With attention on Bruce Jenner, local transgender community hopes to educate others
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The transgender community in the Triangle is actively trying to raise awareness to encourage acceptance and to prevent discrimination, but it can be challenge.
One person shared their story with ABC11 in hopes of educating others.
Never judge a book by its cover.
They're words, Dr. Terri Phoenix, the director of UNC's LGBTQ Center, literally lives by.
"We tend to assume based on someone's appearance what gender they are and a lot of times that's correct," said Phoenix.
"But, it's not always correct. That's why we recommend people say, 'what gender pronoun do you use?'"
Behind the pronoun is a personal journey.
For Phoenix, who asked ABC11 to call him "T," it started as a little girl.
"As a child I kind of grew up as a tomboy. I wanted my hair short. In fact, I cut it myself when I was 3-years -old much to the chagrin of my grandparents," "T" recalled. "I always wanted to wear pants, not dresses. I was always rough and tumble, playing with the boys."
Six years ago, "T" made a life-changing decision to become trans masculine. "T" opted for top surgery, the removal of breasts followed by masculine chest enhancements.
"There are infinite ways to transition and every person's transition looks different, explained "T," adding that it can range from hormone therapy to surgery to a simple change in attire.
The transition doesn't come without challenge. Transgender people often experience years of discomfort, stress and isolation, according to experts.
"You've got the social ramifications of what are friends and family going to think? What are they going to say? If you're employed, you've got to think about how is this going to play out in my place of employment with my supervisors," said "T."
More than 120 respondents living in North Carolina shared their struggle in a rare national survey of transgender people conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality. Click here to ready the survey.
Among the participants in North Carolina, 77 percent said they've endured workplace harassment or mistreatment. Another 20 percent said they were denied a house or an apartment.
The use of public restrooms can also result in public backlash.
"It's not that trans people are confused about what bathroom they want to use. The problem is that when I enter into a bathroom, people are judging whether or not I have a right to be there. And that is very stressful every time," said "T," emphasizing that it can lead to threatening interactions with concerned citizens who sometimes call the police.
There are also other potential legal challenges. From changing the gender on a birth certificate or a driver's license, a trans-identified person must obtain a letter from their doctor. Without surgery, "T" says the medical community is sometimes reluctant to do that.
Since his surgery, "T" is now married with a daughter and working diligently to educate the public about the transgender community.
"Transition is about becoming comfortable in one's own body and becoming comfortable in how you navigate the world in that body," he added.
As for Bruce Jenner, "T" says Jenner's public persona as an Olympic athlete makes for a very public transition.
"I think it's marvelous whenever anyone gets to live into their full authentic self and that's how I see what's happening with Bruce Jenner. I can't imagine doing it with the world watching," said "T."
