The Misunderstandings in Being Trans

GABRIEL SOLANO, Featured Writer

The LGBTQA lunch discussion on Wed., Oct. 15 with Rachel Simon was structured around the experience of being transsexual and all of the things that come with it. Two trans individuals from the State University of New York (SUNY), Purchase, came as special guests, and shared their feelings and lifestyles.

The individuals, KT and Beau, both consider themselves to be a part of the trans community, but expressed differences in how they identify personally.

“I’m non-binary, so I don’t classify myself as male or female,” KT said.

The term non-binary in the queer community refers to an individual who rejects a dualistic gender system and the implications that come with it.

Beau shared a similar distaste for gender norms, stating that she is open to dating either gender because the person inside counts more.

Both KT and Beau have taken up masculine personalities, leaning more to the male side. They both prefer to wear male clothes, and they take pride when people consider them to be men; yet KT and Beau don’t like being referred to as he, she, him, and her.

“I don’t do gender, it doesn’t matter to me,” Beau said.

For people like KT and Beau, categorizing or labeling others is not an option.

“Everyone is different. Know yourself and what makes you comfortable,” Beau said.

Beau and KT wanted everyone to know that the choice of how people want to be viewed and called is entirely up to them.

“Find a community; make a family of your own, so you always have support,” KT said.