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Transgender activist shares struggle
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A transgender activist said Wednesday there is an enormous misunderstanding about what the term "transgender" actually means.
Jessica Janiuk spoke to University of Wisconsin students Wednesday about her difficult journey to find her identity as a woman.
Janiuk, born male, spoke as part of the UW Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Center's Transgender Awareness Week, which will continue through Saturday.
In 2005, Janiuk lobbied the UW System Board of Regents to add transgender persons to their list of those protected by the UW System’s nondiscrimination policy.
LGBT Director Eric Trekell said UW lacks acceptance and understanding of transgender people, though there are other places where the situation is worse.
"Something like in 28 states people can be fired from their jobs because they are transgender," Trekell said.
UW senior Joe Erbentraut, event coordinator for the LGBT Campus Center, said the group is "going all out to educate the campus on transgender."
"This is the first time in a few years that we have done a full week of awareness events," Erbentraut said. "We want to create a community for transgender students on the community."
Janiuk said transgender is an umbrella term where anyone not identifying with societal gender norms would fit.
From a young age, Janiuk said she began to identify outside those norms when she noticed she acted differently from other children.
"I was stealing my mother's clothes when she wasn't looking," Janiuk said. "I didn't know anything was socially wrong with this."
As Janiuk grew older, her urge to become a woman only became stronger, but with this urge arose feelings of fear.
"I remember going to bed and wishing that God would turn me into a woman so I could live a happy life," Janiuk said.
The confusion she felt about her gender led to severe depression when she started her freshman year at UW.
"I entered into severe sadness — I had no motivation to do anything," Janiuk said. "I couldn't get myself out of bed. I felt that numb sensation."
According to Janiuk, dressing up as a female character from the animated show "Sailor Moon" for Halloween one year was an awakening moment in her life.
"I felt something I had never felt before," Janiuk said. "I felt my gender identity and my physical presentation were coming closer together. It was a happiness I had never felt before."
By 2003, Janiuk decided she had enough of hiding her true identity and underwent surgery to become a physical woman.
Janiuk said she hopes people realize individuals can express themselves as they please.
"Each person has the ability to give themselves their own label," Janiuk said. "I think it's unfortunate that people in society put labels on other people for them."
UW senior Angela Birrittella, mentor and support group coordinator for the LGBT Campus Center, said hearing about transgender issues like this is important because she said in the LGBT community, transgender individuals are often left out.
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IP hash: 2dbd438c
hi,i wish all the best for Miss Janiuk.She is a very brave individual,and i have alot of respect for her. if you,all saw me,you would think my comments strange,as i am a rough looking biker,ex kickboxer,hetro guy.i just can,t stand to see anybody being treated badly.Miss Janiuk has obviously been through much sadness and pain.GOD bless and protect you my sister.Respectfully,David A Carpenter
IP hash: c60ab82f
help, I left Madison after spending my entire life there, grade school, high school,college then a professional life. I thought all of my life that something was “wrong” with me. I have since moved and am starting to learn that my gender identity has been mixing me up. I am very frightened of what people will think of me. I just don’t know where to go. I do know that I am truly a woman in a male body. After all of these years of feeling wrong I just want to be who I really am. I have been searching the twin cities area for resources and still looking.
IP hash: e6743957
I give her mad propts. To most individuals being a straight man or woman is just part of “who they are”. Well being transgendered is just who YOU are. I am proud
IP hash: 9bde26df
i am an italian transgender,and i see that in every land our story are allways the same,in condivision of feeling,experience and way to take awarenes of who we are..so i agred completely with miss j. many greetings to all..and god life!your sincerely jackie-trans.splinder.com
IP hash: 682fdff8
Wow, you’re beautiful.
IP hash: 31af4419
Im a transgender and a mad 31year old skateboarder! I know lifes hard at times but just keep doing your thing! I always get a lot of crap at the skatepark for wanting a gender change to be come a girl. My town is hard place for a transgender to live, Im from clitheroe in northwest england. live your life to tha max!! bonnie xxx
IP hash: 915a3060
hi,i wish all the best for Miss Janiuk.She is a very brave individual,and i have alot of respect for her. It is hard to be black and transgender. I told my boss and was fired within a month. I told my family and they seem to love me regardless. I still have a couple of friends who happen to be lesbians. The rest of my friends avoid me. I am also very depressed since I have to live part time as a man in order to work. Good Jobs are very difficult to find anyway. I look forward to saving enough money for surgery, so I can become a physical woman.