trans youth services

Trans Youth Services: 

Trans Youth Services Tara Robertson LIBR 542b—YA Services March 28, 2005 tara_robertson@yahoo.com

Identities defined: 

Identities defined Transgender Transsexual (or transexual) MTF/M2F FTM/F2M Intersex Cross dressers/Transvestites Drag performers Gender queer

How do you identify yourself in terms of your gender?: 

How do you identify yourself in terms of your gender?

Why LGBT is not enough: 

Why LGBT is not enough LGBT=lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered. Broad labeling leads to making bisexual and transgendered people more invisible, as they are under-represented within an already marginalized community (Steinberg 2). Falsely suggests common interests between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered groups. Many transgendered people undergo medical treatments and surgeries related to their gender identities. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people do not.

So what? Who cares?: 

So what? Who cares? Trans youth are considered the most marginalized and oppressed population. Trans people are patrons and co-workers. Tremendous lack of information—and we are in the business of information. As librarians, we need criteria for evaluating and selecting trans materials for youth . Libraries need to be safe, accessible places in order for patrons to feel safe, comfortable, and ultimately welcome.

Slide6: 

VPL’s Teen Zone Non-gendered washrooms Collections Cataloguing Problematic subplot in Meg Cabot’s Princess in Training M or F Policy Prescriptions

VPL’s Teen Zone: 

VPL’s Teen Zone

“Transgender, What is it?”: 

“Transgender, What is it?”

Trans and lesbian and gay characters in mainstream fiction: 

Trans and lesbian and gay characters in mainstream fiction Similarity between historical inclusion of trans characters, and gay and lesbian characters. Rare that the trans (or in the past gay and lesbian) character is a protagonist. They are usually two-dimensional and characterized only by their gender identity (i.e. Luna). Themes, characters, and the social context of YA fiction is ten years behind adult fiction.

What does this mean for collections?: 

What does this mean for collections? Not many resources, especially fiction. Not many resources by trans people. Items are hard to find as subject headings use words that many trans people do not use to describe themselves. Seek balance between a variety of trans viewpoints.

Interview with Leslie Feinberg (Outlaw: a video): 

Interview with Leslie Feinberg (Outlaw: a video)

Explanations given… : 

Explanations given… “This phrase is probably on the back of the video.” Education reference librarian “Copy catalogued record—can’t do anything about it.” Koerner reference librarian “The notes field is related to the LCSH.” Koerner reference librarian All of these are not true.

Appropriate cataloguing: 

Appropriate cataloguing The LCSH term is “transsexual”, which can be problematic. In this case “transsexual” in the subject field and “transvestite” in both the subject and notes field are misleading. Most patrons will not complain about cataloguing records. It is the librarian’s responsibility to have accurate cataloguing records.

Outlaw bibliographic record (revised): 

Outlaw bibliographic record (revised)

Meg Cabot’s Princess in Training: 

Meg Cabot’s Princess in Training Really problematic subplot—is Perin from French class a boy or a girl?

Is this funny?: 

Is this funny? “Lilly practically made us all wet ourselves from laughing so hard after Shameeka told her about Perin, from French, and how we can’t tell if Perin is a boy or a girl, and Lilly said we should go into class on Monday and make a circle around Perin and chant, ‘Pull…down…your…pants!’ so we could look and see.” (p. 176)

Slide17: 

“So, then we all jumped up and down on the bed and chanted, ‘Pull…down…your…pants! Pull…down…your…pants!’ at the top of our lungs until I thought I actually might WET my pants from laughing so hard.” (p. 177)

OMG—Perinne is a girl!: 

OMG—Perinne is a girl! “Mademoiselle Klein went, ‘You mean Perin’ and Perin went, ‘no, Perinne,’ and Mademoiselle Klein went, ‘No, you mean Perin because Perin is the masculine for Perin and you’re a boy. Perinne is feminine,’ and Perin went, ‘I know Perinne is feminine. I’M A GIRL.” (p. 233) “PERIN IS A GIRL???? OH MY GOD!!!! Poor Perin! How embarrassing! I mean, that Mademoiselle Klein thought he was a he. I mean that she was a he. Well, do you know what I mean?” (p. 233)

Eeek! There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom!: 

Eeek! There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom! Everybody needs a safe place to pee. Advocate for single stall non-gendered washrooms. Trust that patrons know which is the correct bathroom to use.

Patron information: 

Patron information Why not have another option besides male and female on forms? How does a patron change their gender on their library record? Libraries need to develop policy, and publicize how patrons can do this.

What can we do?: 

What can we do? Learn more about trans people and trans issues. Study the information seeking behavior of trans people. Include more materials by and about trans people in collections. Have trans booklists and e-pathfinders. Create non-gendered washrooms. Update library forms to include other options besides just M and F. Develop policy and publicize how patrons can change their name and gender on library records.

Bibliography: 

Bibliography Beemyn. Brett Genny. “Introduction” Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education. 3:1 2005. 3-5. DeFaveri, Annette. ??. Unpublished Monro, Surya. Gender Politics: Citizenship, Activism and Sexual Diversity. London: Pluto Press, 2005. Steinberg, Reese. “Addressing the ‘T’ in LGBT: Issues in Transgender Collection Management. February 25, 2005 http://www.slais.ubc.ca/PEOPLE/students/student-projects/R_Steinberg/520issuespaper.pdf San Francisco Public Library. TRANScending Identities: A Bibliography of Resources on Transgender and Intersex Topics. 2005. Sausa, Lydia A. “Translating Research into Practice: Trans Youth Recommendations for Improving School Systems” Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education. 3:1 2005. 15-28. Weiss, Jillian Todd. “GL vs. BT: The Archaeology of Biphobia and Transphobia within the US Gay and Lesbian Community.” Journal of Bisexuality 3 (3/4) 2003:25-86.

Thanks to:: 

Thanks to: