but none came well
I yelled for help but none came well actually one guy did come but he joined
actually one guy did come but he joined
actually one guy did come but he joined in with them against me they urinated on
in with them against me they urinated on
in with them against me they urinated on me and left me bleeding on the floor
well that’s a very hard story to stand
well that’s a very hard story to stand up here and tell in front of a crowd
up here and tell in front of a crowd
up here and tell in front of a crowd it’s harder to do so because I stand up
it’s harder to do so because I stand up
it’s harder to do so because I stand up here in front of you afraid because as
here in front of you afraid because as
here in front of you afraid because as much as you attendees of TEDx are an
much as you attendees of TEDx are an
much as you attendees of TEDx are an enlightened crowd full of curiosity
enlightened crowd full of curiosity
enlightened crowd full of curiosity searching for knowledge there is every
searching for knowledge there is every
searching for knowledge there is every chance that at least one of you as a
chance that at least one of you as a
chance that at least one of you as a problem with me because I’m trans every
problem with me because I’m trans every
problem with me because I’m trans every time I come out in public there is some
time I come out in public there is some
time I come out in public there is some risk to me and I’m not even really one
risk to me and I’m not even really one
risk to me and I’m not even really one of the most at risk types of trans
of the most at risk types of trans
of the most at risk types of trans people transgender women people of color
people transgender women people of color
people transgender women people of color folks with non-binary gender identities
folks with non-binary gender identities
folks with non-binary gender identities and youth are the most targeted by
and youth are the most targeted by
and youth are the most targeted by discrimination and violence
discrimination and violence
discrimination and violence when you hear about assaults like mine
when you hear about assaults like mine
when you hear about assaults like mine it’s easy to understand how these kinds
it’s easy to understand how these kinds
it’s easy to understand how these kinds of events can have a huge impact on a
of events can have a huge impact on a
of events can have a huge impact on a person’s life what’s harder to
person’s life what’s harder to
person’s life what’s harder to understand is the impact of the smaller
understand is the impact of the smaller
understand is the impact of the smaller things the micro aggressions the micro
things the micro aggressions the micro
things the micro aggressions the micro traumas and what these can do to a
traumas and what these can do to a
traumas and what these can do to a person I’m talking about things like
person I’m talking about things like
person I’m talking about things like being misgendered or called the wrong
being misgendered or called the wrong
being misgendered or called the wrong name it’s kind of like sandpaper swipe
name it’s kind of like sandpaper swipe
name it’s kind of like sandpaper swipe your arm once you’re probably going to
your arm once you’re probably going to
your arm once you’re probably going to be fine probably won’t even really hurt
be fine probably won’t even really hurt
be fine probably won’t even really hurt but do it repeatedly day in and day out
but do it repeatedly day in and day out
but do it repeatedly day in and day out pretty soon you’re going to have a raw
pretty soon you’re going to have a raw
pretty soon you’re going to have a raw painful wound you used to be a girl I
painful wound you used to be a girl I
painful wound you used to be a girl I never would have guessed you know if you
never would have guessed you know if you
never would have guessed you know if you did your hair differently you’d pass
did your hair differently you’d pass
did your hair differently you’d pass better you used to be a girl I can
better you used to be a girl I can
better you used to be a girl I can totally see it now in the medical field
totally see it now in the medical field
totally see it now in the medical field these kinds of microaggressions often
these kinds of microaggressions often
these kinds of microaggressions often play out as treating trans identities as
play out as treating trans identities as
play out as treating trans identities as illnesses outright refusal to provide
illnesses outright refusal to provide
illnesses outright refusal to provide basic medical care and invasive and
basic medical care and invasive and
basic medical care and invasive and unnecessary questions any of these will
unnecessary questions any of these will
unnecessary questions any of these will create a barrier to a trans person for
create a barrier to a trans person for
create a barrier to a trans person for accessing basic medical care for example
accessing basic medical care for example
accessing basic medical care for example a few years ago I had a sinus infection
a few years ago I had a sinus infection
a few years ago I had a sinus infection I went to a clinic for treatment I
I went to a clinic for treatment I
I went to a clinic for treatment I explained my symptoms to a provider and
explained my symptoms to a provider and
explained my symptoms to a provider and after a short exam he agreed that I had
after a short exam he agreed that I had
after a short exam he agreed that I had a sinus infection and then he opened my
a sinus infection and then he opened my
a sinus infection and then he opened my chart he saw that I’m trans he spent the
chart he saw that I’m trans he spent the
chart he saw that I’m trans he spent the next 20 minutes questioning me about my
next 20 minutes questioning me about my
next 20 minutes questioning me about my sex life I really wanted to say to this
sex life I really wanted to say to this
sex life I really wanted to say to this guy look I don’t know what kind of
guy look I don’t know what kind of
guy look I don’t know what kind of freaky things you think I’m doing but it
freaky things you think I’m doing but it
freaky things you think I’m doing but it has absolutely nothing to do with my
has absolutely nothing to do with my
has absolutely nothing to do with my sinus infection can I please just get
sinus infection can I please just get
sinus infection can I please just get some antibiotics and be on my way in
some antibiotics and be on my way in
some antibiotics and be on my way in this case I had the privilege of choice
this case I had the privilege of choice
this case I had the privilege of choice I could have chosen to walk out rather
I could have chosen to walk out rather
I could have chosen to walk out rather than to endure his questions in
than to endure his questions in
than to endure his questions in curiosity my nursing license and my
curiosity my nursing license and my
curiosity my nursing license and my income allowed me that privilege but the
income allowed me that privilege but the
income allowed me that privilege but the reality for many trans people is
reality for many trans people is
reality for many trans people is different we are four times more likely
different we are four times more likely
different we are four times more likely to live in extreme poverty and a poor
to live in extreme poverty and a poor
to live in extreme poverty and a poor trans person may not have another
trans person may not have another
trans person may not have another opportunity to obtain care trans people
opportunity to obtain care trans people
opportunity to obtain care trans people died because emergency workers cut away
died because emergency workers cut away
died because emergency workers cut away their clothing and find out they have
their clothing and find out they have
their clothing and find out they have genitalia they did not expect and then
genitalia they did not expect and then
genitalia they did not expect and then they stopped giving life-saving care
they stopped giving life-saving care
they stopped giving life-saving care they died because doctors don’t want a
they died because doctors don’t want a
they died because doctors don’t want a man with cervical cancer in their
man with cervical cancer in their
man with cervical cancer in their waiting rooms they get insurance
waiting rooms they get insurance
waiting rooms they get insurance coverage for a broken arm denied because
coverage for a broken arm denied because
coverage for a broken arm denied because the insurance company says that they’re
the insurance company says that they’re
the insurance company says that they’re broken arm is related to their
broken arm is related to their
broken arm is related to their transition because when she broke her
transition because when she broke her
transition because when she broke her arm the trans woman was playing softball
arm the trans woman was playing softball
arm the trans woman was playing softball on a women’s softball team while trans
on a women’s softball team while trans
on a women’s softball team while trans people faced many many kinds of and
people faced many many kinds of and
people faced many many kinds of and justices I continue to be awed by the
justices I continue to be awed by the
justices I continue to be awed by the amount of resiliency that I witness our
amount of resiliency that I witness our
amount of resiliency that I witness our community is full of people who are
community is full of people who are
community is full of people who are joined together through that one single
joined together through that one single
joined together through that one single bond that one aspect of personhood but
bond that one aspect of personhood but
bond that one aspect of personhood but they are such a diverse an amazing group
they are such a diverse an amazing group
they are such a diverse an amazing group of people in all of the learning and the
of people in all of the learning and the
of people in all of the learning and the work that I’ve done has led me to this
work that I’ve done has led me to this
work that I’ve done has led me to this one simple kernel of knowledge and if
one simple kernel of knowledge and if
one simple kernel of knowledge and if there’s one thing I want you to know
there’s one thing I want you to know
there’s one thing I want you to know it’s this trans people are part of the
it’s this trans people are part of the
it’s this trans people are part of the natural spectrum of human diversity and
natural spectrum of human diversity and
natural spectrum of human diversity and diversity makes all of us stronger my
diversity makes all of us stronger my
diversity makes all of us stronger my search for my authentic self has led me
search for my authentic self has led me
search for my authentic self has led me to do a lot of introspection I live a
to do a lot of introspection I live a
to do a lot of introspection I live a more mindful life because of my
more mindful life because of my
more mindful life because of my experiences with gender identity and
experiences with gender identity and
experiences with gender identity and society I’ve met wonderful people and
society I’ve met wonderful people and
society I’ve met wonderful people and I’ve gotten to laugh at bizarre things
I’ve gotten to laugh at bizarre things
I’ve gotten to laugh at bizarre things like arguing with an emergency
like arguing with an emergency
like arguing with an emergency department doctor but whether or not I
department doctor but whether or not I
department doctor but whether or not I had testicles or casually letting it
had testicles or casually letting it
had testicles or casually letting it slip in conversation much to the
slip in conversation much to the
slip in conversation much to the confusion of the people i was talking to
confusion of the people i was talking to
confusion of the people i was talking to then I used to be in the Girl Scouts
then I used to be in the Girl Scouts
then I used to be in the Girl Scouts when I was a kid
when I was a kid
when I was a kid I wouldn’t be Who I am without the
I wouldn’t be Who I am without the
I wouldn’t be Who I am without the journey that I’ve had my name is Jonah
journey that I’ve had my name is Jonah
journey that I’ve had my name is Jonah then I like Who I am
then I like Who I am
then I like Who I am [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
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