When I was born, in 1964, ‘transgender’ did not exist.
I mean, linguistically. The word, ‘transgender’ didn’t exist. Or at least, that’s what I’m finding out.
There were, however, plenty of ‘transsexuals’, which I guess meant the same thing as ‘transgender’. But the word ‘transgender’ wasn’t invented until 1965… and didn’t become popular until the 1990s.
Not to be confused with ‘transvestite’. Although I admit to being confused anyway.
‘Transvestites’ were (and are) generally males who liked wearing women’s clothes and acting like women, but didn’t actually want to be a woman. (This was back when women acted like women.)
People also used the term, “cross-dressers”.
Women who dressed like men were not usually called transvestites, as I recall. They were called ’employees’. For certain jobs, a skirt has always been impractical. But I think women are more likely than men to keep their clothes from getting dirty, so they can wear white overalls.
I’m thinking — now, 59 years later — about words like ‘transvestite’ and ‘transsexual’ because controversy about transgender people is a dominant news story these days, especially regarding restrooms and sports. America has always been especially interested in restrooms and sports.
And also statistics. America is interested in statistics. Mostly, we’re just curious. But some of us are concerned.
To help those of us who are curious, or concerned, some folks at UCLA School of Law put together a website to share statistics about ‘transgender’ people.
For example. The U.S. state with the highest percentage of adults referring to themselves as transgender is North Carolina. Go figure. Almost 1% of the North Carolina adult population is transgender, according to UCLA School of Law. One adult out of every 100.
Lawyers are interested, and concerned, because our laws here in America are generally really old and outdated, and don’t even mention people who are transgender.
The state with the lowest percentage of transgender adults is Missouri. One person out of every 500. Colorado is somewhere in the middle of the pack, with about 0.6% — about one out of every 175 adults. By that measure, we would have about 80 transgender individuals living in Pagosa Springs.
We’re talking here about adults over the age of 18. In other words, those of us who grew up under those old, outdated laws and who have generally gone through life making a concerted effort to use the correct restroom. The UCLA website also gives information about children, under the age of 18, and that’s were things get interesting. (Or concerning, dependent upon your perspective.)
Here in Colorado, percentage-wise, about twice as many young people — under the age of 18 — consider themselves transgender, compared to adults. About one out of every 88 young people.
The percentage in New Mexico, meanwhile, is about 2.62%. One out of every 38 young people. Or so the lawyers tell us.
We’re not especially concerned about whether our lawyers are transgender. We assume that a lawyer can change his/her gender and still win a court case, wearing whatever clothes he/she wants to wear.
Now, rugby… maybe that’s a different matter.
My friend just returned from a visit to New York, and told me all the restrooms are “Unisex”. Anyone can use the restrooms, no matter how they present themselves.
Transvestites welcome. Also, women in the construction trades.
You can even be in a wheelchair.
Underrated writer Louis Cannon grew up in the vast American West, although his ex-wife, given the slightest opportunity, will deny that he ever grew up at all.