Hattest du deswegen Probleme in der Schule/ auf Arbeit?

Did you have Problems at school or at work because of it?

 Not yet.

 

 

Ist die Gesellschaft deiner Meinung nach genügend über das Thema informiert?

What is your opinion about society? Do they know enough about trans*?

I am an optimistic, so I believe it is getting better. However, when I tell people I am trans*, most have questions about it. They’re confused and wonder what genitals I might or might not have, and often mistake gender identity with sexuality.

 

Fühlst du dich von deinen sozialen Umfeld akzeptiert?

Do you feel accepted by your social environment?

Being a foreigner and establishing my social environment from scratch when I arrived here allowed me to “choose” the people I keep contact with. So everyone is accepting and caring about my identity.

 

 

Fühlst du dich allgemein von der Gesellschaft akzeptiert?

Do you feel accepted by the society?

I was born in Brazil, the country with the highest number of trans* folks murdered due to transphobia. I feel a lot safer in Germany, but not necessarily accepted or validated. Most forms I fill show only “male” and “female” options for gender. All correspondence from companies and government address me by a gender I do not identify with. Products are classified as women’s or men’s products. And there are no toilets suitable for non-binary folks.

 

 

Welche positivem Erfahrungen hast du gemacht?

What positive experiences have you had?

Finally feeling good about myself, how I look and who I am. Seeing important people in my life making daily efforts to address me in gender neutral language. Receiving an email of the coordinator of the research center I work at saying something like “I changed your name in our page, and I have seen your preferred pronouns in your email signature, please let me know if there’s any way to further support you”. And afterwards having in all forms of this research center with the non-binary option for gender, without me having to request it.

 


 

 

Gab es auch negative? Wenn ja Welche?
Are there negative ones too? If so which?

When meeting potential partners, being told I am something I am not, just because of the genitals I have. And not being able to      come out to most of my (conservative) family.

 

 

Wo siehst du Probleme beim Umgang mit der Thematik?

Where do you see problems dealing with the topic?

There are many intolerant people who are openly transphobes, but there are even more people who do not recognize transphobia in their acts/speech - and even deny it when they are pointed out.

 

 

Was muss deiner Meinung nach noch getan werden?

What else do you think needs to be done?

So much I can’t even make a list…

 

 

Denkst du die Gesellschaft hat sich der Thematik betreffend schon geändert oder ist bereits im Wandel?

Do you think society has already changed or is already changing?

I think it will be always a work in progress. Even if/when we reach a point in society that is what we wish now, more change will be needed for things we don’t know yet.

 

 

Wie stellst du dir die Zukunft vor?

How do you imagine the future?

As I said, I am optimistic. The newer generations have more access to information about gender and
sexuality diversity. Queerphobes will always exist, but the average person will be more likely to accept
us rather than being intolerant.

 

 

Welche Tipps hast du für andere trans* Personen?

What tips do you have for other trans * people?

Surround yourself with people who care about you and who respect your identity. Having a support group will help you go through bad experiences and give you strength to fight for our rights.

 

 

Was wünscht du dir von anderen Personen? Wie können diese trans* Menschen unterstützen?

What do you want from other people? How can they support trans* people

Everyone should have their pronouns in their social media/mailing signatures. We should make it a habit to always ask people their pronouns and how to address them. And it would be great if allies could help us educating people, because it is exhausting sometimes. And, of course, electing a government who is aware of trans* existence and who could help changing society in a more efficient way.