Two Sides Of The Same Coin. The Struggle Of Old World Blues.

Topics concerning transgender can be very overwhelming for some. When one thinks of the term transgender, one may think of the process of an individual identifying as the opposite sex. The opposite sex of what he or she was born as. For some, this may involve undergoing surgical procedures or taken hormonal medications to fulfill their desire. However, when thinking of this process, one automatically thinks of transgender adults. This is rarely a topic that one would assume would be racing through the minds of young children, but in fact it is. More children today than ever, are either speaking out about their identity concerns, or displaying it in their lives. In fact, according to Date Line NBC, “The handful of American doctors who specialize

Due to the fact that the narrator could not actually know what the piano player is thinking, the reader can say that the narrator is actually describing his own actions after hearing the musician sing. Based on the lack of emotion given from the narrator and the blending of the narrator and the musician’s actions at the end of the poem, the speaker, has a common voice with the piano player, both of whom are

People who identify as transgender need visibility in society so people can get educated on the matter and they can get what they need.

Transgender individuals are often treated extremely poorly by society, classmates, and family members. It is important that social workers are there to bridge the gap between doctors, children and family. In the documentary we are introduced to John who wants to transition from female to male, but has to face his father who is conflicted and unsupportive of the transition. We see the tearfulness and heartache in John’s eyes as his father cannot yet accept that his new name is John and not Giana. As a Social worker it is critical to understand both sides of the spectrum, from working with the child but also being able to understand the family and the more emotional concerns they have regarding the significant transition.

To understand the part played by the blues in American society, we need to consider what psychological imprints the blacks inherited from the years of slavery as well as what cultural and artistic forms existed during those times. The spirituals, plantation songs, work songs, banjo music, fiddle tunes and dances. All these elements were present, and to understand how and why the blues emerged at the end of the nineteenth century, we must first look at the society of

We should show and be proud of who we are because we only have one life to live and we shouldn’t waste it by hiding it behind a big wall of fake. I take part in my school's GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) club which was made by a fellow band member who found out that they were transgender. This particular person has been a role model for me because they didn’t hide who they were. He made that change for him, not anyone else. Even if his family didn’t like it, he still made that choice to be who he is. He surrounded himself with people who accepted him and is living the life he was dealt.

I believe these people deserve a positive life, where they do not have to feel afraid. From reading accounts of transgender people and their experiences, I also believe being trans is more than just an identity. It is the way one feels deep down that makes them want to make the transition, as gender dysphoria can become painful to deal with. Gender dysphoria is a mental illness that causes extreme stress upon a person due to the identity they were assigned to at birth. It doesn’t sound like much, but to the person it

In a lot of places around the world more and more people are coming out as “Transgender.” The term transgender means that the person’s gender identity does not correspond with the gender they were assigned as having at birth. From personally having a transgender boyfriend I have since realized that these people experience a lot of discrimination in and from society. Many people simply just do not understand what the term transgender means and they see it as someone just “wants to be a man” or “wants to be a woman.” While there may be people who present it this way, it is more so that the individual just “feels” different, and “feels” as if they are “in the wrong body.” Some people experience this feeling at a young age as my boyfriend did in his elementary age. We live in a world who put these people down for being who they truly are, and no human being wants or needs that.

Scholars have been critical of the medical establishment’s and state’s involvement in constructing and policing of transgender identity. These kinds of pressing issues have occupied the small existing literature. There is not much information and studying what is being done on transgender in traditional areas, family studies research, such as their dating behavior and formation of intimate relationships in adulthood. There is little research on the issues around being parents, their children’s experiences with having transgendered parents, as well as relationships in the family as a whole, and relationships in work and school.

When music enthusiasts or even music novices such as myself think of the blues, thoughts of hardship, adversity, and regret rush to mind. An individual loses his or her job, they get the blues. A close relative passes away, you feel the blues. Indeed, blues music is all too often associated with trials and tribulations. Yet, the blues itself seemingly encompasses much more than simply a sense of misery and unhappiness. Rather, the blues more so embodies overcoming hardship, moving past adversity, hoping for a better tomorrow, and invoking a sense of genuine emotion. In fact, As Elijah Wald states in “The Blues: A Very Short Introduction,” the blues should be thought of in emotional, musical, cultural, or even commercial terms (Wald, 7). To me, however, the blues is a passionate medium of expression, feeling and message that addresses subjects on race and class. Love, emotion, and sexuality were subjects that blues artists commonly decided to incorporate into lyrics. Yet, what was the true motivation behind this transcendent line of music?

Can we blame the decline of the blues on our Prozac mentality? Remember when Neil Diamond gave us permission, “You and me are subject to the blues now and then.” I want my blues. How am I ever going to know when I am feeling good if I’m never sad or blue?

This article is for all my communities* out there. I love you! You deserve love! You are worthy of love. Your existence is resistance.

Jason found himself driving the streets of Bloomington. He’d taken Third Street just to get away from the house. After a few blocks and turns, he found himself driving away from the university on Kirkwood. Passing “Nick’s” he remembered all the fun he’d had there watching basketball games and drinking beer. It was the main college hangout and had been for decades. If he’d have known somebody there, he’d have probably gone inside. That would change when he started classes next semester.

Many LGTBTQ people struggle with identity when they are young. Some tell their parents how they really feel and others choose to “stay in the closet”. Either way, the transition for most people is not easy. The panel leaders at the discussion expressed their different journeys of when they “came out” and how family and friends reacted. One of the panel leaders said that when she told her parents that she was gay, they immediately did not want to talk about it. Some other panel leaders said that their parents blew up about it at first and now they have become more accepting. Some of the common phrases that most friends and family members have told them were “it is just a phase”, “you have not been with the right man yet”, and “you are going to hell”. Most of the panel leaders said that when they “came out” it put a strain on their family relationships. The transgender woman said that she has not been to any Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings because of the rejection she has felt from her family. She also does not really speak to her dad anymore. Another panel leader, who is a lesbian, said that her mom has met her girlfriend but is still not that accepting of her lifestyle. She said her mom’s biggest question is “Are you going to marry a woman?’. She also does not like to be around her extended family because they always “throw bible scriptures at her”. One thing I found interesting was that all the panelists had in common was that they all have had issues with their family acceptance of who they are, but they feel like they have found a home within the LGBTQ community here at Mississippi State. This is important because Mississippi State embraces diversity. Even though there is still more work to be done to increase diversity and inclusion, many people still can find an organization they can identify with and grow as a person in their own beliefs and

The problem with transgender rights is that they are not treated as basic human rights. The main cause of this problem is that some people look at it as "not in the norm" or "out of the ordinary" and as a result, transgender people are either out casted, bullied, beaten, killed or denied certain rights. A human male wanting to transition into a human female and vice versa should not make them less than exactly what they are, a human-being. A possible solution would be for people to take the time to research and educate or interact with more transgender people and learn something about their decision instead of going into the problem blind with the assumption that all transgender people are not normal.