Anna Rose Pike Creates Transgender Understanding

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There’s a lot of gender (mis)information anywhere you want to look. As a writer, interviewer and global citizen, I want to be aware, respectful and up-to-date on language use. Coming from a culturally traditional context of a strict binary male/female orientation, I wanted to expand my horizons. I sought out Anna Rose Pike. Her business, Transcendent Education Systems, helps to educate about transgender cultural competency. It also includes sensitivity training and consulting services.

anna rose pike
Educator, trainer and writer Anna Rose Pike consults on transgender cultural competency.

Pike is a transfeminine third-gender person. She was designated a male at birth, and as she grew up people treated her as a boy. However, over time Anna (then Adam) began connecting more fully with her gender identity. As a young adult (who most considered to be a man), Pike joined the United States Air Force under Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell. This policy meant homosexual men and women could serve as long as they did not disclose their sexual orientation. In addition there was also a ban on transgender people serving in the military.  However, people continued to be discharged. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “By the 15-year anniversary of the law in 2008, more than 12,000 officers had been discharged from the military for refusing to hide their homosexuality.” Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell was finally repealed in December 2010.

Her work in military intelligence was dangerous and challenging on all fronts. First there was secrecy about her personal life, and then there were deployments to hot spots including Baghdad, Iraq for six months and Kyrgyzatan for four months. At the end of six years, Pike left the service with an honorable discharge. A year later, Anna started her gender transition which included taking hormones. She opened her business and is finishing her degree at The Evergreen State College. Her book Zen, Guns and Gender is in process.

anna rose pike
Anna Rose Pike says 134,000 military vets are transgender.

Here are a few concepts that may provide some clarity, as discussed by Pike.

  • Not every person who is transgender is an advocate for gender equality. Some people are open about their identity and others are not. It’s like politics – some people beat the band for a candidate or an issue and others don’t.
  • Gender and sexuality are distinctly different concepts. Gender is the way you identify yourself and comes from within the person. It is not defined by your genitalia. Sexuality describes your attraction to others. This is mind expanding if your point of view is linear with female at one end and male at the other. I imagine a 3-dimensional framework of femaleness and maleness with additional elements such as inter-sex, non-gender and a third sex – or more.
  • Other places in the world have wider descriptions of gender. For example, the Fa’afafine of Samoa may be thought of as a third gender. It makes for interesting reading. Certain males are brought up as females and maintain female roles in the household. Their sexuality varies with the individual. The Bugis people of Indonesia recognize five different genders: makkunrai and oroane’ are comparable to cisgender woman and men. Bissu are androgynous shamans. Calalai and calabai are similar to trans-men and trans-women. (Cisgender relates to a person whose self-identity conforms with the gender that corresponds to their biological sex.)
  • There are many ways to be human. We have our own bodies, our own minds and our varying amounts of hormones. Each person creates attitudes and beliefs. We each have an inner voice. It makes sense that every individual expresses uniqueness.
transgender education
Pike facilitates sessions with the Department of Corrections and can assist your large or small business.

Pike suggests people keep an open mind, which is helpful under any circumstances. It’s not about agreeing; it’s about listening for clarity and understanding. Do your homework and support trainings and initiatives that are meaningful to you. You may find more information at the National Center for Transgender Equality. Extend dignity and respect to everyone.

Gender awareness continues to evolve. Anyone can be part of that. If you or your place of work are interested in further information or training, contact Anna Rose Pike via her website.

Here are a few other resources:
https://www.glaad.org/transgender/transfaq 
http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender.aspx
http://www.isna.org/faq/transgender
https://www.susans.org 
http://www.hrc.org/resources/reporting-about-transgender-people-read-this

Transgender Day of Awareness is celebrated on November 20.

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