Arizona Daily Star: “What’s a ‘ze’ to do? A transgender approach”

Stephanie Innes pens her second story about the IFGE conference:

What’s a ‘ze’ to do?
A transgender approach

By Stephanie Innes
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

For some people, “he” and “she” are limiting terms.

While many of the transgender people at last week’s “Transgender 2008″ conference in Tucson were transsexuals who strongly believe that at one time they were a woman trapped in a man’s body or vice versa, others said the distinction is less clear.

Some say “man” or “woman” doesn’t describe who they are. A few prefer gender-neutral pronouns, like “ze” for he and she, and “hir” (pronounced “here”) for his and her. Others refer to themselves in written form as s/he to denote both their male and female sides.

Post-genderism or moving beyond the gender binary was a common theme during the conference, particularly among many younger transgender people who are more at ease than some of their older counterparts with calling themselves gender blenders, gender queer or nonconforming.

KUAT TV: “Tucson considered an accepting community”

Here is the KUAT video on IFGE 2008, featuring interviews with Jamison Green, IFGE 2008 plenary speaker and workshop presenter, and Erin Russ, SAGA member and IFGE 2008 conference coordinator:

There’s a cameo by Tucson’s LGBT-friendly, Republican (!) mayor Bob Walkup, and if you look carefully you can even spot quick shots of attendees. We spotted Amanda Simpson — did you?

Tucsonans, set your VCRs!

(Do people still have VCRs anymore?)

Tonight at 6:30 p.m. on Tucson’s channel 6, IFGE will be featured by Arizona Public Media’s Arizona Illustrated. The camera crew was out today and did interviews. Thank you, KUAT!

Arizona Daily Star: “Transgender forum here Tuesday”

Originally published on March 30, 2008, by the Arizona Daily Star.

Transgender forum here Tuesday

Region viewed as accepting of gender variance

By Stephanie Innes
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

The word “transgender” does not appear in the Bible. Save a few references to women in masculine clothing and vice versa, it’s hard to know whether Scripture says anything at all about people who change their sexual identity.

Interpreting the Bible as it relates to gender-variant people is one of 80 workshops that will take place this week during an international conference in Tucson, titled “Transgender 2008,” which begins Tuesday.

About 350 people are expected to attend the conference, an annual event sponsored by the Massachusetts-based International Foundation for Gender Education. The event is in its 22nd year, and this its first time in Arizona.

Among items on the conference schedule are a golf tournament, a gala, a poetry reading, music and a new theater performance titled “TransFormations.”

Workshops will cover a gamut of transgender issues, ranging from hormone therapy and post-op blues to transgender Internet dating. The event will culminate Saturday with a public forum about why Tucson is considered a “trans-friendly” place to live.