The subject of transgendered people is not one that comes up in conversation often or lightly but on Multicultural Day at Moorpark College, students were given the opportunity to speak with someone who lives everyday of his life as an open cross-dresser.
When 81-year-old Connie Rogers spoke to a room of well over 75 people, there were no open seats left. People were actually asked to leave by the fire marshalls to prevent any sort of potential hazard.
Rogers spoke openly, not only of her youth and her first instances of cross-dressing but of problems she and other transgendered people have endured.
When the subject came to female-to-male and male-to-female transitions, Rogers offered a bit of insight as to the hardships of both.
“It’s easier to pass with a full beard, so yes, female to male people will benefit wholly from the hormones given to them,” she said. “A 6’2″ man is automatically going to attract attention so it’s much harder for men to pass as women.”
Rogers discussed her tendencies and admitted she doesn’t always need to cross-dress and that, at times, she can go weeks without wearing a single article. It’s all case specific, according to her.
While Rogers has been married to an understanding and supportive wife for 58 years, she made it clear that that’s not the case for most transgendered people.
“Most women or men will not be supportive and think ‘I didn’t want to marry a woman’ and take the kids and leave,” she said.
Rogers stressed the fact that she had never had any gay tendencies and that most men that become cross-dressers will never have any gay tendencies that lead to cross-dressing.
Laura Durand, a 20-year-old pyschology major, has studied transgendered people for some time and came to the event with an entire class.
“This is the event that my biology class decided to go to, and I’ve been studying transgender cases so I’m hoping to just get something out of this.”
By the size of the group and the interest shown, not even the fire marshall could put out the spirit of equality found on campus today.
