like many of you well most of you I have multiple identities and I suppose I’m
multiple identities and I suppose I’m
multiple identities and I suppose I’m told that mine are a bit more complex
told that mine are a bit more complex
told that mine are a bit more complex and after all that’s why I’m invited
and after all that’s why I’m invited
and after all that’s why I’m invited here to speak with you today so let me
here to speak with you today so let me
here to speak with you today so let me explain further I am a woman
explain further I am a woman
explain further I am a woman first and foremost and I’m very proud of
first and foremost and I’m very proud of
first and foremost and I’m very proud of that womanhood because for me it has not
that womanhood because for me it has not
that womanhood because for me it has not come easy it has been with struggle to
come easy it has been with struggle to
come easy it has been with struggle to be that person that girl the it girl
beautiful when I want to be and at times
beautiful when I want to be and at times I could be beautiful my legs are long
I could be beautiful my legs are long
I could be beautiful my legs are long I’m tall which in itself objectified me
I’m tall which in itself objectified me
I’m tall which in itself objectified me to the unknowing public the stairs the
to the unknowing public the stairs the
to the unknowing public the stairs the looks it’s something that’s hard to get
looks it’s something that’s hard to get
looks it’s something that’s hard to get used to until age advances and you
used to until age advances and you
used to until age advances and you really don’t give a rat’s ass anymore
really don’t give a rat’s ass anymore
really don’t give a rat’s ass anymore about what they think about your body
about what they think about your body
about what they think about your body parts and you move forward and also a
parts and you move forward and also a
parts and you move forward and also a partner to cooperatively together
partner to cooperatively together
partner to cooperatively together nasturtiums rarely alone and a lover
nasturtiums rarely alone and a lover
nasturtiums rarely alone and a lover fortunate to be a love fortunate to have
fortunate to be a love fortunate to have
fortunate to be a love fortunate to have had many lovers ok not so many lovers
had many lovers ok not so many lovers
had many lovers ok not so many lovers but a select few and a recipient of
but a select few and a recipient of
but a select few and a recipient of passionate love deep love caring love
passionate love deep love caring love
passionate love deep love caring love sensual love and also a practicing
sensual love and also a practicing
sensual love and also a practicing physician an obstetrician who is
physician an obstetrician who is
physician an obstetrician who is mentioned I’m over 20 years delivered
mentioned I’m over 20 years delivered
mentioned I’m over 20 years delivered 2200 or so babies somewhat north of that
2200 or so babies somewhat north of that
2200 or so babies somewhat north of that and during that process I became an
and during that process I became an
and during that process I became an meshed in the lives of the women I cared
meshed in the lives of the women I cared
meshed in the lives of the women I cared for I was part of their struggle to
for I was part of their struggle to
for I was part of their struggle to bring newborns into the world to
bring newborns into the world to
bring newborns into the world to struggle with them to feel that pain the
struggle with them to feel that pain the
struggle with them to feel that pain the empathy the low back pain the weeks of
empathy the low back pain the weeks of
empathy the low back pain the weeks of nausea I understood that I was there
nausea I understood that I was there
nausea I understood that I was there with them I was part of that experience
with them I was part of that experience
with them I was part of that experience for so many and the blood so much blood
for so many and the blood so much blood
for so many and the blood so much blood in pregnancy the blood volume increases
in pregnancy the blood volume increases
in pregnancy the blood volume increases by 40% to prepare for delivery but to
by 40% to prepare for delivery but to
by 40% to prepare for delivery but to see that blood without even a flinch and
see that blood without even a flinch and
see that blood without even a flinch and the amniotic fluid
sometimes soaked in it at the end of a
sometimes soaked in it at the end of a day my socks still wet when I went home
day my socks still wet when I went home
day my socks still wet when I went home and the dog looked at me sniffed my
and the dog looked at me sniffed my
and the dog looked at me sniffed my socks and just simply said knowing that
socks and just simply said knowing that
socks and just simply said knowing that life was with me and sometimes having to
life was with me and sometimes having to
life was with me and sometimes having to reach deep inside another woman’s body
reach deep inside another woman’s body
reach deep inside another woman’s body to find a small part a hand no a foot
to find a small part a hand no a foot
to find a small part a hand no a foot yes the second of a breech twin pulled
yes the second of a breech twin pulled
yes the second of a breech twin pulled down and out and brought into the world
down and out and brought into the world
down and out and brought into the world beautifully skillfully confidently to
beautifully skillfully confidently to
beautifully skillfully confidently to have been there for so many but also a
have been there for so many but also a
have been there for so many but also a parent clutching the hand of my little
parent clutching the hand of my little
parent clutching the hand of my little son and walking the beach making lunches
son and walking the beach making lunches
son and walking the beach making lunches for my gang as they came home after a
for my gang as they came home after a
for my gang as they came home after a full day of fun wiping noses seemingly
full day of fun wiping noses seemingly
full day of fun wiping noses seemingly constantly bottoms drool from the
constantly bottoms drool from the
constantly bottoms drool from the corners of a mouth tears from the eyes
corners of a mouth tears from the eyes
corners of a mouth tears from the eyes sometimes picking lice during a school
sometimes picking lice during a school
sometimes picking lice during a school effort at a school outbreak one year
effort at a school outbreak one year
effort at a school outbreak one year from the nits on their hairs their head
from the nits on their hairs their head
from the nits on their hairs their head and as all kids do they grow and as I
and as all kids do they grow and as I
and as all kids do they grow and as I introduce my kids slowly into the world
introduce my kids slowly into the world
introduce my kids slowly into the world is now confident young adults Andrea and
is now confident young adults Andrea and
is now confident young adults Andrea and Julia and Thomas now 21 years old and
Julia and Thomas now 21 years old and
Julia and Thomas now 21 years old and having done this all raising them with
having done this all raising them with
having done this all raising them with another woman I suppose would be
another woman I suppose would be
another woman I suppose would be considered unusual not that unusual
considered unusual not that unusual
considered unusual not that unusual anymore and but not the end of the story
anymore and but not the end of the story
anymore and but not the end of the story because the complexities are even deeper
because the complexities are even deeper
because the complexities are even deeper you see I was assigned male at Birth I
you see I was assigned male at Birth I
you see I was assigned male at Birth I was born with a penis and apparently a
was born with a penis and apparently a
was born with a penis and apparently a penis means you’re going to be dust and
penis means you’re going to be dust and
penis means you’re going to be dust and become a man someday
become a man someday
become a man someday or at least that’s what they told me and
or at least that’s what they told me and
or at least that’s what they told me and after all that’s what they tell you but
after all that’s what they tell you but
after all that’s what they tell you but as an obstetrician you realize that
as an obstetrician you realize that
as an obstetrician you realize that genitalia all comes from the same place
genitalia all comes from the same place
genitalia all comes from the same place we all come from the same soup the
we all come from the same soup the
we all come from the same soup the tissues are all the same we all start
tissues are all the same we all start
tissues are all the same we all start out female and in fact in embryology
out female and in fact in embryology
out female and in fact in embryology that process often isn’t complete at a
that process often isn’t complete at a
that process often isn’t complete at a surprising that surprisingly high rate a
surprising that surprisingly high rate a
surprising that surprisingly high rate a condition known as intersex where the
condition known as intersex where the
condition known as intersex where the genitalia even is represented by
genitalia even is represented by
genitalia even is represented by diversity but I took the cards I was
diversity but I took the cards I was
diversity but I took the cards I was dealt and I played with them quite a bit
dealt and I played with them quite a bit
dealt and I played with them quite a bit actually
and I was loved by my mother and my
and I was loved by my mother and my father and I really grew up in an
father and I really grew up in an
father and I really grew up in an idyllic environment in southern
idyllic environment in southern
idyllic environment in southern Wisconsin I was a tall thin kid but I
Wisconsin I was a tall thin kid but I
Wisconsin I was a tall thin kid but I had a lot of friends and a bicycle and a
had a lot of friends and a bicycle and a
had a lot of friends and a bicycle and a fishing pole and I pretty much went
fishing pole and I pretty much went
fishing pole and I pretty much went wherever I wanted there were no cell
wherever I wanted there were no cell
wherever I wanted there were no cell phones no curfews no restrictions and in
phones no curfews no restrictions and in
phones no curfews no restrictions and in small-town America we could go anywhere
small-town America we could go anywhere
small-town America we could go anywhere doors unlocked nothing but the freedom
doors unlocked nothing but the freedom
doors unlocked nothing but the freedom of our minds and the flow of the river
of our minds and the flow of the river
of our minds and the flow of the river and the depth of the lakes but that all
and the depth of the lakes but that all
and the depth of the lakes but that all changed when we our family moved in
changed when we our family moved in
changed when we our family moved in ninth grade my ninth grade from rural
ninth grade my ninth grade from rural
ninth grade my ninth grade from rural Wisconsin to suburban st. Louis and I
Wisconsin to suburban st. Louis and I
Wisconsin to suburban st. Louis and I assumed a new identity through no chosen
assumed a new identity through no chosen
assumed a new identity through no chosen of my own because I became at that time
of my own because I became at that time
of my own because I became at that time a bully victim and if you’ve never been
a bully victim and if you’ve never been
a bully victim and if you’ve never been the victim of bullying hmm you cannot
the victim of bullying hmm you cannot
the victim of bullying hmm you cannot imagine the shame the pain the fear
imagine the shame the pain the fear
imagine the shame the pain the fear knowing that you would have to walk a
knowing that you would have to walk a
knowing that you would have to walk a different route each day to school or
different route each day to school or
different route each day to school or each day to class the utter pain of
each day to class the utter pain of
each day to class the utter pain of being driven into the ground on a daily
being driven into the ground on a daily
being driven into the ground on a daily basis or your head into a locker glass
basis or your head into a locker glass
basis or your head into a locker glass is broken but spirit intact and I still
is broken but spirit intact and I still
is broken but spirit intact and I still remember the names of my bully victims
remember the names of my bully victims
remember the names of my bully victims I’m a bully I’m sorry my bullies Brian
I’m a bully I’m sorry my bullies Brian
I’m a bully I’m sorry my bullies Brian and Steve and Tim and I don’t hate them
and Steve and Tim and I don’t hate them
and Steve and Tim and I don’t hate them anymore
anymore
anymore or rather I really never hated them
or rather I really never hated them
or rather I really never hated them because they made me stronger and this
because they made me stronger and this
because they made me stronger and this too shall pass and time moves on and I
too shall pass and time moves on and I
too shall pass and time moves on and I didn’t perish as I found out later in a
didn’t perish as I found out later in a
didn’t perish as I found out later in a study in 2009 by the National Center for
study in 2009 by the National Center for
study in 2009 by the National Center for transgender equality that more than half
transgender equality that more than half
transgender equality that more than half of transgender bully victims at one
of transgender bully victims at one
of transgender bully victims at one point attempts
point attempts
point attempts side I did not perish I persevered
side I did not perish I persevered
side I did not perish I persevered through the love and strength of my
through the love and strength of my
through the love and strength of my family and through my own hard work and
family and through my own hard work and
family and through my own hard work and I attended the University of Wisconsin
I attended the University of Wisconsin
I attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where I excelled and the
in Madison where I excelled and the
in Madison where I excelled and the University of Minnesota Medical School
University of Minnesota Medical School
University of Minnesota Medical School where I was elected class and student
where I was elected class and student
where I was elected class and student body president and then the University
body president and then the University
body president and then the University of Washington where my fellow residents
of Washington where my fellow residents
of Washington where my fellow residents elected me chief resident and then
elected me chief resident and then
elected me chief resident and then teaching ward at the teaching award of
teaching ward at the teaching award of
teaching ward at the teaching award of the year but I was deeply unhappy in
the year but I was deeply unhappy in
the year but I was deeply unhappy in medicine somehow some were within my
medicine somehow some were within my
medicine somehow some were within my skull there was another person I did not
skull there was another person I did not
skull there was another person I did not I could not deal with those feelings but
I could not deal with those feelings but
I could not deal with those feelings but they would not go away I tried to outrun
they would not go away I tried to outrun
they would not go away I tried to outrun them I tried the person to be the person
them I tried the person to be the person
them I tried the person to be the person they said I was I even grew a beard I
they said I was I even grew a beard I
they said I was I even grew a beard I joined a bowling team I did the things
joined a bowling team I did the things
joined a bowling team I did the things men are supposed to do I play golf with
men are supposed to do I play golf with
men are supposed to do I play golf with the guys I shook hands like a man I walk
the guys I shook hands like a man I walk
the guys I shook hands like a man I walk like a man I talk like a man some
like a man I talk like a man some
like a man I talk like a man some thought I must have been in the Marines
thought I must have been in the Marines
thought I must have been in the Marines I was so good at it and I’m married to
I was so good at it and I’m married to
I was so good at it and I’m married to the same person you saw before who after
the same person you saw before who after
the same person you saw before who after all these years has stayed with me a
all these years has stayed with me a
all these years has stayed with me a partnership 28 years together no longer
partnership 28 years together no longer
partnership 28 years together no longer married in that sense legal yes but
married in that sense legal yes but
married in that sense legal yes but effectively no different lovers
effectively no different lovers
effectively no different lovers different lives but still partners as we
different lives but still partners as we
different lives but still partners as we will be forever but eventually things
will be forever but eventually things
will be forever but eventually things must change my soul was rotting and I
must change my soul was rotting and I
must change my soul was rotting and I needed to become the person who I was
needed to become the person who I was
needed to become the person who I was meant to be and so there comes a point
meant to be and so there comes a point
meant to be and so there comes a point of actualization where you simply have
of actualization where you simply have
of actualization where you simply have to do what you have to do and so in that
to do what you have to do and so in that
to do what you have to do and so in that short period of time while serving as
short period of time while serving as
short period of time while serving as department chairperson in at the largest
department chairperson in at the largest
department chairperson in at the largest hospital in Seattle
hospital in Seattle
hospital in Seattle mark became Marcy and so began a new
mark became Marcy and so began a new
mark became Marcy and so began a new change a new career a new identity and
change a new career a new identity and
change a new career a new identity and my practice thrived and I continued on
my practice thrived and I continued on
my practice thrived and I continued on until I met this man dr. Stanley diver
until I met this man dr. Stanley diver
until I met this man dr. Stanley diver who’s known as the father of sex change
who’s known as the father of sex change
who’s known as the father of sex change surgery in the United States and around
surgery in the United States and around
surgery in the United States and around the world and at one point had delivery
the world and at one point had delivery
the world and at one point had delivery had performed more than two-thirds of
had performed more than two-thirds of
had performed more than two-thirds of all the world’s sex change operations
all the world’s sex change operations
all the world’s sex change operations and dr. Biber working in a very small
and dr. Biber working in a very small
and dr. Biber working in a very small town in southern Colorado by the name of
town in southern Colorado by the name of
town in southern Colorado by the name of Trinidad once was on a show on the show
Trinidad once was on a show on the show
Trinidad once was on a show on the show Jeopardy and was the answer her I should
Jeopardy and was the answer her I should
Jeopardy and was the answer her I should say was the question – the answer what
say was the question – the answer what
say was the question – the answer what is the sex change capital – world and so
is the sex change capital – world and so
is the sex change capital – world and so dr. Biber instilled in me I thought a
dr. Biber instilled in me I thought a
dr. Biber instilled in me I thought a consideration that maybe I too would
consideration that maybe I too would
consideration that maybe I too would come and join and assume a new identity
come and join and assume a new identity
come and join and assume a new identity and that being transgender surgeon and
and that being transgender surgeon and
and that being transgender surgeon and so several years later I did I moved to
so several years later I did I moved to
so several years later I did I moved to Trinidad and since that time I’ve been
Trinidad and since that time I’ve been
Trinidad and since that time I’ve been changing boys and girls and girls into
changing boys and girls and girls into
changing boys and girls and girls into boys male parts and a girl parts penises
boys male parts and a girl parts penises
boys male parts and a girl parts penises into vaginas and vaginas and Volvo’s
into vaginas and vaginas and Volvo’s
into vaginas and vaginas and Volvo’s into penises and that’s what I do
into penises and that’s what I do
into penises and that’s what I do I literally deconstruct and reconstruct
I literally deconstruct and reconstruct
I literally deconstruct and reconstruct genitalia amazing and in so doing became
genitalia amazing and in so doing became
genitalia amazing and in so doing became a biven a bit of an icon myself a media
a biven a bit of an icon myself a media
a biven a bit of an icon myself a media sensation on numerous shows including
sensation on numerous shows including
sensation on numerous shows including even Oprah and when you make it to Oprah
even Oprah and when you make it to Oprah
even Oprah and when you make it to Oprah you know you’ve made it but also CBS
you know you’ve made it but also CBS
you know you’ve made it but also CBS Sunday morning and so many other
Sunday morning and so many other
Sunday morning and so many other programs I can’t even mention and Katie
programs I can’t even mention and Katie
programs I can’t even mention and Katie Couric is on my speed dial and came to
Couric is on my speed dial and came to
Couric is on my speed dial and came to our party last week in my honor in New
our party last week in my honor in New
our party last week in my honor in New York City and then I met another man in
York City and then I met another man in
York City and then I met another man in 2009 who further added complexity to the
2009 who further added complexity to the
2009 who further added complexity to the identity that I take this man Pierre
identity that I take this man Pierre
identity that I take this man Pierre foulness work with Mother Teresa Gaza
foulness work with Mother Teresa Gaza
foulness work with Mother Teresa Gaza victims victims of
victims victims of
victims victims of of war repairing obstetric all fistulas
of war repairing obstetric all fistulas
of war repairing obstetric all fistulas around the world and traumatic injuries
around the world and traumatic injuries
around the world and traumatic injuries as a result of shrapnel and IEDs PR fall
as a result of shrapnel and IEDs PR fall
as a result of shrapnel and IEDs PR fall diseases name and he practices in
diseases name and he practices in
diseases name and he practices in suburban Paris and so I worked with him
suburban Paris and so I worked with him
suburban Paris and so I worked with him in 2007 and 2009 to learn another aspect
in 2007 and 2009 to learn another aspect
in 2007 and 2009 to learn another aspect of my career building on the fact that I
of my career building on the fact that I
of my career building on the fact that I work with the genitalia is to help
work with the genitalia is to help
work with the genitalia is to help restore not just visual images of the
restore not just visual images of the
restore not just visual images of the clitoris
clitoris
clitoris but functional sensory restoration of
but functional sensory restoration of
but functional sensory restoration of the clitoris after a practice known as
the clitoris after a practice known as
the clitoris after a practice known as female genital mutilation and if you
female genital mutilation and if you
female genital mutilation and if you know what that is it is a profit is a
know what that is it is a profit is a
know what that is it is a profit is a ritual procedure done to young girls and
ritual procedure done to young girls and
ritual procedure done to young girls and women to control their sexuality leaving
women to control their sexuality leaving
women to control their sexuality leaving these women with little or no sexual
these women with little or no sexual
these women with little or no sexual feeling and beginning lives of misery as
feeling and beginning lives of misery as
feeling and beginning lives of misery as there’s simply unable to respond
there’s simply unable to respond
there’s simply unable to respond sexually sometimes with pain sometimes
sexually sometimes with pain sometimes
sexually sometimes with pain sometimes with severe pain sometimes with vulvas
with severe pain sometimes with vulvas
with severe pain sometimes with vulvas that are so sewn shut in their severes
that are so sewn shut in their severes
that are so sewn shut in their severes form that only men store fluid in a
form that only men store fluid in a
form that only men store fluid in a trickle of urine can drop through
trickle of urine can drop through
trickle of urine can drop through sometimes so severe that babies are
sometimes so severe that babies are
sometimes so severe that babies are obstructed in so the blade babies
obstructed in so the blade babies
obstructed in so the blade babies rupture the blat through the bladder or
rupture the blat through the bladder or
rupture the blat through the bladder or the rectum creating additional problems
the rectum creating additional problems
the rectum creating additional problems and then being ostracized because of
and then being ostracized because of
and then being ostracized because of Sanitation so it’s a cycle of misery
Sanitation so it’s a cycle of misery
Sanitation so it’s a cycle of misery that’s perpetuated on missed truths and
that’s perpetuated on missed truths and
that’s perpetuated on missed truths and lies but also with a cultural basis so
lies but also with a cultural basis so
lies but also with a cultural basis so very complex hopefully ending in our
very complex hopefully ending in our
very complex hopefully ending in our lifetimes but I began to work with dr.
lifetimes but I began to work with dr.
lifetimes but I began to work with dr. foulness and then in our clinic in San
foulness and then in our clinic in San
foulness and then in our clinic in San Francisco to help these women who came
Francisco to help these women who came
Francisco to help these women who came from all over the world westernized
from all over the world westernized
from all over the world westernized those who could come because we don’t
those who could come because we don’t
those who could come because we don’t charge for the surgery but the average
charge for the surgery but the average
charge for the surgery but the average income throughout much of Africa is less
income throughout much of Africa is less
income throughout much of Africa is less than $100 per year and so these women
than $100 per year and so these women
than $100 per year and so these women even if the surgery is done for free
even if the surgery is done for free
even if the surgery is done for free cannot afford to come to San Francisco
cannot afford to come to San Francisco
cannot afford to come to San Francisco and so we went to Africa and first we
and so we went to Africa and first we
and so we went to Africa and first we built a hospital in Burkina Faso we went
built a hospital in Burkina Faso we went
built a hospital in Burkina Faso we went there but we had troubles with al Qaeda
there but we had troubles with al Qaeda
there but we had troubles with al Qaeda who
who
who firebombed the hotel we were staying at
firebombed the hotel we were staying at
firebombed the hotel we were staying at a year ago and so we’re not we are not
a year ago and so we’re not we are not
a year ago and so we’re not we are not going back but later this year actually
going back but later this year actually
going back but later this year actually just three weeks away I’m going down to
just three weeks away I’m going down to
just three weeks away I’m going down to Kenya and I’ll be in Nairobi for two
Kenya and I’ll be in Nairobi for two
Kenya and I’ll be in Nairobi for two weeks where we have 57 women on queue
weeks where we have 57 women on queue
weeks where we have 57 women on queue who will be operated on over two weeks
who will be operated on over two weeks
who will be operated on over two weeks and I’ll be training for doctors in
and I’ll be training for doctors in
and I’ll be training for doctors in Africa and another one from Australia
Africa and another one from Australia
Africa and another one from Australia who’s coming to learn the procedures
who’s coming to learn the procedures
who’s coming to learn the procedures because 130 million women affected we
because 130 million women affected we
because 130 million women affected we cannot do all the surgeries I cannot do
cannot do all the surgeries I cannot do
cannot do all the surgeries I cannot do all the surgeries
all the surgeries
all the surgeries my plate is full but my life is enriched
my plate is full but my life is enriched
my plate is full but my life is enriched by this experience and I’m gifted to do
by this experience and I’m gifted to do
by this experience and I’m gifted to do what I do I’m amazed at the wonderful
what I do I’m amazed at the wonderful
what I do I’m amazed at the wonderful beauty around the world I’m part proud
beauty around the world I’m part proud
beauty around the world I’m part proud to be part of it and the most amazing
to be part of it and the most amazing
to be part of it and the most amazing thing about the stories that I hear from
thing about the stories that I hear from
thing about the stories that I hear from the women who come for surgery to have
the women who come for surgery to have
the women who come for surgery to have their clitoris restored instead of all
their clitoris restored instead of all
their clitoris restored instead of all the reasons given for having the surgery
the reasons given for having the surgery
the reasons given for having the surgery the one that strikes me and the one that
the one that strikes me and the one that
the one that strikes me and the one that they all say is that they feel that
they all say is that they feel that
they all say is that they feel that their identity was stolen by genital
their identity was stolen by genital
their identity was stolen by genital mutilation and that the goal of surgery
mutilation and that the goal of surgery
mutilation and that the goal of surgery for them is to restore their identity
for them is to restore their identity
for them is to restore their identity and so in my life with a transgender
and so in my life with a transgender
and so in my life with a transgender community and the life I lead with these
community and the life I lead with these
community and the life I lead with these women I offer the one thing that I think
women I offer the one thing that I think
women I offer the one thing that I think should all sustain us and that is hope
should all sustain us and that is hope
should all sustain us and that is hope thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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