By Rajindra Narinesingh
Two spirited people are what we are called by many of the Native American tribes. Many of the tribes at one time looked at transgender people as holy! During colonization in the 1870s and 80s the US government put pressure on the Indian nations to stop allowing the free expressions of two spirited people. However in 1886 transgender Native American, We Wha (from the Zuni Tribe), spent six months in Washington DC meeting President Grover-Cleveland and others who never realized the six-foot Indian woman was transexual. We Wha was an accomplished weaver and potter. She pased away in 1896 and was buried in a traditional Zuni’s women dress with a pair of pants underneath.
As you can see, this transgender thing is not a new phenomenon. We have been on the planet for a very long time. The very old Hindu statue of Ardhanariswara (pictured) is that of a woman with male genitalia, this provides us with more evidence that transgenderism has been around for a long time. We too have a history. The difference now is that trans people have access to medical technology that really enables us to alter our physical bodies to match how we feel on the inside.
Transexuality is a part of nature. Just as there are males and females born, there are also transgender people born. The fact that we are present in different nationalities around the world shows that transexuality isn’t the product of culture. It’s human nature. In India, we are known as “hisras” or ”eunuchs”. In Fiji, we are called “fa afafina” (which means – like a woman). And in Thailand – “lady-boys.”
A few years ago, one of my best friends from childhood went to Pattaya, Thailand. When Brian got back, he couldn’t wait to tell me about Thai transgender people. First, he said that the population of trans people there was large. He stated it seemed every third person he saw walking in the street was trans. He also told me many of the trans people held regular jobs in the society.
As of 2008, Muslim Clerics in Iran have been more supportive of transexuals. Iran carries out more sex change operations than any other nation in the world besides Thailand. The Iranian government provides up to half the cost for those needing financial assistance, and a sex change is recognized on the birth certificate.
Then there are places like Jamaica where being LGBT can be a matter of life and death. There has been a number of reports of violence and even murders against the LGBT community there. For many years, violence against gay people was even promoted in many of the reggae songs. The song “Boom Bye Bye,” by reggae singer Buju Banton, was one of the most popular ones. The lyrics talked about shooting gay men in the head. There have also been recent reports of LGBT executions throughout Africa. Uganda even recently passed an Anti-Gay law, stating that homosexuality is illegal and if enacted, would mean being gay would be punishable by death or life imprisonment.
So as I look at different cultures around the world both then and now, it really is Trans Relative! I guess we trans Americans could be dealing with worse situations. As trans Americans, we have come a long way. Thanks to the many trans sisters and brothers that have come before us. On November 19 at the Sunshine Cathedral at 6 p.m., the Transgender Day of Remembrance Service will be held. It’s a great opportunity for us to honor the lives of transgender people that have passed away and have helped us to get to where we are today.
We as a community are making great strides and reaching bigger turning points. President Obama appointed the first transgender person, Amanda Simpson, to the Commerce Department at the White House and Chaz Bono’s stint on “Dancing With The Stars” really took us into mainstream America. These are major steps for our community!
For more information on transgender history, check out “Transgender Warrior” by Leslie Feinberg.
