"Yeah, baby, yeah"

[beandelphiki]

So my teachers for summer school have exchanged places. Ms. Wright is off having her vacation somewhere, and heinous bitch-lady Ms. DeBoni has taken over, much to our dismay.

The first day she checked with me, to see if I am indeed "Dan" (Ms. Wright left her a note: "Call Danielle Dan"), but this did not deter her from referring to me as a "she." Our first "assignment" was to send an email to her with our WebCT emails (whoo hoo), so I began by explaining that my birth name is Danielle, but I'm getting it changed because it confuses people. (Hey, it worked the last time.) She read over my shoulder as I typed it, which annoyed the heck out of me, but I figured she might get the message faster that way. No such luck.

Our second assignment was to send email to two other classmates, and she read that over my shoulder, too. Then she told the rest of the class what I had said in my email. (Which struck me as so rude, I couldn't believe it.) And it was "she" this and "she" that. I thought I might cry. I slumped over my keyboard with a big bang and glared furiously up into the brim of my hat. A few students sitting around me gave me sympathetic looks.


I started thinking about how the last two weeks have gone. I bind every day, just like I have for the past two years. I go by Dan. I dress like a guy. Often, I even get read as a guy. I now use MEN'S WASHROOMS. As much as it is possible to publicly be a guy without surgery, I am a guy.

So why should I let this woman undermine that?

Yes, why should I? Why should I flinch down in my seat, defeated and afraid to look at anyone - a scared rabbit? Why should I say to myself what I've been saying for so long: "Oh, well, I didn't pass today. Maybe tomorrow."

No, I decided. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. I don't have to take this anymore. I don't give two flying fucks if this woman thinks my name automatically makes me a girl. I don't care if someone on the street decides I'm too "girly." It's not their business, but I don't have to lie down and let them take away from me my identity.

So I composed an email to the teacher, and posted on the message boards. Essentially, I said this:

There has been a large misunderstanding here that I would like to clear up.

I. am. not. a. she.

I was born with a hormone disorder [close enough to the truth] and this is why I have a higher voice and less facial hair than other guys my age. I assume this is why there has been confusion. That's okay, but I just wanted to make sure everyone understood that I am MALE.

Thanks.

-Dan

I don't think everyone has seen it yet, but my teacher emailed me back and apologized.

I feel..affirmed.

Comments

[groovycat.livejournal.com]

the second part of that post made me happy. you rock.