How to talk (and listen) to transgender people
1,936,099 views | Jackson Bird • TED Residency
Gender should be the least remarkable thing about someone, but transgender people are still too often misunderstood. To help those who are scared to ask questions or nervous about saying the wrong thing, Jackson Bird shares a few ways to think about trans issues. And in this funny, frank talk, he clears up a few misconceptions about pronouns, transitioning, bathrooms and more.
Gender should be the least remarkable thing about someone, but transgender people are still too often misunderstood. To help those who are scared to ask questions or nervous about saying the wrong thing, Jackson Bird shares a few ways to think about trans issues. And in this funny, frank talk, he clears up a few misconceptions about pronouns, transitioning, bathrooms and more.
This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Learn more about transgender experiences by listening to Transmission.
About the speaker
TED Resident Jackson Bird is using digital storytelling to demystify the transgender experience.
Julia Serano | Seal Press, 2016 | Book
Whipping Girl
Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman | Seal Press, 2010 | Book
Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation
Alex Gino | Scholastic Inc., 2017 | Book
George
Susan Stryker | Seal Press, 2008 | Book
Transgender History
| Explore
Protego
A toolkit from the Harry Potter Alliance on making the world a safer place for transgender individuals, featuring actions to take on individual, community and policy levels.
Vox | Explore
Transgender People: 10 Common Myths
It's Pronounced Metro Sexual | Explore
The Genderbread Person
A visual breakdown of the differences between gender identity, gender expression, sex assignment and sexual/romantic attraction.
| Listen
One From The Vaults
A podcast from Morgan M. Page about little-known transgender people throughout history.
HBO | Watch
The Trans List
Jennie Livingston | Miramax | Watch
Paris Is Burning
National Geographic | Watch
Gender Revolution: A Journey With Katie Couric
MTV | Watch
Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word
AOL | Watch
True Trans with Laura Jane Grace
Laverne Cox and the ACLU | Watch
Time Marches Forward and So Do We
A brief and beautiful history of the modern transgender movement.
| Watch
"Gender Myths: Shutting Down BS with Jacob Tobia"
Writer and performer Jacob Tobia shuts down transgender myths and assumptions on Dylan Marron’s Shutting Down Bullsht series.
Buzzfeed | Watch
"If Trans People Said The Stuff Cisgender People Say"
Buzzfeed flips the script on comments transgender people hear all too frequently.
PBS Digital’s First Person series | Watch
Breaking the Silence Around Gender Dysphoria
A series by Chase Ross | Watch
Trans 101
Sam Dylan Finch, Everyday Feminism | Article
"Transgender 101: A Guide to Gender and Identity to Help You Keep Up with the Conversation"
Tyler Ford, MTV | Article
"Is it ok to out someone as transgender if they’re not around?"
The New York Times | Explore
Transgender Lives: Your Stories
This series features profiles of dozens of transgender individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Adrian Ballou | Everyday Feminism | Explore
I Think I Might Be Trans: 8 Important Notes On Questioning and 50+ Resources to Get You Started
If you think you might be transgender, I recommend reading this article by Adrian Ballou with what they wish they had known. It also includes links to over fifty resources for trans and questioning individuals.
| Explore
TransYouth Family Allies
| Explore
Mykidisgay.com
| Explore
Campus Pride
| Explore
Trans Student Educational Resources
| Explore
Live Out Loud
| Explore
GLSEN
| Explore
Lambda Legal
| Explore
GLAAD
| Explore
National LGBTQ Task Force
| Explore
American Civil Liberties Union
This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Learn more about transgender experiences by listening to Transmission.