Crossing the gender divide(2)

"Transgender" is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity, expression or behavior doesn't conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. In China, discrimination is one of the biggest problems faced by transgender people. CHEN WEI/CHINA DAILY

"We've seen greater public acceptance of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals in the past three to five years, but there is still a lack of knowledge about transgender people," Geng Le, director of Danlan, a website for gay people, said.

"Li has opened a door for those with a lack of knowledge, and has given courage to transgender people, who are under more pressure than the other three groups because of the visible collision between their physical appearance, their dress, and their general behavior. Some inadvertently bring more pressure on themselves by opting for medical intervention to change their gender," he said.

Discrimination is one of the biggest problems faced by transgender people, especially in terms of employment. "In some occupations, such as teaching, to be a 'T' is the end of one's professional career. I know some transgender people who work as teachers, but they had changed their gender before they started in the profession. Negative public attitudes mean it simply isn't possible for someone to change their gender and still work as a teacher," Chen said.

In 2011, the US National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released a report that confirmed the pervasive, severe discrimination faced by transgender people. Having surveyed nearly 6,500 transgender people, the researchers discovered that they experienced high levels of discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, education, the legal system, and even from their families.

Chen works for Aibai, a nonprofit organization that offers support to the LGBT community, provides assistance, works to change public attitudes, and teaches skills to help transgender people cope with workplace discrimination, such as emphasizing ability rather than gender difference.

Chen said her most important task is to help people like her build a positive mental attitude and to be confident about their choice of sexuality and gender.

In addition to introducing new members to friends within the community, Aibai also encourages them to participate in a wide range of social activities. "For example, going to the swimming pool is one of the most challenging things for transgender people," Chen said.

Misunderstood concepts

Although public understanding of transgender issues is growing, some people can't understand how a woman can love another "woman" while remaining heterosexual.

"I think Li and her partner are a good example that serves to introduce two concepts－sexual orientation and gender identity－that have been misunderstood by many people for decades," said Li Jinzhao, a sociologist from Beijing Foreign Studies University.

She said sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic and/or sexual attraction to another person, while gender identity refers to a psychological sense of being male or female, or something else.

"Gender and sex have always been closely connected with morality in Chinese history. People believe that there are just two gender identities－male and female－and that gender identity only corresponds to a certain type of sexual orientation," she said. "However, both gender identity and sexual orientation are varied, and attraction differs from person to person."

Earlier this month, a group of students from the university launched a research project. It will consist of interviews with LGBT groups in several universities in Beijing who have or are trying to come out of the closet. The researchers will attempt to discover how family members and friends influence LGBT groups during the coming-out process.

Coming out is often an important psychological step for LGBT people, according to the American Psychological Association, whose research suggests that having a positive attitude toward one's sexual orientation and integrating it into one's life fosters greater well-being and mental health.

"Being able to discuss one's sexual orientation with other people also increases the availability of social support," Chen said. "China has witnessed a dramatic change in terms of public acceptance of LGBT groups. Now, you often see transgender people in the media, which is a real step forward. We hope and expect to see greater social tolerance towards the 'T community' in the years to come," she said.