Are you a man? Or a woman? Or something else? Who gets to decide what you are? You? Your doctor? Your therapist? The government?
In my short story “In Between”, Martina Glover is in the process of transitioning from male to female. But she’s not a girly-girl. She identifies as a butch lesbian. This leads to problems with her therapist who has strict standards about who should be allowed to get sex reassignment surgery and who shouldn’t. What’s a girl to do?
I want to thank Mila and Jayna Pavlin of the Trans-Ponder podcast for discussing the issues of self-determination and the control of the medical community over trans-identified individuals.
I hope you enjoy the story. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes. And please, leave me feedback!
Wow, great short story. I wanted to smack both the first doctor and Gia. In order to be a real woman you have to be a girly one? What a stupid thought. And Gia- what a selfish person!
You really did a good job on characterisation.
Oh I gave you aa blogger award on my blog.
Thanks, Rissa! Sadly, there are still medical and psychological professionals who cling to such outmoded ideas. I’m hoping my stories (while fiction) will illustrate these inequities and promote change!