YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Very awesome interview about gender. I have one thing to add: parents choosing the gender for an intersex or a person dealing with a genital deformity or accident before said person has a choice can be very dangerous: case in point http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Reimer the documentary done on this case is so heartbreaking. This case was also used in episode episode 8: House of Mirrors of the Fox tv series Mental. I saw this documentary years ago and OMG.
My guess for people who are interested in this case can find the doc on Youtube or the National Film Board of Canada Website or CBC.ca (unless they geolocked it I'm not sure.) Anyway I just wanted to add that.

Yes, agreed!

I am only 6:40 in, and already I am convinced: Paul Gilmartin is awesome! Pigeon is awesome!

This episode is such a treat.

Respect and love for Paul Gilmartin for welcoming a forum poster to his fine podcast.

Pigeon is heroic to me. I want to be like Pigeon.

Also people should check out: Professor Blastoff episode 87: Sexual Attraction 2 on the Earwolf network

Listening to this one right now! So in to it that I got annoyed when someone came over to ask me a question. Like, don't they know I'm listening to an awesome podcast right now? Haha

Just came here to chime in and say that you're awesome Pigeon! Your dad pointing out cute girls somehow sounds adorable to me, haha. He tried. ;D

Also reminded me when I got this boy haircut in high school and people told me they thought I was a boy like it was a bad thing, but it made me super proud and cool.

*made me feel cool.

I don't know how to edit posts. :B

kitkat wrote:Listening to this one right now! So in to it that I got annoyed when someone came over to ask me a question. Like, don't they know I'm listening to an awesome podcast right now? Haha

Just came here to chime in and say that you're awesome Pigeon! Your dad pointing out cute girls somehow sounds adorable to me, haha. He tried. ;D

Also reminded me when I got this boy haircut in high school and people told me they thought I was a boy like it was a bad thing, but it made me super proud and cool.

Hahaha, totally agree with the bolded part. Every time I get into a really good part of the conversation, a coworker needs to talk to me. I'm gonna start growling at people pretty soon.

Awesome episode, I had to pause a handful of times to google some of the terminology Pidgeon was using but it was totally worth it. It was interesting to hear Pidgeon say how relieving it was to finally be able to slap a label on his gender/orientation especially when so many people in the LBGT world are proud to be label-less b/c they don't want it to be the largest part of their sexuality.

Haha I'm glad I'm not the only one! I get so into things I'm listening to that proper social interaction is just irritating haha. There should be a sign I could stick to the back of the head to say "Listening To Important Things, Come Back Later."

http://waronidiocy.com/podcast

The latest episode transition with Shadi Petoski. Please listen to this, she is completely awesome.

No disrepect to Paul or Pidgeon, but it honestly really bothers me when genderqueer people speak for the trans* community; specifically genderqueer individuals with no HRT or surgery. I'm not against genderqueer as an identity, but from my personal experience I've met a lot of genderqueer individuals who read a lot of books in their college degree and think they know what it's like to take hormones or have surgery, transition from one gender to another. Like I said, I didn't hate this episode, but if you're going to explore/explain "trans" to people, it would be nice to have a guest on who has undergone a medical transition.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who has transitioning from one gender to another (with HRT/surgery).

Hi Pidgeon - I really enjoyed your interview! I am middle-aged married crossdresser (MTF). My wife knows, but nobody else really does.

Your interview opened my eyes to some new ideas. I really like your perspective of gender queer or gender fluid and that its okay to identify somewhere in the middle of the gender spectrum. I think the term "trans" sometimes conveys that someone is on a journey *from* one gender *to* the other. As if that transition is a bridge, but there is NO stopping on the bridge! Okay, that may be extreme, but I really like the thought of walking out on that bridge and just enjoying the view for a while.

(disclaimer: yes, trans is a huge umbrella. This is just one perspective from a long-time CD. I don't have the depth of experience that others have, so apologies if I offend...)

So your views really got me thinking:
I could hold my thumb out, close one eye, and point exactly where I feel I am on the Male/Female spectrum. I like thought of HRT and becoming more female. I also like being a husband and father to my family. It might take some adjustments at work or around family, but perhaps there is a trans-happy place somewhere in between.

So thanks - you're interview really gave me a boost this week and the ideas really quieted some long-standing depression issues.

rachel