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| For some it’s called gender re-assignment. For Jennifer Stickney -- parent, entrepreneur and local volunteer -- it’s following the roadmap of life she was handed at birth. |
Jennifer Stickney, born and raised in Penticton, is a parent of two energetic pre-teens, a daughter and a son.
She is a valuable member of society, working as a computer consultant and volunteering in such things as Penticton‘‘s internationally renowned Iron Man competition. Jennifer Stickney is also transgendered.
"I am going from male to female, through the process of a lot of prescriptions, and one major surgery," says Stickney.
As of October of 2005, she started to live her life anew.
"For the most part, I do live and breathe as a woman."
Though Jennifer Stickney was born male, in every sense of the word she was always meant to be female.
Still, she says there are some theories that suggest transgenderment may be compounded by the increasing levels estrogen and estrogen-like substances in the food supply -- especially in animal products where the animal is fed estrogen-based hormones to boost productivity. The theories point to studies that suggest a connection between hormone-rich diets and regions where the age of onset of female puberty has lowered greatly.
"By the time I was in junior high, I was keeping up with girls in my class, which made P.E. very difficult."
Throughout her life, Stickney has suffered from headaches, which worsened as she entered puberty. After having two kids, the testosterone in her body started causing terrible migraines.
In 2001 Stickney found an endocrinologist in Vancouver. Being a specialist in hormonal activity, the doctor prescribed her a low dose estrogen prescription to help aid her pain. At first it didn‘‘t do much. After experimenting with the prescription for a few years, Stickney opted for a higher dose.
"One endocrinologist I talked to said that I‘‘m basically allergic to testosterone," says Stickney.
"By 2005, I was getting migraines. So I went for the high-dose (estrogen) prescription. Things have been going much better since then."
"It‘‘s been 26 months now, that I‘‘ve been on the high-dose estrogen. And it has made a huge difference. I‘‘ve also noticed that my concentration is much better."
Stickney currently takes three separate medications, a testosterone-blocker, and two separate estrogen prescriptions, which help with the shaping of the face, hips, and breasts.
Transsexuality is by definition a biological condition. However, the burden of proof always lies with the victim. There are a great many hurdles for transgendered people to overcome, socially and medically, just to prove their transgenderment. Many other possible factors must be ruled out, such as schizophrenia, sexual trauma resulting in a confused sexual orientation, and more.
A computer technician by trade, Stickney organized a group called The Community Chat Network (www.ccn-irc.com) in 2003. Currently people from 26 countries are involved.
"It’’s designed to help students having problems at school or at home, who are gay or lesbian, and not sure what to do with their lives," she says.
She would like to see CCN come to the Okanagan.
"It seems that the gay and lesbian scene’’s been out in Vancouver since the ’’70s, but we (in the Okanagan) are just slowing starting to get into it. Penticton shouldn’’t have to wait 30 years before getting involved in stuff. They’’ve got the SOGALA (South Okanagan Gay and Lesbian Association), but that’’s mainly for adults. We need something that’’s more student-based."
According to their website, SOGALA was officially formed in November 2002 in Penticton to provide activities and events that bring together and celebrate the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population. Although they advertise their membership spans all ages, Stickney feels something different is needed to address the particular needs of young people.
Stickney is acutely aware of the difficulties associated with being a transgendered person. According to her, she has suffered a lot of suffering by the students at school and the public in general.
"Enough is enough. We need to make the public aware that this kind of thing is coming to the Okanagan. Our society needs to know that we are here, and we need our rights respected."
Perhaps it would have been an easier transition to move to a bigger city centre, where operations of this kind are more widely accepted. But Stickney is adamant about staying in Penticton, both for her family ties, her work, and her community activities.
"I’’ve been involved in the Ironman for at least 12 years. I’’ve got a brand new security crew to work with this year.
"As far as my career goes, I started in computers in 1979, and have been fixing computers locally since high school. All of the computer stores know me, so if there’’s something that they don’’t want to deal with, they’’ll send those people to me."
Stickney’’s family has had mixed reactions about her decisions to become a woman. Her 10-year old daughter felt uncertain at first. But things have changed, since returning to live with her parents.
"Now that she’’s back with us, things are a lot better. She can’’t wait to see me at her Girl Guides group next year."
Her brother and parents all had completely different reactions.
"My brother was a little iffy at first, because he’’d also worked with someone who did the same thing. But the way she presented it was, ’’Here’’s what I’’m doing. Get used to it.’’
"My dad’’s still having a hard time with it. But he’’ll come around eventually. It’’s in the Stickney genes."
"My mom can’’t wait for me to teach her make-up."
"Our family was all farmers. So to have someone different come along has been a real shock to some people."
All in all, Stickney feels her hometown is becoming more liberal in its’’ thinking.
"Penticton’’s culture is changing. We’’ve got more East Indian, Chinese, Japanese, German, and a few other ethnicities moving into town. And while we’’re getting all of (these cultures), we’’re also getting the gay and lesbian groups expanding. We need to be aware that the city is changing, and we need to be more accepting of the variety of people out there."
When asked why she decided to expose her life to public scrutiny with a public interview, Stickney is steadfast in her aims.
"I’’m hoping that people will see that Penticton is changing its diversity. We’’re getting so many varieties of people in town. And the human race as a whole needs to be respected. We’’ve had legal rights in Canada since 1984, and we’’re just starting to get the legal rights in Penticton for the students. It’’s just taken way too long for the legal end of things."
"A lot of people had seen the changes throughout the summer, as I was growing (breasts) through that time, that it wasn’’t a huge shock. But the skirts kind of caught people off guard."
Stickney is aware of others in the community going through similar changes and is positive about a greater public awareness, pointing to the recently founded Penticton Secondary School Pride club as evidence of a more supportive environment.
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