TransCampus Series underway at local community college
By: Nicole Lashomb/TRT Editor-in-Chief
TransCampus, a poignant transgender educational series is underway at Holyoke Community College in an attempt to create a safe, inclusive campus climate, regardless of gender identity or expression, according to the TransCampus founder at HCC.
“TransCampus began at HCC with a discussion on whether or not, as a campus, we were meeting the needs of trans staff and students,” said T-Petti, Founder, TransCampus Series and Community Resource Liaison for the Massachusetts Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program., Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, Mass. . “We quickly realized that there was a gap in our knowledge about Trans identity and community issues, campus policies that affect Trans people, and the presence of Trans staff and students at HCC. What started as a casual conversation between colleagues quickly brought key players to the table for more meaningful and in depth discussions of transgender issues. From those discussions, a TransCampus committee was formed and we began to put the outline I proposed for a TransCampus series into action.”
According to T-Petti, transgender issues are similar and dissimilar to the needs of the widespread LGBT community. In a recent article written by Petti submitted to The Republican, published on February 13, TransCampus will provide an introduction to transgender terminology and models of gender identity, explore the effects of Transphobia, and highlight the ways in which various facets of identity, such as race, class, and gender, intersect to form our opinions and shape society.
“When Trans identity is not represented within our social, cultural, and institutional systems, it creates barriers to personal, economic, and academic success,” said Petti. “It limits access to healthcare, education, social services and community resources meaning that until Trans identity becomes fully recognized and visible; Trans people will continue to be marginalized within our society.”
Since TransCampus’ commencement, support has been displayed by the student community and the general population at large.
“The largest audience at a campus wide event was approximately 55—about 40 of which were students,” said Petti.
To Kathleen Keough, Senior Academic Counselor and TransCampus Committee Member, HCC, TransCampus has made a significant impact.
“My awareness of transgender issues has increased as well as learning Trans terminology, strategies for how to be an ally, transgender Etiquette and ways in which our campus can become more trans-inclusive,” said Keough. “Most importantly, the transgendered students I have met and become acquainted with have taught me so much about what I often take for granted around gender normative privilege. My assumptions, myths and stereotypes have been stretched and continue to be stretched.”
Participants in TransCampus seminars have taken away a broader sense of understanding of the issues that affect the Trans community at large.
“I learned that the trans experience is very diverse, that the trans community is finding its voice, that language is flexible, that most of the trans information we get in the general world is flawed, and that oppression is oppression, however it's manifest,” said Vivian Ostrowski, Student Activities Coordinator and attendee of TransCampus, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Mass. ”Too often people are marginalized due to identity, because people fear what they don't know. Honest communication, good information and willing spirits can shape a more inclusive world.”
According to Petti, work exists far beyond educating others in order to create a truly inclusive society.
“Education lies dormant without the action to follow,” said Petti. “Therefore, while increased awareness and education on transgender issues are necessary, we must also recognize the need to move beyond a mere intellectual understanding. As individuals and communities, it is crucial that we advocate ways in which our social circles and defining institutions can become more safe and inclusive for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. This requires an assessment of our personal views, cultural values, and institutional policies and procedures that affect transgender people.”
For more information about TransCampus, to attend their next session, to schedule an LGBTQ training for your organization, or to attend or participate at the upcoming Justice Slam on April 16th, please contact T- Petti, at 413-552-2511 or tpetti@hcc.mass.edu.
Highlights from trans 101
One of the most important messages of Trans 101 is to recognize each individual’s right to self identify and recognize the distinction between sexual orientation on gender identity.
• A Transsexual woman (MTF), for example, may present and identify very strongly as female but may or may not choose or desire to medically transition through hormone replacement therapy or SRS (sex reassignment surgery).
• A genderqueer youth may identify as neither male or female, both, or somewhere in between. They may choose to present exclusively as one gender, vary their presentation, or present androgynously. May identify as FTX for example—born female, and now identifies as neither or both genders
• Because sexual orientation and gender identity are distinct transgender people, like anyone else, may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, pansexual, or asexual.
• A transgender man (FTM) may engage in relationships with other transgender or even biological men and identify as a gay male.
• Another transgender or transsexual man may refuse the FTM label, reasoning that even though he may have been born with a vagina, he has always been male and therefore identifies as MTM.
• Other terms that fall under the trans umbrella are two-spirit—a native American term for someone who embodies the masculine and the feminine or adopts the gender roles of the opposite biological sex , gender variant, cross dressers, drag kings/queens, and persons who are intersex—born with genitalia or reproductive organs that are not considered medically “standard” .It is important to note that people in some of these categories may NOT choose to identify as trans, but could fall under the trans umbrella IF they choose to do so.
*Information provided by T-Petti, HCC
By: Nicole Lashomb/TRT Editor-in-Chief
TransCampus, a poignant transgender educational series is underway at Holyoke Community College in an attempt to create a safe, inclusive campus climate, regardless of gender identity or expression, according to the TransCampus founder at HCC.
“TransCampus began at HCC with a discussion on whether or not, as a campus, we were meeting the needs of trans staff and students,” said T-Petti, Founder, TransCampus Series and Community Resource Liaison for the Massachusetts Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program., Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, Mass. . “We quickly realized that there was a gap in our knowledge about Trans identity and community issues, campus policies that affect Trans people, and the presence of Trans staff and students at HCC. What started as a casual conversation between colleagues quickly brought key players to the table for more meaningful and in depth discussions of transgender issues. From those discussions, a TransCampus committee was formed and we began to put the outline I proposed for a TransCampus series into action.”
According to T-Petti, transgender issues are similar and dissimilar to the needs of the widespread LGBT community. In a recent article written by Petti submitted to The Republican, published on February 13, TransCampus will provide an introduction to transgender terminology and models of gender identity, explore the effects of Transphobia, and highlight the ways in which various facets of identity, such as race, class, and gender, intersect to form our opinions and shape society.
“When Trans identity is not represented within our social, cultural, and institutional systems, it creates barriers to personal, economic, and academic success,” said Petti. “It limits access to healthcare, education, social services and community resources meaning that until Trans identity becomes fully recognized and visible; Trans people will continue to be marginalized within our society.”
Since TransCampus’ commencement, support has been displayed by the student community and the general population at large.
“The largest audience at a campus wide event was approximately 55—about 40 of which were students,” said Petti.
To Kathleen Keough, Senior Academic Counselor and TransCampus Committee Member, HCC, TransCampus has made a significant impact.
“My awareness of transgender issues has increased as well as learning Trans terminology, strategies for how to be an ally, transgender Etiquette and ways in which our campus can become more trans-inclusive,” said Keough. “Most importantly, the transgendered students I have met and become acquainted with have taught me so much about what I often take for granted around gender normative privilege. My assumptions, myths and stereotypes have been stretched and continue to be stretched.”
Participants in TransCampus seminars have taken away a broader sense of understanding of the issues that affect the Trans community at large.
“I learned that the trans experience is very diverse, that the trans community is finding its voice, that language is flexible, that most of the trans information we get in the general world is flawed, and that oppression is oppression, however it's manifest,” said Vivian Ostrowski, Student Activities Coordinator and attendee of TransCampus, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke Mass. ”Too often people are marginalized due to identity, because people fear what they don't know. Honest communication, good information and willing spirits can shape a more inclusive world.”
According to Petti, work exists far beyond educating others in order to create a truly inclusive society.
“Education lies dormant without the action to follow,” said Petti. “Therefore, while increased awareness and education on transgender issues are necessary, we must also recognize the need to move beyond a mere intellectual understanding. As individuals and communities, it is crucial that we advocate ways in which our social circles and defining institutions can become more safe and inclusive for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. This requires an assessment of our personal views, cultural values, and institutional policies and procedures that affect transgender people.”
For more information about TransCampus, to attend their next session, to schedule an LGBTQ training for your organization, or to attend or participate at the upcoming Justice Slam on April 16th, please contact T- Petti, at 413-552-2511 or tpetti@hcc.mass.edu.
Highlights from trans 101
One of the most important messages of Trans 101 is to recognize each individual’s right to self identify and recognize the distinction between sexual orientation on gender identity.
• A Transsexual woman (MTF), for example, may present and identify very strongly as female but may or may not choose or desire to medically transition through hormone replacement therapy or SRS (sex reassignment surgery).
• A genderqueer youth may identify as neither male or female, both, or somewhere in between. They may choose to present exclusively as one gender, vary their presentation, or present androgynously. May identify as FTX for example—born female, and now identifies as neither or both genders
• Because sexual orientation and gender identity are distinct transgender people, like anyone else, may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, pansexual, or asexual.
• A transgender man (FTM) may engage in relationships with other transgender or even biological men and identify as a gay male.
• Another transgender or transsexual man may refuse the FTM label, reasoning that even though he may have been born with a vagina, he has always been male and therefore identifies as MTM.
• Other terms that fall under the trans umbrella are two-spirit—a native American term for someone who embodies the masculine and the feminine or adopts the gender roles of the opposite biological sex , gender variant, cross dressers, drag kings/queens, and persons who are intersex—born with genitalia or reproductive organs that are not considered medically “standard” .It is important to note that people in some of these categories may NOT choose to identify as trans, but could fall under the trans umbrella IF they choose to do so.
*Information provided by T-Petti, HCC
