The Search for Happiness

Rev Jennifer Dalton discarded her original topic to talk about the timely subject of Transgender persons and those in transition. Sometimes, in a world that has been comfortable with people being ‘he’ or ’she’ with variations in orientation, the dilemma of what pronoun to use for a transitioning person might elicit giggles. That, of course is not a humane way to react, and if the person involved is your friend or relative (or yourself), it is very hurtful.

There have always been individuals who are not the “standard” male or female. It seems there were some cultures that recognized (and respected) as many as eight sexual orientations.  We are gradually beginning to recognize L. and G. (sometimes Q). Transgender is a recent development, thanks to modern medicine. Once a person has completed the physical changes, they are recognizably their new chosen gender. But those still in the process, taking hormones, anticipating surgery, are socially in an awkward situation. As are those who choose not to have surgery, but to live not identifying as either gender.

Rev Dalton, who has some experience with some in this situation, advises that if you are not sure what pronoun a person wants to be used, the best thing is to ask. This timely discussion was extremely interesting; it would be nice if, in some ideal future, this list of designations would not be used, or needed, as all would be recognized as ‘H’ for human.

[source: Geraldine Barker]