On this episode of en(gender)ed, we speak with Autumn, a junior at Cornell University studying English. In the summer of 2015, when she was 18 years old, Autumn realized that she is a transgender woman, and since then her work and writing have focused on articulating the experience of being transgender. After graduating from college, Autumn hopes to improve the understanding of mental illness and LGBT issues in Asian communities, especially in Korea. We speak with Autumn today about her journey of self-discovery and growth and gives #UpstanderTips on how we as parents, and as members of our larger community, can be affirming and supportive of gender non-conforming children and students and how we can contribute to their mental health and to their developing a positive self-image and sense of belonging. Autumn shares her vision of how we can create a society of true diversity, inclusion and acceptance.
During our conversation, Autumn and I talked about the following topics: