2008 Woodie Awards
Interview With a Transsexual Within the Orthodox Jewish Community
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Features
*Names have been changed to protect identities. Associated Press standards have been followed in referring to people by their gender of choice.*
The Observer: What sex were you at birth?
Yonina: At birth, I was male. At this time, I still am operating under such appearances, as I only recently began the transition process, and not many people are aware of my situation yet.
The Observer: At what age did you feel that you were in truth a member of the opposite sex?
Yonina: My earliest memories have me realizing that I was really a girl. I remember one point when I must have been either four or five years old that I really felt that I was in the wrong body. From that moment on, there were few times that the feelings did not constantly invade my thoughts.
The Observer: Did you tell anyone of this feeling/ what were the responses to your attempt to do so?
Yonina: Not until I told my wife that I was having dreams about being a woman. At that time, we were married about a little more than a year (we are coming up to 10 years of marriage now in just a few months), and things were getting to me. I never honestly thought I would find a need to transition. I thought that I may have been able to "get over it" and live a normal life, which is why I didn't think I walked into my marriage in any deceptive manner, etc. When I finally told my wife, she was confused what it was that I was dealing with, and it wasn't until a few years later that things really started getting worse in terms of dangerous actions on my part that she made me see my first therapist. Finally, for some reason I am still not sure of, I told my parents in November/December of last year, and they were quite concerned - they helped me find my current therapist (#3), and understand what I'm going through, and are somewhat supportive, though they will not stop at anything to keep me in the way they have known for all these years.
The Observer: What Jewish affiliation do you currently have, if any? What affiliation did you have at birth?
The Observer: What sex were you at birth?
Yonina: At birth, I was male. At this time, I still am operating under such appearances, as I only recently began the transition process, and not many people are aware of my situation yet.
The Observer: At what age did you feel that you were in truth a member of the opposite sex?
Yonina: My earliest memories have me realizing that I was really a girl. I remember one point when I must have been either four or five years old that I really felt that I was in the wrong body. From that moment on, there were few times that the feelings did not constantly invade my thoughts.
The Observer: Did you tell anyone of this feeling/ what were the responses to your attempt to do so?
Yonina: Not until I told my wife that I was having dreams about being a woman. At that time, we were married about a little more than a year (we are coming up to 10 years of marriage now in just a few months), and things were getting to me. I never honestly thought I would find a need to transition. I thought that I may have been able to "get over it" and live a normal life, which is why I didn't think I walked into my marriage in any deceptive manner, etc. When I finally told my wife, she was confused what it was that I was dealing with, and it wasn't until a few years later that things really started getting worse in terms of dangerous actions on my part that she made me see my first therapist. Finally, for some reason I am still not sure of, I told my parents in November/December of last year, and they were quite concerned - they helped me find my current therapist (#3), and understand what I'm going through, and are somewhat supportive, though they will not stop at anything to keep me in the way they have known for all these years.
The Observer: What Jewish affiliation do you currently have, if any? What affiliation did you have at birth?
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 7
Adinah Nechama Deret
posted 10/04/08 @ 6:29 PM EST
If you can contact Yonina again.... Tell her that as long as she has a scrip from her doctor she can order her estradiol and medroxyprogestine from drugstore. (Continued…)
Raquel Amram
posted 10/07/08 @ 2:41 PM EST
B"H
I did not read the entire article but this is absurd. I'm disappointed in the newspaper's choice of article subjects. Instead of speaking about more meanwhile issues we are focusing on a transsexual's life story?! How can he call himself "still frum" if he is clearly going against Halacha. (Continued…)
Chana Wiznitzer
posted 10/07/08 @ 3:51 PM EST
Raquel,
I am surprised by your reaction. Last issue, you advocated for an approach focusing upon sensitivity to those who kiss on the cheek as a greeting, which breaks the rules of shomer negiah. (Continued…)
yael
posted 10/07/08 @ 4:25 PM EST
Raquel,
Hashem made all of us imperfect. We all struggle; we all have something on our plate to deal with. I know that I'm not alone when I feel like Hashem could have made me a much better person than I am right now, when I don't understand why hashem would have made me so flawed. (Continued…)
Raquel Amram
posted 10/10/08 @ 4:34 PM EST
Yael- you are right, we are all imperfect and the article did give insight into a person's struggle- but what his "solution"? to change into a woman. that is not a solution, that is an abomination and that is telling Hashem that He made us imperfect. (Continued…)
Ruven
posted 10/10/08 @ 5:48 PM EST
olivia,what a fantastic job you did on the series!
What great message of tolerance and compassion!
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