For Corinne Goodwin, being transgender isn’t a “lifestyle choice.” She knew she was transgender when she was three. She came out when she was 50. New studies strongly suggest that the brains of transgender people are wired differently in utero. There appear to be genetic markers and hormonal variations during pregnancy that predispose a person to being transgender. These prenatal conditions can cause a child born with a penis to identify as female or a child born with a vagina to identify as male.

Transgender people face innumerable challenges. They are often rejected by family and friends, refused service by health care providers, denied employment and turned away by landlords. As a result, they are prone to substance abuse, mental and physical health problems and homelessness.

My interview with Corinne Goodwin is a call to compassion and a call to educate ourselves about the trans community. Thank you, Corinne, for encouraging us to recognize and support trans people striving to create family, meaningful work and good health…just like the rest of us.

~ CK

Resources:

Organizations:

1. Advocates for Transgender Equality: https://transequality.org/
2. GLAD - GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders: https://www.glad.org/
3. Eastern PA Trans Equity Project: http://patransequity.org

Science:

1. https://www.newsweek.com/neuroscientists-brain-sex-gender-1924056
2. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-there-something-unique-about-the-transgender-brain/
3. https://www.newsweek.com/transgender-people-brains-wired-those-gender-they-identify-new-study-shows-939504

Books:

1. Becoming an Ally to the Gender-Expansive Child: a Guide for Parents and Carers by Anna Bianchi
2. Call Me Max, by Kyle Lukoff, Illustrated by Luciano Lozano
3. You Need to Chill, by Juno Dawson, Illustrated by Laura Hughes

To pitch an interview idea, contact Cynthia Kreilick at cynthiakreilick@gmail.com.