Indy Pride event discusses being transgender in Indiana

For many people, Caitlyn Jenner may signify what it means to be transgender. But the three speakers at Indy Pride's first event focusing on the transgender community made it clear that while their experience may mirror hers in one way, there is no one transgender experience.

"In the state of Indiana, the plight of the transgender population is so different from the celebrities'," said Jacqueline Patterson, executive director of the Indiana Transgender Wellness Alliance. "For far too long, we have been considered anomalies or sick in some hideous manner. I'm here tonight to tell you that there is nothing further from the truth."

A supportive crowd packed Indy Reads Bookstore and spilled over into three satellite locations for Wednesday's panel. The three speakers shared some of their personal experiences and called on the audience members to do what they can to advocate for transgender rights.

The speakers' own experiences differed vastly.

C. Michael Woodward, an author originally from Noblesville, gave a shout-out to his parents, sitting in the audience.

But co-panelist Marissa Miller said that five years after she transitioned as a woman, she still goes home to East Chicago for holidays "as a boy" because her parents, a judge and a former chief of police, still consider her to be their son.

And, she made it clear, she yearns for the day when all will accept her for who she is.

"It's certainly a privilege to be able to exist in a world where there is no discrimination," Miller said. "And I don't think any of us have had the privilege to exist in that environment."

The statistics for the transgender community are not encouraging. About 80 percent of transgender people have contemplated committing suicide, Patterson said. About 40 percent of them do so, compared with less than 2 percent of the general population, Woodward said.

Transgender people often find themselves victims of violence, abuse or hate crimes. Despite the fact that transgender are more educated than the average person, they have higher rates of unemployment. About 19 percent are homeless, and 51 percent are harassed or bullied in school. Often they struggle with substance or alcohol abuse issues.

Some may lose families, jobs or spouses when they come out because of the stigmas still surrounding that decision.

A 2013 Pew poll found that while more than 80 percent of Americans know someone who is gay or lesbian, less than 8 percent know someone who is transgender, Woodward said.

"My hope is that my conversations this evening will alleviate some of that discomfort for all of us," he said.

Still, he said, there's one topic of discussion he and many other transgender people do not want to share: Intimate details about their bodies.

"We call them private parts for a reason," he said, sparking applause.

Allies agreed that learning about how to support transgender people can help bring more awareness.

"I only know my one lesbian view," said Taylor Bennett, 28, one of about 30 people watching the event via satellite at The Metro, "but I think it's important to know all aspects of the community to be an advocate."

At a table for three, Diana and Mac Wells had an open seat and invited a man who arrived alone to sit with them. They soon found out he shared a therapist with Mac, and they both knew about the same doctor in Ohio who performs gender transition surgeries.

It only underscored a message from the history night event — that transgender people often have limited access to doctors and health care, as well as avenues to meet other transgender people.

The LGBT community is "the community we're allowed to be open in, but we're not acknowledged," said Ian Hylton, 24, who sat with the Wellses.

And they hoped this was just the start of a continuing conversation about transgender issues.

"It really opened up the issues and the harsh reality that transgender people face," said Mac Wells, 23. "It opened that up so everyone could feel it together."

It's one thing to talk about and gawk at Caitlyn Jenner's beauty in the abstract, Miller said. The challenge lies in how you treat the people you encounter in real life.

"Trans lives do matter. So the next time you're in the grocery store or pass a bus stop and see someone who's trans, instead of pointing out the window and saying, Look! Maybe say hi," she said.

Call Star reporter Shari Rudavsky at (317) 444-6354. Follow her on Twitter: @srudavsky.

Call Star reporter Stephanie Wang at (317) 444-6184. Follow her on Twitter: stephaniewang.