Manning is a “transgendered” individual, a person whose self-identity does not conform to conventional notions of male or female gender. “Transgender,” an umbrella term, refers to those with identities that do not completely conform to society’s definitions of male and female.

“People are afraid of what they don’t understand,” Julianna Stout, a science teacher at West, said. “Some people are afraid of others just because they are different than themselves, but in reality, we are really the same. I think because some people don’t understand it, they put those people off. That bothers me. They’re still the same people.”

The Manning case has raised numerous questions.

“I have many friends who are transgender, and it really doesn’t make a difference to me whether they’re male or female. It doesn’t matter whether they’re born that way or whether they change,” Stout said. “I think it would be very difficult to be trapped in a physical body that didn’t match who you truly felt you were. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. To have the ability to make the inside and outside match is a great thing. You are who you are.”

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ) community has expressed the hope that the Manning situation will raise awareness about the challenges faced by transgendered individuals. That is also the goal of the Falcon Alliance club at West. Club members recently placed “I’m an ally and this is a safe place” signs on the doors of teachers who agreed to oppose bullying targeted at LGBTQ students.

“Falcon Alliance has been going on for about three years.  Though it is a student led group, I keep in contact with the other schools. Every school in Henderson County has a version of Falcon Alliance,” Stout said. “Of course, they all have different names, but it’s all the same thing. I feel West as a whole is very accepting, just look how many of those little safe-place stickers are on teachers’ doors.”

Coming out to parents, teachers and students is a potential challenge for LGBTQ students.

“I haven’t had anyone tell me they were transgender while they were still in school, but I have had some that told me afterward. It’s sad when a student feels like they don’t have someone to talk to about it,” Stout said.

By Joel Fennimore

Manning expressed a desire for the government to pay for the surgerical procedure that would change his gender, arguing it was medically necessary for his mental health.

According to research done at the University of California in Los Angeles, Manning is one of nearly 700,000 Americans who identify as being transgendered.

These individuals experience a disconnect between their psychological gender and their biological sex.

Millions of Americans look in the mirror daily and cringe at their crooked noses or tug uncomfortably at tight shirts that accent an unwanted 20 pounds. Some of them consider weight loss surgery, some consider nose jobs.

Others consider sex reassignment surgery, altering their anatomical makeup in order to embrace a sense of their self-identity.

Controversy around Manning’s announcement has spurred debate as to whether or not health insurance should cover the expenses that a gender reassignment operation would entail.

While this issue weighs heavily on an individual’s mental disposition, other physical insecurities have the same effect. Facial birthmarks or obesity may be just as much reason for someone to adopt a poor body image. The topic is clearly subjective.

For example, surgeons can straighten a crooked nose, but that individual can avoid such a drastic and costly remedy by developing a new perspective.

A male who feels trapped in the body of a female, can express his gender through inexpensive cosmetic alterations and changes to his state of mind. Hair and clothing can be modified and a more androgynous name can be used.

Someone shouldn’t decide to change their biological sex over night. Saving for the surgery will give the individual time to consider the pros and cons of the decision, avoiding a severe and almost irreversible modification.

Everyone struggles with body image, but health care should be dedicated to unavoidable expenses, rather than operations that can be viewed as unnecessary.