Book Reviews

Reviews by by Willow Arune and Katherine Cummings

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Blind Folly

The Optical Delusion

by Willette Pratts
Published by Authorhouse, Bloomington, Indiana, 2004
I.S.B.N.9781420813234

We know, of course, that there are many who hate transsexuals, who believe we act against "God's will". They encourage those who find faith to "de-trans". In England, the Evangelical Alliance took a strong stand against new legislation as well as advising congregations to lie - to lure us back before springing the trap. The trap? Form an emotional bond and then demand de-trans as a condition for remaining.

This attitude rarely sees print. We have Perry, the bio of an early transitioner, one who joined the "Jewel Box Review" and then found salvation by returning to a male form. Later, a direct descendant, Ron Rigsbee followed Perry's footsteps and wrote his book with the assistance of Jim Bakker's sister. Both of these were some time ago, although I note that Perry has recently been re-printed. With the exception of the Evangelical Alliance tome on why we are wrong, little else has found its way off web sites and pamphlets to give form to the hatred (yes, it is) of what might be called the "Baptist mentality".

A new Print on Demand (P.O.D.) book by Willette Pratts enters the lists. Blind Folly is singular for giving an honest voice to what this large segment of Americans think concerning transsexualism. Remember, Bush got elected with their support, and self-identified "evangelical Christians" represent forty per cent of the American population. It is, in the words of old, a "real and present danger".

Now, I have talked to the writer, as well as to Dorothy Bakker. They are what we used to call "nice old ladies". Kind, pleasant to speak to, and chatty. But like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, doggedly determined to save us even if we do not wish to be saved, or damn us with a shrill voice if they must. They were pleasant enough to talk to, but I seem to have forgotten to identify myself as a transsexual woman, and they never asked.

And therein lies the biggest danger. Can such a nice, grandmotherly type harbour such hatred? She is such a dear!

Pratts speaks for God - no doubt about it, not for her. She knows exactly what God thinks of transsexuals.

Of course, she knows transsexuals too, admitting that none would speak to her concerning the book. But years ago she did see one coming out of an office in San Francisco, and has never forgotten the experience. Right in the AAA Building on Van Ness Boulevard, bold as brass, and walking right by her. Even with a Bachelor of Science (San Jose Christian College) she could hardly believe her eyes.

Her first "abomination".

We (both homosexual and transsexual - they are one and the same to her) lurk after school to lure youth into our lifestyle. That is due to our addiction for abominations. One primary motivation we have, in her view, is to turn Peeping Tom, to invade women's washrooms to satisfy our desire to see a woman disrobed. Yet we are gay, and suffer the abomination of liking men! Why we, as gay, want to see a woman disrobed is easily explained. Put simply, all men want that. That we are legally sanctioned to change our gender and peek legally is horrid (don't women's rooms in the United States have cubicles as we do in Canada?) Women should never enter a washroom knowing one of us was there, and leave if one comes in! Of course, it has never happened, but she is prepared to do what she must to protect herself.

It is the mindset that is interesting. No amount of science law discussion or sanction would change her mind. All males want to see women disrobed, even if they are attracted to other men, it seems. With Wikipedia as a major source of information, she knows this. Unknown to me, a major reason for transition is our burning desire to look at women in washrooms.

As to learning to be gay, she knows this too. She once watched Boy George being interviewed on television.

Now, all this and more could be rather fun. But Pratts is giving voice to what these nice grandmotherly types are thinking, and it is the first such representation to come along in book format.

The ugliest portion comes when she writes about a woman who had the gall - and lack of "common sense" - to walk alone on a beach one night in California. The woman was raped. Pratts seems to blame the woman and segues into "Homosexuals and transsexuals who ignore the rules of safety when it comes to impersonating a woman should stop crying about it and expect to suffer the consequences of simulation. See "The Beating" [another chapter]".

This is summed up in the tritism "He/she got what she deserved." Not one comment condemning those who did the beating or rape. Apply this mindset to the Mathew Sheppard case. Over 40 per cent of the American population? And her pastor assisted her in reviewing her book! Of course, he is not gay like these other pastors.

She talks of a Senator, a good man she thinks, who came out with a comment approving of same-sex marriage". A politician unable to distinguish good and evil, it seems, but as she respected him, he must have been "under stress" and "not clear about what he was thinking". He should have kept quiet and taken a vacation. Simply dismissed in this manner, there is no need to think about what he has said.

There is more, of course.

Now ... why read this book? To understand, without the political niceties of Evangelical Alliance, that this is the real face of prejudice, the honest representation of bias.

In a phrase ...

"Know your enemy"...

Luna

by Julie Ann Peters
Published by Little Brown, New York, 2004
I.S.B.N.0316713695

This is the story of a transgender teenager in crisis, as seen through the eyes of her younger sister. At the outset we meet Luna, a woman by night, naming herself for the moon, but forced to be the academically brilliant but hopelessly unmasculine Liam by day. Some might think Liam a nerd, except for his popularity with his female high school contemporaries, popularity he shrugs off, since he knows through every waking moment that Liam is Luna, Luna is a woman and Luna is not a lesbian.

Liam's sister, Regan, younger than Liam/Luna, is the only confidante for Luna and the only sounding board for Luna's anguished need to be a full-time female. With their mother totally absorbed in her career and their father forever pushing Liam to be a jock, the responsibility for keeping Luna sane falls on Regan. When Luna needs to cross-dress in the still watches of the night and when her needs escalate into a compulsion to spread her wings and be Luna in the light of day, Regan is there for her.

Regan is just as much a victim of the situation as Luna. Regan hates her family life and sublimates her need for a supportive and loving family into her relationship with Elise and David, a young couple for whom she baby-sits ... a relationship which goes disastrously wrong when Regan, for once, depends on Luna for support.

Regan is turned in on herself by the terrible need to keep Luna's secret and she avoids involvement with boys who try to create a relationship, because she lacks self-confidence, thinks herself a klutz and is constantly at Luna's beck and call.

This makes Luna sound like an obsessed monster ... and she is ... as all of us have been when driven to the brink of suicide by our need to fulfill our impossible dream.

Regan's life is further complicated when she encounters Chris, who will not take "No" for an answer and pursues her, much to her confusion, discomfort and delight. Chris adds one more item to the array of elements Regan is juggling as she tries to be all things to Luna, keep her relationship with Chris afloat and cope with a demanding school schedule and a dopey teacher who wants her to live up to Liam/Luna's academic standards.

When crisis strikes and every part of Regan's life seems to be fragmenting and sinking without trace, Luna takes on her biggest challenge, to be herself among her contemporaries at school and in her family. Her determination to live her own life, as she must one day live it, is admirable on one level, but socially suicidal on another and Regan suffers some of the transition backlash.

Luna is remarkable in being able to make her decisions without seeking professional advice from doctors, school counsellors or even close friends. She is lucky to find an experienced and helpful tg on the Internet by whom she can be inspired and from whom she can learn.

Julie Anne Peters is an award-winning author and Luna was a National Book Award finalist. She is an out lesbian and when it was suggested that she write a book about a teen transgender she interviewed many tgs and put in the hard yards to achieve authenticity. The book is a brilliant exposition of the conflict, exaltation and terror involved in "coming out" and I recommend it unreservedly.

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