LynnConway.com Web

Lynn Conway

 

Computer Scientist,

Electrical Engineer,

Inventor

 

Research Manager,
Engineering Educator

    

Translation project status

Translators' notes

[click on photo for higher-resolution version]
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Emerita

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Member, National Academy of Engineering

 

About This Website:

(en español)

 

My goal for this website is to illuminate and normalize the issues of gender identity and the processes of gender transition. This project began in the year 2000, as I struggled to "come out" about my past to my research colleagues. I wanted to tell in my own words the story of my gender transition from male to female three decades earlier, in 1968, and then of being outed 31 years later in 1999, while living quietly and successfully in "stealth mode".
 
Since beginning work on this website, I've come into contact with ever growing numbers of people concerned with gender issues. I've interacted via e-mail and in personal meetings with large numbers of people who are transitioning or who have transitioned. Given the still-remaining social invisibility, ignorance and superstitions about gender conditions, I've felt a strong need to provide whatever information, encouragement and hope that I can to help others who are struggling with these issues.
 
As a result of my contacts with thousands of TG/TS/IS people over the past few years, this website has evolved into a major informational and support site for transgender and transsexual people. The site now reflects years of field work and empirical research, and intensive efforts at framing and writing up the resulting observations regarding this previously almost invisible, highly stigmatized minority about which many superstitions still prevail.
 
This work has been conducted in the style of an investigative journalist who herself is embedded in the "war zone" she is covering. These investigations, carried out in an arena swirling with new shifts in existing paradigms of thought, have been continually shaped and guided by very close interactions with hundreds of people who are themselves very experienced in these issues. Many of these individuals have shared in the creation of this website, by contributing valuable observations and practical information about gender transition, and by sharing keen insights and wisdom that they've gained from their own personal experiences.
 
The website is informal in structure, and is still rapidly evolving as new ideas and information become available. I begin by first telling my own story, as best I can. That story, of someone who underwent gender transition earlier in life, illustrates that such transitions can turn out rather well in the long term. The story also provides personal vignettes relevant to the gender identity sections of this website:
 
 
 Lynn's Story  PDF  Photographs  Hobbies & Homelife
 Biographical Sketch  PDF  News Articles  Mackinac Island Wedding Trip
 Lynn's Retrospective  Research Impact  PDF  Site Map & Links  (Updated)
 Lynn's VLSI Archive  VLSI Archive Main Links  VLSI Archive Spreadsheet XLS
 
 
The website then presents an array of informational webpages and constantly updated reference links concerning gender identity and gender transition, in an effort to help others who may undergo such transitions. The site also links to webpages containing photos and stories of over 200 other people who've undergone complete gender transitions (both MtF and FtM). These many additional true-life "success stories" can provide encouragement, hope and role models for others, especially for the many young transgender and transsexual people who often feel so much fear and desperation about their futures. Experienced-based knowledge and real-world role models can go a long way towards easing the fears of these young people, helping them more confidently confront the challenges ahead of them, and illuminating pathways they can follow to build a full and joyful life:
 
 
 TG/TS/IS Gender Basics   Transsexual Women's Successes  Facial Feminization Surgery
 Transgenderism   Successful TransMen  Sex Reassignment Surgery
 Transsexualism (MtF)  TS Women's Resources  College Transition Issues
 Prevalence of Transsexualism  TG/TS/IS Links  Life after Transition
 
 
I always welcome new ideas and practical information about these issues, as well as critical feedback about this website. Please feel free to contact me via e-mail at the address below if you have any ideas you'd like to share. Increasingly we transgender and transsexual women are speaking for ourselves, instead of fearfully hanging back while the old-time psychiatric establishment (Paul McHugh), sex-obsessed "sex researchers"* (J. Michael Bailey, Ray Blanchard), talk-show comics, tabloid media and various conservative religions spread awful misinformation about us.
 
By openly sharing our stories and life-experiences, we can help build a more realistic knowledge of and genuine wisdom about transgender issues. We can also help society see us as the human beings we truly are. In the process we can enable more and more people to live fuller and happier lives in an increasingly inclusive, harmonious society.
 
 
Prof. Lynn Conway
3640 CSE Bldg.,
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2121
 

http://www.lynnconway.com

 

 

 

NEW: Trans News Updates

 

This page links to emerging news stories of interest to the trans

 community.  The running log of news also reveals evolving

media spins and public attitudes regarding trans issues.

 

 

 

 

 

See the expanded section on Transitioning Early in Life,

which includes links to stories of teenage transitioners:

 

Johanna's Story (Germany)

العربيّة, 译者注, Español, Deutsch, Français,

 עברית, Italiano, 日本語, Magyar, Polski,

Português , Русский, Română

Danielle's Story (USA) (PDF)

NEW! Second Edition is now in print! NEW!

العربيّة, Deutsch,, Español, Français,

עברית (New!), Português

Nicole's Story (Netherlands)

译者注, Español, Deutsch, עברית,

Italiano, Magyar, Malaysian, Nederlands,

Portuguese, Русский, Română

 

 

For more information on childhood gender variance and teen transitions, see the following links:

 

Outreach Program for Children with Gender-Variant Behaviors and their Families

at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

 

Andrea James' page on Transitioning Early in Life and links to many helpful stories there such as

Transitioning early in life: Stephanie's advice and Transitioning early in life: Kylie's advice

 

Lifetime Television: "A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story":

"When your son believes he's meant to be a girl, you challenge him...you fight him...you accept him...you love her". 

 

"When is it OK for boys to be girls, and girls to be boys?: Many kids want to look and act like the other sex.

For some, it's a phase; for others, it's not...", San Francisco Chronicle, 8-27-06
 

"Supporting Boys or Girls When the Line Isn’t Clear", New York Times, 12-02-06

 

"Mistakes in God's Factory: Even as children, transsexuals have the feeling of living in the wrong body.

When should they be allowed to switch genders? Two years ago, a twelve-year-old German boy became

the world's youngest person to start hormone treatments for a sex change", Der Spiegel, 1-26-07  

 

"'Born in the Wrong Body' - Transgender youth share their stories in an MSNBC documentary" ;

'Images: Meet Tayler, Jake, Alex, Angelika and Deasja ; Taylor shares her story ; Jake shares his story

("Born in the Wrong Body" debuted on MSNBC on 4-22-07)

 

"Transgender 10-Year-Old Girl and Her Family Talk to Barbara Walters", ABC News, 4-25-07:

("My Secret Self: A Story of Transgender Children", debuted on ABC "20/20" on 4-27-07)

 

"Girl/Boy Interrupted - A New Treatment For Transgender Kids Puts Puberty On Hold

So That They Won't Develop Into Their Biological Sex", SF Weekly, 7-11-07  (more info)

(Important article about the trend towards early interventions to help transgender kids)

 

"Transgender teens: Doctors refine hormone, other therapies", Foster's Daily Democrat (NH), 1-27-08

(Article about the work of Dr. Norman Spack of Children's Hospital in Boston, 

and Dr. Edgardo Menvielle at the Children's National Medical Center in D.C.)

 

"Q&A with Norman Spack - A doctor helps children change their gender", The Boston Globe, 3-30-08

"My philosophy is, "Who am I to say what it's like to be transgendered

when I have people who are living with it every day?"

These kids won over the hospital, one department at a time"

 

"Second Nature - The Story of a Local Family Raising a Little Girl Born in the Wrong Body",

by Maximillian Potter, in 5280 - Denver's Magazine, 3-08

 A wonderful magazine article about the Boulder family who are

supporting their young child's transition (click on picture for larger photo).

 

 

TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA): Dedicated to raising public awareness about the challenges

faced by children with gender variant and gender questioning identities,

and the families who love them.

 

 

 

 

*For reports on past investigations of Bailey and Blanchard see:

J. Michael Bailey Investigation & Andrea James' BBL Clearinghouse.

 

Andrea James, Lynn Conway, and Calpernia Addams

Chicago, Illinois, July 19, 2003

[click on photo for higher-resolution version]

 

Reflections on V-Day by Calpernia Addams and Andrea James 

Link to Performers' Bios and Photos / Transsexual Road Map

 

The V-Day documentary "Beautiful Daughters" is now airing on LOGO (see schedule).

Overview / About The Show / Cast and Bios / Videos / Photos

 

**  "Beautiful Daughters" can now be viewed  for free on LOGOonline! **

It is also available for downloading from Apple iTunes

 

"Beautiful Daughters (2006 - LOGO): strong transwomen" -

A nice YouTube video about Beautiful Daughters by TheDragonGuy

 

See also Calpernia's and Andrea's new reality-TV show, premiering on LOGO in February 2008:

"Transamerican Love Story" (more)

Logo Channel website: "Transamerican Love Story" (photos, videos)

 

 

Deep Stealth Productions presented the V-Day 2004 Worldwide Campaign event for Los Angeles on Saturday, February 21st. In cooperation with the author, internationally-known playwright Eve Ensler, and under the auspices of Jane Fonda, this benefit performance featured the first ever transgender cast of "The Vagina Monologues," and included a new monologue written by Eve especially for this event.

 

This large-scale, mainstream event was a historic opportunity for the trans community to present ourselves in a positive, contributing light.  The performance showcased notable trans women reading Eve's beautiful monologues about the experiences of womanhood and the reclaiming of self through loving and respecting our bodies. The event also featured artistic, literary and musical contributions from trans women from around the country. Among the many women participating were: Calpernia Addams, Becky Allison, Marci Bowers, Lynn Conway, Andrea James, Donna Rose, Gwen Smith, Leslie Townsend, and many, many more...The V-Day Los Angeles event was held in Hollywood on Saturday evening, February 21, 2004 in the Silver Screen Theater at the beautiful Pacific Design Center.

 

A special keepsake publication for V-Day LA 2004 was produced as a remembrance of this wonderful event, and a documentary of the event, entitled "Beautiful Daughters", can now be seen on LOGOonline.