Prompts

TRANScribe Project:
Advocating for Equality and Justice Through Our Stories

PROMPTS

Introduction (suggested questions to help you introduce yourself):

Where in New York State are you from?
What is your family status? For example, are you a mother, father, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, godmother ?
Please describe any hobbies that you are passionate about.
Do you have a profession or a job you enjoy?
Other than the trans community, are you part of any other communities (religious, cultural, recovery)?

Below are three broad categories of story topics: identity, culture, and challenges/discrimination/success. Each category contains subsections. Review the subsections and think about which area(s) you would like to write about. Use the questions as guidance for your writing.

For this short (~500 word – three paragraph) story, it is not possible to write about many topics. Try to stick with one or two subsections and write a detailed story. Details are always helpful in describing a situation or relationship, providing the reader with context and forming a connection to you, the writer.

Discrimination/Success Stories:
Many trans people face an overwhelming amount of discrimination and violence due to their gender identity and gender expression. Transphobia, like other systems of oppression, operates to spread fear and discomfort about difference. If you or someone you love has experienced this kind of discrimination, please select one of the sub categories and answer the corresponding questions.
Although trans people do experience high levels of discrimination, many folks have positive stories to share about being accepted for exactly who they are. Please share a success story and refer to those questions in the sub category of your choosing.

Employment:

Discrimination

How has being trans affected getting or keeping a job?
Did you transition on a job? What was that like if you did?
If you are currently employed, are you out as trans at work?
Have you ever been discriminated against when seeking employment?
Have you encountered harassment, discrimination or an otherwise negative experience at a job because of your gender identity or expression?

Success Story

Have you had a positive experience getting or keeping a job?
Did you transition on a job? If so, what was that like?
If you are currently employed, are you out at work?
What is one specific positive experience you have had when seeking or maintaining a job?
Did your supervisor provide support and do you think your supervisor in this professional setting has a story to share?

Housing:

What kind of housing situation are you currently in?

If not in a shelter:

How has being trans affected getting or keeping housing?
Have you ever been discriminated against when seeking housing?
Have you had a positive experience getting or keeping housing?

If in a shelter:

How has being trans affected getting into or staying in a shelter?
Have you had any negative experiences while in a shelter due to the fact that you are trans?
How is the staff at the shelter respecting your gender identity and/or gender presentation?
Have you had a positive experience in accessing service at a shelter?

Public Accommodations
A public accommodation generally means a business, building or service that is open to the general public. Public accommodations may be privately-owned and operated or publicly-owned and operated. Stores, restaurants, public transportation, hospitals, a DMV office and libraries are some examples of public accommodations.

Do you generally feel comfortable accessing places of public accommodation?
Have you experienced harassment or mistreatment in a place of public accommodation? If so, have you experienced ongoing harassment or mistreatment?
Have you had a negative experience with the owner, operator, manager or staff at a place of public accommodation?
Have you taken steps to remedy or cope with a negative experience you had at a place of public accommodation?

Education:

Discrimination

Are you currently in school?
Have you had trouble at school or in accessing education?
Do you feel comfortable in an educational setting?
Have you had negative experiences with education that you believe stem from transphobia?

Success Story

Are you currently in school?
If you are currently in school are you out at school? If you are no longer in school, were you out at school?
What makes or made you feel comfortable in an educational setting?
What is one specific positive experience you have had accessing education?
Did a teacher or administrator provide support? Do you think this person has a story to share?

Healthcare:

Discrimination

Have you had difficulty accessing healthcare? If so, how?
If you have private health insurance or are covered under a government program (like Medicaid), what has your experience been with this coverage?
Are there enough competent doctors that are trans inclusive?
Do you feel comfortable seeking medical services? Why or why not?
Have you had negative experiences seeking medical services?

Success Story

Have you had a positive experience accessing healthcare? If so, what was it?
How did you find competent doctors that are trans inclusive?
How does it make you feel knowing you can comfortably access medical services?
What is one specific positive experience you had accessing healthcare services?
Did a doctor/nurse/provider lend support? Do you think this person has a story to share?

Identity:
Everyone has their own unique identities, and these are often misunderstood and misrepresented by mainstream media. This is our chance to define our identities through our own voices and words. In this section please pick one subsection and answer the corresponding questions.

Trans Masculine/FTM or Trans Feminine/MTF:

How do you identify your gender?
What was your experience coming out to yourself?
Have you been able to transition? If not, why? What obstacles do you face?
What do you want people to understand about your gender identity?
What has been most difficult and/or most rewarding about your trans experience?

Genderqueer or Gender Non-Conforming:

How do you identify “genderqueer”?
How do you personally identify as genderqueer or gender non-conforming?
What do you want people to understand about your identity?
What has been most difficult and/or most rewarding about your experience as genderqueer or gender non-conforming?

Significant Others, Friends, Family Members and Allies:

How are you connected to the trans community?
How have the trans folk(s) in your life experienced discrimination?
Have you experienced any secondary discrimination? If so, how?
What do you want people to understand about your trans friend, partner, family member or community member?

Culture:
Trans people are so much more than just their trans experience, but these complexities are often disregarded by the media and society at large. So besides being a trans person or ally to the greater trans community, who are you? Please select one of the sub categories and answer the corresponding questions.

Family:

How did you come out to your family?
What are some of the challenges of being a trans person in your family?
What has been the most rewarding part of coming out to your family?
How has being trans affected your family relationships?

Race/Ethnicity:

How do you identify your race/ethnicity?
How does your trans identity intersect with your racial identity or your ethnicity?
What has been the most difficult and the most rewarding about your intersecting identities?

Religion:

What is your religious identity?
How does your religion intersect with your trans identity?
Do you belong to a religious community? If so, are you fully accepted by your religious community?
Have you experienced discrimination in your religious community? If so, how?

Community/Activities/Hobbies:

What communities other than trans communities are you parts of?
How have these communities transformed your life?
Do you have any hobbies or activities that you love to do? If so what are they?
Have any of these hobbies or activities transformed your life? If so, how?

Questions? Need some guidance? If you need assistance, Pride Agenda staff can help you with your story. Contact Christopher Argyros, Transgender Rights Organizer by email at cargyros AT prideagenda.org or (518) 649-8140.

You can also help spread the word about the TRANScribe Project and download our flyer.