FOX News: Transgender girl drops class after 200 protest for and against her.

originally posted by: Domo1
a reply to: EKron

I'm not terribly PC most of the time but I didn't want to start discussing that I'm fairly convinced this person is ful of it. I'm about 98% sure this whole thing is attention whoring, but at the same time that doesn't really change the story as it relates to a situation where the person is legitimate.

I hear what you're saying about Lila, but I think there should be a distinction made between a girls bathroom with private stalls and a open locker room or shower facility. Jade has already told the story of the one person that objected to her using the girls bathroom and how that was resolved but I can guarantee you she would have never put herself in a position like a locker room where undressing or disrobing was required.

ETA: A few pages or so back, I posted some of my own feelings about using the boy's bathroom in high school.

originally posted by: Grambler
a reply to: kaylaluv

I wondered if there were specific threats made. I didn't see that. Do you have a link where she mentions these?

Someone mentioned that she said she received threats on social media.

But, idk, if that had been me I so would have taken screen shots of those and sent them to all relevant media covering the story.

So, again, all we have is Lila's word. And without knowing much about Lila, that's not worth a lot. I do not want to rush to judgement or jump to conclusions without knowing more but to me the media covering this story really have been irresponsible.

They had no intention of doing anything else but creating a sensation.

I haven't looked but has anyone followed up on this story to see if there is anything more in terms of information? i.e.: interviews with school administrators, lila's parents or family, lila's therapist (or even if she has one), what kind of family she comes from (she mentioned she didn't know transgender existed, how? no TV, internet?)

There is an information gap here and I am afraid that lila's presentation has hurt her. As I said to someone else in another thread: presentation matters.

Every girl and woman knows that.

Every transgender girl knows that acutely and takes great care to conceal their difference.

Lila somehow did not know that or did not care.

Either of which is a red flag to me. The latter even more so than the former.

If that is the case, then these boys should be punished.

They should be. If it happened. Again, where are the screenshots? Where are the interviews with school administrators?

The point remains though that the general argument being made was that trans people would not be safe in male facilities. This stereotyping works both ways though, and shouldn't non trans women be allowed to make the same claims?

You are correct however transgender people are more likely to be the victims of violence from both males and females than the perpetrators of it. - Source: FBI

Of course Hollywood has mislead a great many people to believe the reverse

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Grambler
a reply to: kaylaluv

I wondered if there were specific threats made. I didn't see that. Do you have a link where she mentions these?

I haven't looked but has anyone followed up on this story to see if there is anything more in terms of information?

Yes. I have found nothing yet.

I looked up the area. It appears to be a low population, rural type town located in the middle of the state.

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: Rabb420
i for one think this kid is a fraud.

The Transgenders discussing in this thread have questioned that as well.

I want to believe Lila. I give anyone who says they are transgender the benefit of the doubt unless there are red flags. Unfortunately Lila has raised several red flags which hurt her and we have nothing from her supporters or neutral parties to remove them.

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Grambler
a reply to: kaylaluv

I wondered if there were specific threats made. I didn't see that. Do you have a link where she mentions these?

I haven't looked but has anyone followed up on this story to see if there is anything more in terms of information?

Yes. I have found nothing yet.

I looked up the area. It appears to be a low population, rural type town located in the middle of the state.

What is the nearest LGBT organization to her? I would assume if she is legit they may have heard her story and become involved?

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Grambler
a reply to: kaylaluv

I wondered if there were specific threats made. I didn't see that. Do you have a link where she mentions these?

I haven't looked but has anyone followed up on this story to see if there is anything more in terms of information?

Yes. I have found nothing yet.

I looked up the area. It appears to be a low population, rural type town located in the middle of the state.

What is the nearest LGBT organization to her? I would assume if she is legit they may have heard her story and got involved?

Don't know yet. There was a rally Friday.

Still no real details.

Parents gathered outside of a school board meeting Thursday night to pray. They feel that 17-year-old Lila Perry, a transgender Hillsboro High School student, should not be allowed to use the women's locker and rest rooms. www.ksdk.com...

HILLSBORO, MO (KTVI) - The conflict between a transgender student in Hillsboro and other students in her school continues. Both supporters of Lila Perry and critics gathered to express their views at a city park. Neither side appears willing to concede. The event called, #LiftingUpLila was hosted by the Missouri Gay-Straight Alliance Network. With this rally, organizers hope to bridge the gap between those who oppose and support her, and educate people on what it means to be transgender. The event wasn't focused on restrooms at all. "I hope people are educated more, and have a better understanding of what transsexuality is, and I hope they realize that this isn`t an attention stunt." said Lila Perry. About 100 supporters showed up, holding rainbow umbrellas and signs with phrases like, "Trans lives matter." Police were on hand in case relations between both points of view escalated. There was some verbal back and forth, and some tried to prevent us from interviewing the other side. Overall, the rally stayed peaceful. fox2now.com...

originally posted by: Rabb420
a reply to: Deaf Alien

i don't want this to in anyway be construed as anti trans or anything but i think this kid is just trying to cash in. i mean he compares his struggle to that of black people in the civil rights era and that's just BS. they are 2 completely different things.and like i said in a previous comment the only action he seems to have taken to be what he feels he is is to throw on a wig and a skirt he doesn't even bother to do anything about his organ that is blatantly visible through his skirt and that's just the one red flag to me. i don't want to seem like im dwelling on his visible member but i haven't seen anyone else discuss that.

I'm not sure how much of the thread you've read but this has actually been discussed.

i actually know a couple trans people and they make sure to ahem "tuck it back" lol.

I agree, as do all of the people of trans experience who have commented on this thread. That is a red flag to us too.

but as i said i think this kid is just trying to cash in on this current trend (not saying its a phase the country is going through but couldn't think of a better way to word it).

god only knows why if that's the case.

Is this kid an attention seeker? are they looking for sympathy because they are gay and in a small town and since being gay is not a big deal anymore he is pretending to be transgender?

Or is she really a transgender girl who went about this awkwardly (which wouldn't be surprising at that age) and this is a cry for help in a place with little if any resources?

again, we don't know.

and then we have the fact that all the kids in this situation is a minor and honestly if one of those girls was my daughter i wouldn't want her to be put in situation that makes her uncomfortable.

The problem of course is that, this issue aside: High school is supposed to prepare kids for the real world and your daughter may very well be in uncomfortable situations having nothing to do with this issue. Not to mention that for many kids (including most transgender kids) high school itself is an "uncomfortable situation."

No one is assured comfort in life but no one should be forced to be uncomfortable due to someone who has raised red flags as to their honesty.

he should accept the private facilities provided to him for the time being until he graduates or turns 18 and more is done about his situation

While I agree that s/he should accept the private facilities provided, I think that should only be the case until the the majority of the girls who are concerned are ok with her and it is the responsibility of the school administrators to educate them about transgender people and develop a clear policy for situations like this from this point forward based on the recommendations in this document: Model School District Policy Regarding Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students - California Safe Schools Coalition

( i understand that his own private changing room singles him out but why cant he understand that the other girls are uncomfortable with him changing in the same room as them because i don't think he would be discreet about his member around them anyway.

Education goes both ways. Lila should be pulled aside and given guidelines regarding her presentation and perhaps the school could liaison with a transgender organization or something to help here. If she is really trans she is in a small town and obviously has no one in her family who has helped her in that area.

That said, the preferred solution as recommended by psychologists, child development specialists and many school districts is not to remove a transgender student from the facilities of the gender they are living as but rather to help all parties become comfortable with their presence in them.

another issue that stacks with this is the fact that he is still attracted to women( i could be wrong)

Where did you see that? We do not know that and in any case it is irrelevant as there are likely already lesbian girls using the same facilities.

if that's the case then he should be definitely using the private facilities( and no i don't think the same goes for homosexual people)

Why, they are far more numerous than transgender people and there aren't separate facilities for them.

but it stands that this is an issue involving minors and they are doing the best they can to alleviate the situation and make everyone as comfortable as possible in the time being.

They have done a very poor job and all parties media, protestors, school administrators and Lila herself should feel ashamed of themselves.

a reply to: Annee

Great work, Annee!

This whole support rally thing really bugs the crap out of me and it probably shouldn't. Whatever the case, Lila is all new at this, whatever "this" is and now all these people supporting her will only add pressure on her to be something she may not turn out to be.

People also know I'm particular about the use of the word transsexual as used in your quoted story although I probably shouldn't be. If the transgender community is now going to start using this word again as somehow being more legitimate because that is the term still used in science and research when referring to those that have completed SRS or are on a short track toward it, I'm not going to be happy about it. I know, it's a personal thing but geez, let's confuse and obfuscate the issues more than they already are.

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Grambler
a reply to: kaylaluv

I wondered if there were specific threats made. I didn't see that. Do you have a link where she mentions these?

I haven't looked but has anyone followed up on this story to see if there is anything more in terms of information?

Yes. I have found nothing yet.

I looked up the area. It appears to be a low population, rural type town located in the middle of the state.

What is the nearest LGBT organization to her? I would assume if she is legit they may have heard her story and got involved?

Don't know yet. There was a rally Friday.

Still no real details.

Parents gathered outside of a school board meeting Thursday night to pray. They feel that 17-year-old Lila Perry, a transgender Hillsboro High School student, should not be allowed to use the women's locker and rest rooms. www.ksdk.com...

HILLSBORO, MO (KTVI) - The conflict between a transgender student in Hillsboro and other students in her school continues. Both supporters of Lila Perry and critics gathered to express their views at a city park. Neither side appears willing to concede. The event called, #LiftingUpLila was hosted by the Missouri Gay-Straight Alliance Network. With this rally, organizers hope to bridge the gap between those who oppose and support her, and educate people on what it means to be transgender. The event wasn't focused on restrooms at all. "I hope people are educated more, and have a better understanding of what transsexuality is, and I hope they realize that this isn`t an attention stunt." said Lila Perry. About 100 supporters showed up, holding rainbow umbrellas and signs with phrases like, "Trans lives matter." Police were on hand in case relations between both points of view escalated. There was some verbal back and forth, and some tried to prevent us from interviewing the other side. Overall, the rally stayed peaceful. fox2now.com...

So someone should contact the Missouri Gay-Straight Alliance Network and ask if they have done due diligence with regards to Lila.

They should be asked:

1) Is Lila under receiving medical care in support of her transition? This is a big deal. It's one thing for her to say she is transsexual but the proof of that would be if she has taken steps towards hormone therapy or at least blocking testosterone production.

2) Is Lila seeing a therapist? If so, for how long? And what have they said regarding Lila?

3) Has the organization reached out to school administrators to assist them? If so what was their reaction?

originally posted by: EKron
a reply to: Annee

Great work, Annee!

This whole support rally thing really bugs the crap out of me and it probably shouldn't. Whatever the case, Lila is all new at this, whatever "this" is and now all these people supporting her will only add pressure on her to be something she may not turn out to be.

Actually, me too.

It's difficult to really know what's going on. She says her school and administrators have been supportive. Schools fighting a whole community is not new.

There does not seem to be a local LGBT support group. Only state and national.

I just hope for the best.

a reply to: JadeStar

Lifting up Lila.

www.facebook.com...

originally posted by: EKron
a reply to: Annee

Great work, Annee!

This whole support rally thing really bugs the crap out of me and it probably shouldn't.

Why?

I'd be more bugged/concerned if there wasn't one tbh. If the people in support of her are other students then I would like to hear why they support Lila. Obviously they go to school with her. What can they say about her character? Fox News should be asking them questions. Also, what about the school? Fox should be asking "What kind of student is Lila?" "Is she a good student?" "Attention seeker?"

And since a lot of people seem concerned about a potential for violence the school would know a) If Lila has any history of violence and b) If Lila has been the target of violence.

If it is mostly just adults who are rallying for her then that would bug me too.

But if no one supported her then we'd all have a lot more reason to be concerned.

Whatever the case, Lila is all new at this, whatever "this" is and now all these people supporting her will only add pressure on her to be something she may not turn out to be.

I agree. At that age it would be very easy for her to do that because they might be the only support she's received. She's in a small town with no resources.

I'm starting to think that if she is trans then this was a cry for help. A REALLY poorly thought out one but in this case it might have been effective. It's interesting that she is the one who raised the "attention seeking" possibility. Now maybe she was just responding to criticism but really she shouldn't have said that if that's not what this is about. By her saying it, that raises the possibility that that is exactly what this is for people rightly or wrongly skeptical of her.

People also know I'm particular about the use of the word transsexual as used in your quoted story although I probably shouldn't be. If the transgender community is now going to start using this word again as somehow being more legitimate because that is the term still used in science and research when referring to those that have completed SRS or are on a short track toward it, I'm not going to be happy about it. I know, it's a personal thing but geez, let's confuse and obfuscate the issues more than they already are.

I agree. Accuracy in language matters. That's why as you well know I used "girl born differently" or "woman born differently" because the trans community has made a mess of language and at this point in my life I don't see myself as trans anything. Just someone "of trans experience" as you said.

originally posted by: Annee
a reply to: JadeStar

Lifting up Lila.

www.facebook.com...

Thank you. If I were out I'd reach out to them to ask some questions but I can't, sorry.

originally posted by: EKron

originally posted by: Domo1
a reply to: EKron

I'm not terribly PC most of the time but I didn't want to start discussing that I'm fairly convinced this person is ful of it. I'm about 98% sure this whole thing is attention whoring, but at the same time that doesn't really change the story as it relates to a situation where the person is legitimate.

I hear what you're saying about Lila, but I think there should be a distinction made between a girls bathroom with private stalls and a open locker room or shower facility. Jade has already told the story of the one person that objected to her using the girls bathroom and how that was resolved but I can guarantee you she would have never put herself in a position like a locker room where undressing or disrobing was required.

Exactly.

I was fortunate with regards to that as our school had semi-private changing "stalls" in the girls locker room so like there was a level of privacy in that you could only see each other from the top of the chest up and from the knees down due to the divider.

ETA: A few pages or so back, I posted some of my own feelings about using the boy's bathroom in high school.

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Annee
a reply to: JadeStar

Lifting up Lila.

www.facebook.com...

Thank you. If I were out I'd reach out to them to ask some questions but I can't, sorry.

Not everyone is or needs to be an activist.

The support is there. I just hope she's genuine, if still a bit confused.

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: Annee
a reply to: JadeStar

Lifting up Lila.

www.facebook.com...

Thank you. If I were out I'd reach out to them to ask some questions but I can't, sorry.

Not everyone is or needs to be an activist.

The support is there. I just hope she's genuine, if still a bit confused.

Thank you.

The photo from her support page on Facebook shows her in a better light than the video from Fox. She at least looks to me to be making some effort with her presentation.

originally posted by: JadeStar

I was fortunate with regards to that as our school had semi-private changing "stalls" in the girls locker room so like there was a level of privacy in that you could only see each other from the top of the chest up and from the knees down due to the divider.

I think most do, but we don't have any details on that.

She did say the Gender Neutral bathroom was FACULTY. We don't know if it's in a teacher's lounge or in the gym.

There is/was a case of a young transgender girl who was using the Faculty bathroom in the teachers lounge, who "won" the right to use the regular girls bathroom.

originally posted by: EKron
Oh, sorry you aren't interested in the reasons of "what makes trans people trans people". I haven't offered any reasons for this beyond my own experience but have discussed my history so that others might get more of an understanding of what some of us are like and see if any of that can be related to Lila. A few folks have found it informative. I find talking about it repetitive but if it can help people to learn things, then it's worth it.

its not that im not interested its just that im sitting here for like 2 hours trying to get to the discussion of the event and all i see is pages and pages studies and scientific research and bickering about said research. i understand its part of the thread but it digresses to the point of annoyance to me lol. im sittin here sifting through everything trying to find the info im currently interested in thats all. im actually quite interested o knw how the brain of a trans person works but i think it should be discussed in another thread

Believe me, I did arch a brow at the very obvious tent Lila was sporting at that video. Even during my first foray into dressing as my true self, I knew instinctively to tuck it back. In fact, I've always tucked it back, even in boxers. I didn't like even seeing bulge anywhere in my pants. So yeah, the tent was curious.

However, other transgender people I've met on another board would vociferously defend Lila, even on sporting the tent. Hell, they vociferously defended a transwoman that sported a full beard against another transwoman EKron's age who had a large problem with her and posted the link about the bearded woman in the thread. It got almost ugly, with the word "separatist" coming up and posters declaring her actually being the one undermining transgender rights. They argued that transgender is a broad spectrum that covers a lot of different gendered individuals.

Except when it isn't and is the more PC term for transsexual. I guess. *Shrug.*

That thread can be found here: Argument about what is transgender

So, yeah, Jade is right that the community has screwed up the terminology where it's sometimes hard to tell anymore. Maybe Lila is or isn't, but it's obvious that journalism is doing really poorly these days that no one knows what the hell is going on in this world anymore.

a reply to: JadeStar

like i said i could be wrong about him being attracted to women. honestly i stopped thoroughly reading every post when it started to devolve into nothing but arguing and the back and forth that was going slightly off topic so i more than likely missed the posts that were actually discussing the event at hand. when i said they are handling the best they can i was referring to the school mainly. yes the media handled it poorly but for a school where this is obviously their first encounter with this type of situation i feel like they could have done a lot worse. now as for the whole using his separate facilities if he is in fact still attracted to women but gays still use the same facilities all pretty much boils down the aforementioned penis but to me if he cant bother to "tuck it" in normal day to day activities then that tells me he will use little to no discretion in the locker room.0 i dont think the other girls should be forced (not saying anyone said this) to see or be around a rouge penis in their changing area. and it seems like he doesnt have too long till he graduates anyway so why not just bite the bullet and use the private facilities till he's outta high school at least where he can get the real help he needs.