Wed, 11 November 2009 I'm having a dilemma with regard to the name of this podcast. I don't know how long it has been going on, but there's a bit of a debate going on about the word "tranny." As you know (because I've mentioned it on at least two episodes), this word currently carries a significantly negative connotation. Some trans people, I for one, are trying to reclaim this word, using it as an identity marker and allowing those we trust to use it in reference to us with an affectionate connotation. Some trans women are of the opinion that trans men are unable to reclaim this word because we had no claim to it in the first place; that the word is only used against trans women, and therefore trans women have the power to say whether it is worth reclaiming or not, and any trans men using it are not reclaiming but misappropriating it and perpetuating transmisogyny. I disagree with this position inasmuch as I, as a trans man, have been called a tranny as a slur, and other trans men of my acquaintance have as well. This is not a trans woman's problem alone. However, with the notable exceptions of Kate Bornstein who says "tranny" was originally used by Australian drag queens as a term of solidarity and the performers in the Tranny Roadshow, many trans women seem to want nothing to do with this word ever again, and see no use in it being reclaimed by anyone. Tobi Hill-Meyer says on her blog, "When trans women are told that they are politically ignorant when they object to trans men 'reclaiming' a derogatory term that has been used specifically against trans women and not against trans men, that’s transmisogyny." The first part of this is very important. When trans women object to the use of "tranny," often times by trans men but not always, a common response is an explanation of what reclamation is, which suggests that trans women aren't politically savvy enough to know that already, and that as soon as that little matter is cleared up there's no reason to object to the word being used. My friend Trannysaurus originally turned me on to this issue in his post about it a few months ago, in which he responded to a post by Cedar questioning the "tranny" reclamation project. I'm not going to repeat all of it as it stands better on its own, and has more links for further reading. Since then I've been considering my own use of the term more closely. And, considering as I've told listeners in at least two episodes that "tranny" is a slur and in general shouldn't be used, I thought I should address the matter here. I'm going to resort to an imperfect analogy for this part of my analysis. I don't think I would have been comfortable calling my podcast "Ask a Queer." I identify my sexuality as queer, I study queer theory, I speak of the queer community, and I frequently ponder how the concept "queer" is congruent to other concepts such as "kink"; reclaiming "queer" as a word is a project I actively engage in and find worthy. But to use queer as a noun that stands in for a particular person? I just can't do it. After spending more time with Doombat this year, I've become more accustomed to using "queers" as a collective noun because ze tends to use it that way. But I say "I'm queer," not "I'm a queer." The second one just feels wrong. I think it would be equally difficult for me to reference a work that used the word "queer" in such a way. And don't even get me started on "fag" and its variants; I can't say it out loud without stumbling, and even typing it felt uncomfortable; "dyke," while more comfortable than "fag," probably because I tend to hang out with lesbians more often than gay men, I still avoid using. If I were trying to promote a creative project that I thought had good content but had a name that I thought was offensive, oppressive, ignorant, inciting, or just made me uncomfortable, even if the name were something I could technically lay claim to as an in-group member, I'd have a hard time of it. And even if I weren't trying to promote it to others but just listen to/watch/read/experience it, I might not even be able to get past the title to the content. Kynn suggests that using language like this can create an echo chamber, where only the people who can get behind its use for whatever reason will take part in the experience, and those who object to it tend to self-select out of the experience or may be deliberately shut out when they voice their concern. Together with the political naïveté construction, this gets polarized fast and is easily perpetuated, leaving even more trans women solidly out of the so-called progressive movement than already were due to other transmisogynistic rhetoric from feminists and lesbians and womyn-born-womyn-only spaces over the decades. Kynn also raises the point, who are we talking to when we use this word in public communication? Leaving aside the question of what communication these days isn't public for now, this is an important point. We have to consider the audience: who will see the use of the word and what reaction will they have?
The only response I can make to that is that the word's not going to get any better if we don't use it in positive ways, a point that Trannysaurus makes. But I have to in turn respond to that by saying, using a word in positive ways usually doesn't make it hurt any less when it's used negatively. For people who are not in-group to me, casual uses of "tranny" to refer to anyone who hasn't specifically cleared it will still raise alarm bells, despite my own liberal use of it in my own circles to refer to myself. And as queenemily says, "the word 'tranny' gets used with alarming regularity in the media, and I’m not sure it actually registers that it is a slur. It’s always so jolly, like it’s a whimsical, fun term that cis people can throw around with abandon. Always with the implication that trans people are laughably pathetic. Because my identity, our history, of itself is a joke." Trying to reclaim this word in public spaces may not subvert this connotation at all to many audiences, and even reinforce it. I think reclaiming "tranny" is a useful project, and one is definitely possible on a personal basis. As a performance piece, I can't say. I've been studying deconstruction a lot this semester, and we've read several plays/performance pieces that make me intensely uncomfortable because of their subject matter, and don't make a whole lot of sense until I read the background material and analysis; I can't say that these pieces are useless or counterproductive just because they have that effect on me. (And I think there are other issues surrounding the site of performance pieces that feed into/run parallel to common criticisms of drag shows, but that's another topic for another time.) But with this podcast in particular (and the Q & A event that Kynn criticizes), I don't think my work is functioning as a performance piece, but instead as an educational project. And I'm not sure I can continue to attempt to do education work under the banner of this word that is so divisive to my community. Bonus facts that didn't seem to fit in the post proper: With safe-search turned off, Google returns some 14 million hits for "tranny," overwhelmingly dominated by porn. Safe-search returns 8 million; the hits that aren't actually referencing automobile parts feature the words of such popular and hilarious figures as Perez Hilton and Christian Siriano. This website is now the top hit for "ask a tranny," both with quotes and without. I realize this is a long piece and I hope it wasn't too dense; I tried to avoid jargon but I think some slipped in. I haven't decided for sure whether I will change the name, but I have a few alternatives in mind and I will give everyone fair warning for feed updating if I do decide to change it. Thoughts? I'd love to hear listeners' feedback on this matter. Category: general -- posted at: 12:59 PM Comments[6] |
Sun, 8 November 2009  00:00 Opening 01:04 Introduction to the episode 01:19 Tip 1: Staring 02:00 Tip 2: Avoidance 02:21 Tip 3: Pronouns* 03:46 Tip 3a: Honorifics 05:00 Tip 4: Questions 08:20 Tip 5: Terminology 10:05 Tip 5a: Epithets 12:27 Tip 6: Outing 13:08 Tip 7: Education and Respect 14:34 Upcoming episodes & contact information Leave me a voicemail! Click "Call Me" in sidebar 15:36 Closing16:04 *Note: Apparently I mixed up the "Generic Singular Pronouns" episode with the "Split Infinitives" episode. Grammar Girl actually says that using singular "they" is a controversial choice; but it is one I am prepared to defend. Links mentioned: Grammar Girl: Generic Singular Pronouns Grammar Girl: Yo as a Pronoun Grammar Gril: Who Versus That “The word "tranny" is not cute, it's not hip and ironic, it's not okay at all unless it's being reclaimed by a transperson. (I'm not even going to touch "shemale"/"it"/"chicks with dicks," because realizing how grossly offensive those terms are isn't Trans 101, it's Remedial Not Being an Asshole.)” —Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi Email: ask.a.tranny@gmail.com Twitter: DDog Podcast blog: http://askatranny.libsyn.com/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License Comments[1] |
Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00 Opening 01:38 Introduction to the episode 01:58 Upcoming events: Balticon (Baltimore) May 22-24 04:48 Question: Does clothing matter? [Anonymous] Drum & Splash (Four Quarters Farm, Artemas, PA) July 1-5 Artscape (Baltimore) July 17-19 Baltimore Erotic Arts Festival(?) (Baltimore) Dragon*Con(?) (Atlanta) September 3-6 12:12 Upcoming episodes & contact information 13:49 Closing 14:20 Promo for "Nina Kimberly the Merciless" by Christiana Ellis 16:07 Links mentioned: Balticon Four Quarters Farm Artscape Baltimore Erotic Arts Festival Dragon*Con Nina Kimberly the Merciless Podcasters mentioned: Christiana Ellis, Chris Lester, John Cmar, Earl Newton, George Hrab, Heather Welliver, Grailwolf, JC Hutchins, JR Blackwell, Jared Axelrod, Kimi Alexandre, MAinPA, Mur Lafferty, Nobilis Reed*, PC Haring, PG Holyfield, Paul Fischer, Paulette Jaxton, Phil Rossi, Philippa Ballantine, Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit, Scott Sigler, Soccergirl, Steve Eley, Tee Morris *adult content Email: ask.a.tranny@gmail.com Twitter: DDog Podcast blog: http://askatranny.libsyn.com/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License Comments[0] |
Sun, 15 February 2009 Continuation of Episode #2: Definitions, Part 1.00:00 Opening 01:05 Introduction to the episode 02:10 Definition: sex 05:53 Definition: gender 08:40 Definition: intersex 11:20 Definition: transgender 13:00 Some comments about language 15:46 Contact information 17:25 Closing Email: ask.a.tranny@gmail.com Twitter: DDog Podcast blog: http://askatranny.libsyn.com/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License Comments[1] |
Thu, 20 November 2008 November 20th is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Today, we remember those who have been murdered or committed suicide because of anti-trans bias, prejudice, and hatred. This is a special episode. I was planning to put up the next official episode, Definitions Part 2, next week when I have some time off from school. But I needed to put this one up today. I didn't script it, I didn't write notes for it, I didn't even drop in my intro and outro. One take, no editing. Gender is not playing today. Gender is weeping for the fallen. Comments[1] |
Tue, 14 October 2008 00:00 Opening 01:05 Question: Where does the name DDog come from? [Nobilis] 03:32 Introduction to definitions 04:46 Definition: tranny 08:58 Definition: queer 11:25 Definition: pansexual 13:31 Definition: genderqueer 14:32 Question: What does a genderqueer person wear swimming? [Nobilis] 15:32 Definition: androgynous 16:45 Upcoming episodes 17:30 Contact information 18:25 Closing Links mentioned: Playing for Keeps Metamor City Raven Kaldera's TransPersonal column Email: ask.a.tranny@gmail.com Twitter: DDog Podcast blog: http://askatranny.libsyn.com/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License Comments[4] |
Mon, 8 September 2008 A list of the podcasts I subscribe to (and attempt to watch or listen to regularly), in alphabetical order. I will update this post whenever I subscribe to any new podcasts. "Adult" podcasts are marked with a *; these are the ones whose hosts routinely recommend that their listeners be over the age of eighteen because they talk about sex. Fiction podcasts are marked with a ^. Some of these also carry a "mature themes" warning for things like violence, sex, and cynicism, either for the whole podcast or certain stories, so be aware if you are checking them out. Antithesis, Book 1: Predestination and Other Games of Chance^ A Prairie Home Companion's News from Lake Wobegon Barats and Bereta The Billibub Baddings Podcast^ Chasing the Bard^ ClonePod^ Comedy Central: Live at Gotham Crescent^ deo's Shadow Diary of a Shameless Self-Promoter Erotica a la Carte^* Escape Pod^ Firefly Talk GenderTalk Get-It-Done Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More Guardians^ Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing Heaven^ I Should Be Writing Jonathan Coulton: Thing a Week Jujun^* Kemet This Week Kinky Sex Radio* KinkyCast* Knitwitch's SciFi/Fantasy Zone Podcast Leather Leadership Conference* Leather Radio Network* Legal Lad's Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Lawful Life Life As A Comic Videoblog Make-It-Green Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for an Earth-Friendly Life The Metamor City Podcast^ Midwest Teen Sex Show* Modern Manners Guy Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life Morevi: Remastered^ Mur Lafferty Presents: The Takeover^ The Drabblecast^ Nawashi^* Nobilis Erotica^* NPR: Sunday Puzzle Podcast NPR: Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Podcast Playing for Keeps^ PodcastJunky PodCastle^ Polyamory Weekly* PRI: Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? Pseudopod^ Radio Zero-One The Ropecast* Science Pilots | PBS Sex is Fun* The Signal SteamPod^ Stranger Things TV^ Subknit* The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy Tale Chasing They Might Be Giants Friday Night Family Podcast They Might Be Giants Podcast TheyNow.com Show This American Life Video: Wisecrack Weaver's Web^ WFUV's Take Five Podcast Whispers at the Edge Wild Chronicles Digital Shorts 3Worlds - The Shamanism Podcast The 7th Son Trilogy Experience Legacy Feed^ Category: links -- posted at: 4:45 PM Comments[0] |
Tue, 26 August 2008 00:00 Opening 01:05 Introduction to the host 02:17 Introduction to the podcast 05:40 Thoughts on formatting 10:03 Contact information Links mentioned: GenderTalk Radio (no current shows, extensive archive) Polyamory Weekly Kinky Sex Radio (no current shows) NPR Podcasts Email: ask.a.tranny@gmail.com Twitter: DDog This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License Comments[0] |
Tue, 26 August 2008 This is the first promo for the Ask a Tranny podcast! Please distribute as you see fit; I would really appreciate it. (Please let me know if there are any problems with it.) Comments[0] |
Tue, 26 August 2008 Websites Scarleteen.com Comprehensive resource for young adult sex education. I recommend their article "Genderpalooza! A Sex & Gender Primer." TransYouth.com Wide-ranging resources for trans youth and the people who care about them, including many informational PDFs. American Psychological Association Responsible for many publications and studies about the human psychological spectrum. They have a decent Q&A page about gender identity. Raven Kaldera's Activist Writings Kaldera has several essays about transgender issues and transsexuality. Some of them are about sex. Transgender Warrior The website of Leslie Feinberg, a longtime sex and gender liberationist. Kate Bornstein A prolific author and activist for the transgender community. Transgender Law and Policy Institute A non-profit organization to help represent transgender interests in legal and political matters. Lots of information about current legislation and litigation. Books (links lead to Google books, which may or may not have previews) My Gender Workbook, by Kate Bornstein If you are questioning any of your assumptions about gender, or if you think you should be, this is the book for you. Text and helpful exercises. I recommend doing the exercises on separate paper and redoing them periodically to see how your relationship with your gender changes with experience. Transgender Warriors, by Leslie Feinberg Stories of historical and contemporary gender transgressors of all kinds. Just Add Hormones, by Matt Kailey One transman's account of his journey through therapeutic, hormonal, surgical, and social transition. Transforming Families, by Mary Boenke Stories written and told by the parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, children, and friends of transgender people. True Selves, by Mildred L Brown and Chloe Ann Rounsley Helpful book for understanding some of the things that transgender people can go through. Transsexual Workers, by Janis Walworth A book designed to help employers better understand and accommodate their transgender employees and increase awareness of transgender issues in the workplace. People Your family. Consider giving them one of the books above such as Transforming Families or True Selves to give them some background for the conversation if they are not as familiar with transgender topics. Your primary care doctor. If you have questions about gender or sexuality, your regular doctor may be able to help you or refer you to a specialist. Your therapist. If you seeing a therapist or other mental health care professional, a healthy understanding of your gender identity and sexuality is essential to your mental health and well-being. If you are considering transition, you will also need to see several specialists and your therapist may be able to give you a referral. Your school counselor. If you are a teenager and are uncomfortable speaking to your parents, your school counselor may be able to help you. Many adolescents, teens, and young adults have questions about gender and sexuality, and your school counselor should be equipped to listen to you and possibly recommend resources. Local gay/straight alliance or other queer support group. Many colleges and high schools have these organizations, some even with websites, offices, and a full- or part-time adult advisor or facilitator. Check out what resources you have in your community. Category: resources -- posted at: 11:22 AM Comments[0] |
