The T in LGBT was discussed last night with the Pride Week panel TRANSlations in Baker Center Theatre.
About 17 people attended the hour and a half panel discussion about being transgender. The program began with a short lecture from Ohio University doctoral student A.J. Predisik, who defined terms that could apply to transgender people.
Predisik explained that there is a difference between sex and gender, as sex is the physical traits a person is born with and gender is a societal construction of masculinity and femininity.
(Some) people feel like those two things don't correlate
Predisik said.
He also talked about people transitioning to the opposite gender and passing, or living in society as their new gender. Predisik talked about his own experiences with hormone replacement therapy and passing.
I avoided making the switch (to the men's restroom) for a long time Predisik said. I then avoided using bathrooms my professors and colleagues were in. It was a lot of anxiety until one day
I was about to go in (the men's restroom) and a guy held the door open for me. I realized I didn't have anything to worry about.
Pride Week continues today with returning keynote speaker, Robyn Ochs, in Anderson Auditorium in Scripps Hall and tomorrow with the Return of PrideZilla Drag Show in the Bromley Dining Hall.
On Friday, OU students will participate in the National Day of Silence, sponsored by SHADES and Hip Hop Congress.
This is the fourth year in a row that OU has recognized a day for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies to take a vow of silence to raise awareness of people who are silenced because of their sexuality, said Micah Brown, president of SHADES.
The Day of Silence is a 24-hour movement and recognition to acknowledge the pain
suffering
sacrifices and the struggles
and even could be a form of celebration for LGBT people
Brown said.
The Day of Silence will end at 8 p.m. with a vigil in Nelson Commons.
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