Our America with Lisa Ling - Transgender Support Group Meeting - Oprah Winfrey Network

[TheMetallicSharpie]

These are beautiful human beings. I feel for them, but I feel even stronger for the people who cannot see that.

[MultiMicelle]

what ever a man thinkith of himself, so shall he be.... the mind is a very powerful thing.

[TT1478]

.......it is not an easy lifestyle and this isn't a choice for a lot of us. even when i was younger in St. Croix, going to school, i've always been picked on (even now) because i've always been feminine. my mother would buy me boy toys and i would end up giving them girly names, and she would get mad. even the neighborhood kids would pick on my, and my mother would tell them off, and would tell me to stand up for myself and tell them that i'm not a girl. anyway, enough about me.......

[ffinfinity1]

People have to ask themselves that what makes a straight person straight? They are born that way just like a homosexual person is born homosexual.

[Dayna4133]

Most of those are confused cross dressers..you can tell by the clothing, the wigs,the voices..They want a 24/7 pass to wear women's clothes and most have wives or end up with women and say they are a 'Lesbian" trapped in a man's body" they always say when I'm "DRESSED" or when I 'DRESS",straight up CD's and that's fine but do not put yourself in the same category as a transgender woman..They are CD"s gone TOO far~! I only saw one that could pass as a woman,

[MsChrisXena]

@Dayna4133 The degree of "passability" is not a good indicator of whether or not a person is truly transgender (or more accurately "transsexual") or not, being an internal identity issue. By luck, transition timing/support a trans-woman can end up appearing more gender congruent with their identified gender than others.

Now it may be easier to "switch over" in one's life due to having better natural attributes or access to hormones and surgery, but isn't a deciding "real" factor.

[blaxicat2005]

wow that is so sad and so touching!!! :'( what a hard life that must be like...:'( truely a compelling story...truly a compelling story...:'(

[Chibiicap]

If you are transgendered... and looking at the comments, stop now. Youtube comments on most transgendered videos are filled with almost nothing but hate. Try not to read the comments cause they can cause a lot of pain

[HereMason]

that so interesting 

[JenniferQuan09876543]

this is such a compelling story

[Corporis]

@shark0ify lol

[unotelly]

Would male to female live a happier/easier life if she receives treatment before puberty? She would look more like a girl and less people will suspect.

[ruthixoxo]

@unotelly Either way, you still have people who can tell... You may pass one way, but if you tell even a best friend... some people have been killed for telling their best friend who they are. It's heartwrenching. My biological dad is a female and at first, I was very bigoted. The more I have friends who are trans* I understand more... It's no more a choice than me identifying with the body I was born in.

[hotwaiter]

I think the "who would CHOOSE to be made fun of and harassed?" argument is really weak. Being transgendered or gay is NOT about looking for opportunities to get beat up or made fun of. That is the ignorance of OTHER people, and it has nothing to do with gay people or transgendered people - it has everything to do with peoples' stupidity and hatred and ignorance. People are transgendered or gay because that's just how they are...and that's it.

[atlasshrugged2u]

@Miikaika25 I never thought about it like that?...but I'd have to agree, especially with the ones that are married. If I was the wife I couldn't deal with something like that because you want to "have your cake and eat it too" but I know situations are more complicated then this little piece of the documentary...I just feel bad for people like this, it's gotta be hard as hell to feel so strongly about something that happens to be in total opposition of the norm.

[atlasshrugged2u]

I used to believe it was a choice, I had been taught that all my life.

When I got older however I realized or should I say "common sense" taught me that it definitely was not a choice just by talking to people like this. I recently discovered a distant relative that felt this way and was this way every since he was a little boy; now she's an adult and simply being who she is. I mean that's all she can be?...and she is the most honest person Iv'e ever met. Most people just can't handle that :(

[brooke1154]

0:20 she makes them sound like aliens :(

[specsCsims]

If ANYONE ever says that THIS or homosexuality is a choice, they are ignorant. Simple as that. WHO in their right mind would CHOOSE to be made fun of, harassed, abused, ridiculed and even murdered. No one would.

[NF3C7ED]

@specsCsims

Being gay is not a choice, BUT IT IS A CHOICE TO SHOW IT.

[Corporis]

@specsCsims It is a choice, anyone who says other wise is silly.

[leedaomillz]

@specsCsims It is a choice, not necessarily a bad one but it is a choice.

[mongnasusu]

I don't feel confortable of the argue that being a transgender is not a choice. what does this arguement imply? that if it isn't a choice is should be tolerated, but if it is a choice it should just not be chosen? what if it is a choice that is ok to choose, Lisa?

[JamesMorlan]

@mongnasusu It's not an argument - it's a simple truth: It's not a choice.

[mongnasusu]

@JamesMorlan I do meet people how choose to become a transgender and have explore a whole new world of pleasure. I guess what i was trying to say was, even if being a transgender is a choice, it is still OK to choose. I'm not implying that it is a choice for everybody, i do get your point though...

[JamesMorlan]

@mongnasusu Perhaps someone can choose to behave AS IF they are transgendered, but it would take a lot of convincing to get me to believe that anyone actually chooses to BE transgendered. People choose to live contrary to who they really are all the time (e.g. the homosexual trying to live a heterosexual life, etc.), and how one chooses to live their lives is their business. But I know of no one who chooses who they genuinely are.

[mynameisaraw]

@mongnasusu if you ask any transgenderd person "if you could stay in your biolgical body and be happy would you do it?" most or all would say. yes. its a horribly difficult life to live.

[mongnasusu]

@mynameisaraw I agree with you , but an ideal free society in my eyes should be the one in which people feel free to express themselves as who they are, no matter they were born or chose to be that way. that is why i do not like the argue that being a trasgender is not a choice, because that argue can only win sympathy and tolerance. we don't need sympathy. we don't need tolerance. we need a society that is equal and full of unconditional love.

[mynameisaraw]

@mongnasusu thats true, but its also not a choice in any way, whether people like it are not its a choice, but that doesnt need to be a reason for tolerance, hell my friends know im trans and dont "tolerate" me but they love me as who i am, im in highschool and havent even started anywhere close to transitioning, i havent show any of them how i look in my girl mode because of nervousness, and they are EXTREMELY enthusiastic about when i become a girl... frighteningly enthusiastic XD

[TheSnowyice]

@mynameisaraw Yeah it's not like we're doing it for fun or "just because." Who in there right mind would ever choose this for themselves? It's amazing that some people think we do this for no reason, when in actuality we are extreemely uncomforatable with what we were assigned at birth (Which isn't always our physical anatomy so much as just our original gender role.) If an adverage person could live even for a day as one of us by the end of it only then could they understand the horrible agony.

[Weissistmeine]

@mynameisaraw yeah thats true when i told my sister she cried saying she loved me. She as well as me are afriad of what my family escepially she dad will do. Her exact words were " Oh god you will have a difficult life and i cant protect you but i will love and support you always.' So yeah i like your comment

[mynameisaraw]

@Weissistmeine i've already come out to my mom, i didnt get a HORRIBLE reaction (it was like 2 years ago i think) right now she is for the most part against it, but after presuring her for an answer to the question "if i end up being happy will you accept me" i got a reluctant "yes" she is a bit of a pain. just whatever you do, before you tell them don't over think it, i did thinking she could kick me out or disown me, ect. but don't get your hopes up either, 90% of the time their reaction...

[Weissistmeine]

@mynameisaraw Sorry i had no idea people replied to my comment so i haven't wrote back. Thank you i have come out to my parents my mom at first completely denied it and forced me to be a girl but eventually she accepted me its still hard but not bad. I told my father about a month ago he was like i always knew but in a cold tone. However about an hour later he said i accept you just stay in your studies. I cried. I can't talk about it too my parent but at least i have my brother and sister.

[mynameisaraw]

@Weissistmeine Sorry to hear that your parents aren't being accepting right now. But yeah it is a good thing you have your brother and sister. Just stay strong. I'm sure things will get better eventually :)

[Weissistmeine]

@mynameisaraw Thank you

[mynameisaraw]

@Weissistmeine will be somewhere in the middle, and even if it is a bit on the worse side, they will normally get more accepting as time goes by. its unlikely that they have experienced this in any form besides random media so if they are a bit offensive at first (accidentily) give them a break, it will take a long time for them to learn. Just know that you have your sister, the whole transgendered (And most of the rest of the LGBT) community, and i bet even your friends supporting you ;)

[sherrybabybaby]

These are great people who only want to live their life as they choose.