Within the past decade, a rise in media attention to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community has occurred. With recent legislation such as the “Defense of Marriage Act of 2015” being overturned and evaluation of fairness ordinances within local communities, it comes as no surprise that the most prevalent movement in today’s society is focused on the rights of members of the LGBTQ community. Some are even equating the movement to that of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Regardless of whether the comparison can be made fairly, only approximately 0.6 percent of the population for adults and 0.7 percent of the population for ages 13-17 actually make up the transgender community. With these statistics in mind, the shift in focus raises the question: What exactly is driving such strong media attention toward such a small sector of the population, and moreover, why is this the case?
Gender has become a cultural identity rather than biological. This gender misidentity relates to the transgender portion of LGBTQ. Lesbian, gay and bisexual all deal with sexual orientation. However, with regard to transgender, sexual orientation does not play a role in how members of the transgender group identify. If a person identifies as transgender, then they may be straight, gay or bisexual. The orientation is not reliant on gender.
“The phrase ‘transgender’ refers to breaking gender identity or transcending the boundaries of gender.” The transgender experience is more easily understood when the gender confusion is clarified.
After being cut off from his family due to his gender transition, Riley McCracken struggled to find the love and acceptance that a family should give. As he seeks to find the people in his life who will love him for who he is, he may also find that blood isn’t necessarily thicker than water.
Everyone seeks acceptance in one way or another, and for Riley McCracken this desire for acceptance is no different. McCracken spent most of his twenty-three years in conflict with who he really is. His assigned sex at birth was female, but this was not an identity McCracken knew himself to be.
After facing a divorce that McCracken believes tore his family apart, McCracken spent much of his time bonding with his father. With an interest in cars, hunting, and a desire to be like his father, McCracken never described himself as the typical girly child. Yet even beyond the early signs, McCracken’s mother still attempted to force the dresses and girly clothing on McCracken. McCracken’s father, however, always intervened with a backup set of clothes for McCracken to wear to school that were more suited to his taste.
Mitchell administers the testosterone shots each week for McCracken. “I really struggled with my gender dysmophria last semester and I was so depressed, but now that I’m getting things figured out," said McCracken, "I’m feeling better about it all."
Though his family is still not accepting of his life decision, McCracken does not let them stop him from being himself. "He fought with himself a lot about family," Kendra Mitchell, McCracken's girlfriend said. Mitchell knew that it would take some convincing for McCracken to choose himself, but it took him struggle with family, religion, and himself to ultimately pick happiness.
Not having the full support and unconditional love of a family can be an overwhelmingly sad experience for many, but McCracken took his life into his own hands and sought to rebuild his family. McCracken sought a family who would be willing to accept him as he is.
McCracken's college experience allowed him the space to fully discover who he is. Growing and maturing, McCracken gained the confidence to face his family in the clothes he preferred and to stay steadfast in his identity. Unfortunately, McCracken is not able to fully release his old identity. Whenever he is home Rachael is what he is called. His parents have never called him Riley and he fears they never will. He still chooses to separate his life when he can. He has two Facebook accounts, the Riley one, which blocks out his family and the Rachael one that his parents still cling to the most.
“Either you pick the family
and change your ways
or you pick the girl
and move out of the house.”
With his family's religious background, McCracken's parents were less than accepting when they discovered McCracken's sexual orientation. His father told him, “Either you pick the family and change your ways or you pick the girl and move out of the house.” McCracken, however, chose option three: he chose himself. For McCracken, coming out was a less than desirable experience, but accepting that he was transgender was the first time he felt like he would be able to stop taking antidepressants and take a chance on himself.
Three months into Testosterone shots he called his mother and told her, “I’m not sick. My voice is changing for a reason. I am transitioning. I’m three months on ‘T’ and this is happening. I know you’re [going to] be upset, but that’s not what I’m trying to do. I decided to pick myself, and I’m tired of people running my life. I’m finally actually happy.”
McCracken's accommodations are not reciprocated, and more often than not, they are followed with spite from his family. With this in mind, he chooses his battles wisely to keep up the current semblance of a familial relationship.
His parents know that Mitchell is his girlfriend, but they are still unhappy about this. "It's a shame really because I'm a delight," Mitchell said about her relationship with McCracken's family. Mitchell's family, however, treats McCracken like a son, and for Mitchell this is enough.
While his family will always be an important part of his life, McCracken has integrated himself into a community that fully accepts him. By accepting himself, McCracken was able to open his heart to love. He has been accepted into his girlfriend's family with open arms as well as the family of friends he has created. He now feels like he is able to fully be himself, and that is all he has ever been seeking.
Though he still shaves his face before meeting his parents, he has made steps toward revealing more of his life. He no longer shows up to family events wearing the "girly" clothes his parents hope he will wear, and he chooses to keep his hair trimmed to his liking.
Additionally, the testosterone shots McCracken takes have resulted in many changes to his appearance. One of the most consistent and prevalent changes is facial hair. McCracken views his facial hair as an important milestone in his transition and shaving it has become much harder because he is so proud of these noticeable changes. If this means making a phone call and not face-timing to stretch the periods between shaving, McCracken is all too willing to make this sacrifice.
"I’m three months on ‘T’ and this is happening."
Riley McCracken, 21 of Benton, KY, was born Rachael McCracken. Though he no longer identifies as female, McCracken is early in the process of transitioning male.
McCracken is in the process of moving in with his girlfriend Kendra Mitchell, 21 of Princeton, KY. "I basically have already moved in, but I still have all my stuff at my other apartment," McCracken said. "When we broke up this last time for a bit, we still knew we had to work on ourselves but I think moving in will be good for us. We're in a better place than a few months ago."
McCracken begins testosterone shots in less than a week. "It's been like I've been waiting for this my whole life," said McCracken.
Riley McCracken, 21 of Benton, KY, was born Rachael McCracken. Though he no longer identifies as female, McCracken is early in the process of transitioning male.
After relying heavily on his friends and Mitchell for support, McCracken, on the advice of a friend joined the local drag king community. This experience not only gave him an emotional outlet, but also allowed him to create a brotherhood with the kings and queens he performed with. The connections and relationships he built with people of the LGBT community allowed him to turn the water into blood.
Follow the first nine months of Riley's transition on testosterone below by listening and watching his voice comparisons.
Riley's Transition Before Testosterone
Beyond the Blood: A Look at Transgender Society at Large
Moreover, “Gender Dysphoria” “refers to discomfort or distress that is caused by a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and that person’s sex assigned at birth.” This struggle is part of the process of acceptance among transgender on an internal level. This personal understanding of his or her gender is a distinction that may never reveal itself, but this is where gender fluidity becomes the identity of choice. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has replaced the diagnosis of “Gender Identity Disorder” with “Gender Dysphoria.” This change promotes a better understanding that being transgender is not a disorder but a distinction. It removes the negative stigmatization of this condition.
Though policy has become more focused on equality in the last decade—with changes in same-sex marriage laws and the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy—the transgender community still faces hardship and discrimination.
The struggle and movement of the lesbian, gay, transgender, and questioning community parallels the media portrayal of members of this community. Though the minority of transgender individuals is incredibly small, the stories and roles that the media portray only help the majority gain a better understanding of who these individuals are. However, each individual’s story may not be unique by sharing the stories of transgender individuals, the individual may find personal growth and the community can grow as well.