Genre: Essay – APA, Master’s Level
Author: Theron J Ogedengbe
Methods: Developmental editing, proofreading, line editing, beta reading.
Techniques: Provided proofreading and copyediting, focusing on improving the readability and flow of the essay while maintaining author’s voice and style.
Outcomes: The detailed suggestions for rewording and restructuring the piece improved clarity, flow, and tone of the piece.
Timeline: Edit was a single day project turnaround.
Software: The original manuscript and the edit were developed in Microsoft Word, with changes tracked and highlighted comments for additional notes.

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Final piece:

It was the start of the summer of 2017 and I decided to enroll in the course “Social Work with Sexual and Gender Minorities”.  As an African American homosexual individual, I thought I knew everything about what the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community went through and had to face in a heteronormative society. During the progression of the course, I realized that the knowledge I came in with was actually quite miniscule, and I had a lot more to learn about the culture and adversity found within the LGBTQ community.

Throughout the course I was tasked with a multitude of readings, lectures, presentations, videos, and guest speakers. Every time I attended class or did a reading, I was exposed to a new subject or theory. One of the theories I had never expected to see was Queer Theory. In my experience, the term “queer” was a derogatory term and should not be used. The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines queer as “something that is different, odd, or strange.” However, it is also defined to be an offensive term to disparage those who are sexually attracted to the same sex (cite).

Within the first few minutes of the initial lecture presented to the class by Jedediah Bragg, MSW and PhD Candidate, I learned that the term queer inside of the LGBTQ community is very commonly used. The acronym has more letters than we all realize to include others such as intersex, asexual, or those who identify as queer (cite). When I decided to question Professor Bragg about his use of the term queer, he stated that “the word queer can be used as an umbrella term for individuals within sexual and gender minorities who may identify as such.”

With my expanded understanding of the term, I am much more open to its usage. To identify as queer is just one of the few ways to express oneself and to inform the world of who you are. Choosing to define oneself as queer is also a way to rebel against heteronormativity, or to be anti-heteronormativity. In the 1980s, activists and scholars began to reclaim the term queerin an attempt to help inaugurate community and to proclaim an identity distinctive from the gay identity (Sycamore, 2008).

Over the course of the class, we delved more deeply into Queer Theory. Initially, I had no idea what this theory entailed and what it was about, and I was still dazed by the positive use of the term queer. To be quite frank, if you had asked me to define Queer Theory at the start of Summer, I wouldn’t have been able to do so accurately. I may have even taken that as a grave insult.

  With my new understanding and knowledge of Queer Theory I can apply it in both micro and macro situations. Queer Theory suggests that it’s virtually meaningless to speak in general context about “men” or any group (cite).  Identities can comprise of a multitude of factors; therefore, the idea that people can be viewed in a collective based on one common characteristic is invalid (cite). In short, society cannot define you. You define you. 

I believe using the foundation of Queer Theory is necessary in both micro and macro practices. As a future social worker, I can help create policies that will elevate and protecttransgender or non-heteronormative individuals with the need to be seen and heard on a macro level.  Within the micro setting, or a direct practice space, this theory can include many eye-opening factors for a client. This theory can allow me to help clients explore questions like “what is gender?”, or “does your gender identity dictate your gender expression?”. The theory was simple once I got a grasp of it. Heteronormativity doesn’t fit into every person’s narrative of life. This theory can affect change not only in a therapy session with a client who is having an internal struggle, but I also believe this can be useful for societal change.

I have only heard about the Hope Theory here and there, but had never researched it or even used it in practice. The idea of hope is perceived ability to develop pathways or action steps to a sought-after goal, and encourage oneself through agency thinking to use those action steps (cite). While researching, I realized that Hope Theory can be compared to other theories of optimism, learned optimism, self-esteem and self-efficacy (cite). The idea for the theory is simple: the higher consistency of hope is related to improved outcomes in physical health, psychological adjustments, education rates, and psychotherapy (cite)

I believe Hope Theory can be very beneficial to the LGBTQ youth populace. I see that using this theory can help clients who are coming into their sexual orientation and gender identity. I believe teaching or mentoring youth under the shadow of Hope Theory can help raise their optimism towards the future. With the political climate we currently live in, transgender youth are hearing or reading hateful rhetoric that can be detrimental to their behavioral health and over all self-esteem. I love the saying “it gets better”, but adding action steps to the road of getting better in my point of view makes the idea of thing getting improved more tangible.

On a macro level, using the Hope Theory in a community engagement setting can light metaphorical fire underneath any member of a disenfranchised subgroup. I believe that allowing people to feel like they are capable of evoking change can actually amass a large amount of change.

This summer I went on advocacy trip to Washington D.C as part of the National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI) shadow program. Before speaking to my assigned congressmen, I attended a seminar conducted by La Mikia Castillo. Castillo used Hope Theory at each session: she stated that we are capable of creating a movement by doing a set of action steps that can lead to one goal (Cite). I myself am African American, gay, and a former foster youth. Being part of all of these groups allowed me to feel like I could conjure up change if I made the effort in each pathway to accomplish my goals. Castillo inspired over one hundred of us former foster youth to create in her seminar “What? A Movement”.

I understood that some people are born into the wrong binary and that is ok. One thing I was guilty of was incorrectly assuming that an individual who identified as trans had access to the same resources and opportunities as myself. I was horrified when I learned that Oklahoma lacked any anti-discriminatory laws for housing and employment.

I was heartbroken and infuriated by the alarming statistics of trans identifying individuals living in poverty or homelessness in the United States alone. According to the 2015 “U.S Trans Survey” it was reported that a staggering 29% of transgender people live in poverty in comparison to the general population which sits at 14% (cite). The same survey reported that 30% of trans individuals are homeless at one point of their lives, and 12% reports that their tenure of homelessness was within the past twelve months.

I believe there is a correlation between these discerning numbers and the copious amount of job discrimination trans individuals face. A gender non-conforming person can legally be fired in Oklahoma for their gender expression and identity. It was heavily reported that 30% of transgender individuals have faced work place discrimination, been fired, ill-treated and denied promotions. I, as a cisgender individual who express my gender as male, don’t face this level of injustice. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to be at home and work in peace regardless of their gender expression and identity.

I am not an ignorant person by any means. I’ve always understood that hate crimes happen, granted I’m African American. In history, we hear countless stories like that of the late Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old boy who was tortured and murdered by a group of white men in the mid-1950s for allegedly whistling at Caucasian woman. I have heard of the noun two-spirit, but the name Fred Martinez was unknown to me. Fred was a 16-year-old Navajo two spirit or nádleeh which can be translated as “half man, half woman”. On the night of June 16, 2001 Martinez was murdered by Shaun Murphy in a senseless act of violence. I was unaware of this incident, but I was not the only one. Mainstream media did not pick this story up due to Fred’s minority status. Martinez’ death was not ruled a hate crime when the investigation went to trial.

The transgender community faces shocking levels of hate crimes and. In 2016 alone twenty-seven transgender people were senselessly murdered. As of January, 2017, eight transgender women of color have been murdered (cite). One thing that sticks out to me as a social worker in training are the multitude of states in America that have little to no anti-hate crime laws that protect gender identity and expression.

I was assigned to do a community interview with a person who is completely different then myself. I chose a transgender woman of color to interview. Before I went out to her home to conduct the interview I did some research. I was shocked to see the average life span of transgender women of color is the age of thirty-five years old (cite). In accordance of the code of ethics of social work, it is our duty to help the trans community.

As of today, July 26, 2017, the president of the United States has added yet another obstacle for the transgender community. Through a swell of twitter messages Donald Trump has banned trans individuals from serving in our armed forces. He claims it is because he sees them as a “financial burden” (cite). I’m not surprised that this occurred. I am, however, very disappointed that the “leader of the free world” is working to further hold back an already disenfranchised group of people. I feel like as long as a trans person is willing to do their part and work in the military they should not be discriminated against due to their identity and expression. This is the new “don’t ask don’t tell”, and just like that egregious law, this too will fall.

During the progression of the course, I looked into what older versions and the current version of what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM) views on gender identity and gender expressions. I was mortified that earlier accounts of the DSM-3 listed gender identity disorders under psychosexual disorders, and I was appalled to see what the category of psychosexual disorders entailed. Under this title they compared being transgender to those who would meet criteria for zoophilia, pedophilia, exhibitionism, and voyeurism. It was extremely frustrating for me to read that behavioral health professionals recently used this as tool to help others, especially now that we know that sexuality and gender identity don’t correlate to one another whatsoever.

   What was very outrageous for me to read were the signs listed for children who could fall under this category. The document listed that if a girl were into sports and horse playing, she mostly wants to become a man (cite). On the other hand, when boys did stereotypical “female” activities like playing house it could lead to the child being transgender (cite). This jargon first and foremost places the heteronormative assumptions on what gender role somebody is assigned at birth. This is not ok at all. Just because a cisgender girl decided to play football doesn’t make her a trans individual. Actions and hobbies of a person don’t make them trans. I was left feeling dismayed when authors of the DSM-3 ended the section by saying that having gender dysphoria was transsexualism.  

 The DSM-5 is a move in the right direction in the case of validating trans rights. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has made an effort in making the DSM-5 reflect today’s societies increased sensitivity and respect towards the transgender populace. I was happy to see that the diagnosis of “Gender Identity Disorder” (GID) was removed and replaced with “Gender Dysphoria”. I’m not the biggest fan of the terminology, but I can deal with this as the APA is trying to make strides to be more culturally competent.

Though the DSM-5 is trying, there are still some things I personally am not proud of. For example, the term “transvestic fetishism” was replaced with “transvestic disorder”, which is using terminology that still stigmatizes the trans community. I believe this specific change is problematic at best.

I am a firm believer that gender variance is not a medical or psychological disorder. People are created differently and it is our job as human to not feel like we need to classify or stigmatize someone for who they are. We cannot let the DSM, though very helpful and respected, dictate someone’s gender identity. That is up to the individual, not society or a medical book. Particularly a medical book that doesn’t even touch on the idea of non-binary people.

My favorite part of the class was doing the simulation in week two. We were tasked to deduce why a client had shown up to the doctor’s office six times in one month. The client was having issues with headaches. Our job as the social worker was to see if maybe the issue’s cause wasn’t medical, but social. Now the simulation was not going to be that easy; we were also tasked to interview the client without making heteronormative assumptions while trying to get the client to open up to you so we could help solve the problem.

By using gay affirmative practice, we were tasked to make non-heteronormative statements and assumptions. The idea sounds easy, but it was not. We had to figure out how to address the client without making any assumptions based on how they looked if they were male or female, if they had husband or wife, and if the husband or wife in question was male or female. I was nervous at first, but I think that I exceled at the task.

I work with a lot of the LGBTQ youth that live here in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. I like to introduce myself like this: “Hey, I’m Theron. My pronouns are he and him. What’s yours?”  I believe that affirming my personal pronoun will allow individuals to realize they are in safe spot, and that I will not only respect who they are, but will not make assumptions about their own identity based on heteronormativity. It also gives them an opportunity to identify themselves without judgement. I believe I was good at empathizing with the simulated client and getting them to understand whatever the real causes of their headaches were while affirming that they were in a safe space with me.

 I have to say one thing I need to practice on is my body language. I have the habit of looking fake; for example, I’ll look over-interested, or even apathetic to the whole situation and process when working in simulation labs. I’m grateful for what this class has taught and showed me. I want to take every lesson and apply it to my not only my future schooling but also whatever practice I choose. Because of this class I’m still conflicted over which track I’ll take between ADP or DP. Only time will tell.

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Original:

It was the start of the summer of 2017 and I decided to enroll in the course Social Work with Sexual and Gender Minorities.  As an African American homosexual individual I thought I had knew everything about what the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community went through and had to face in a heteronormative society. During the progression of the course I realized that the knowledge I came in with was actually quite miniscule, and I had a lot more to learn about the culture and adversity found within the LGBTQ community.

Throughout the course my cohorts and I was tasked with a multitude of readings, lectures, presentations, videos and guest speakers. Every time I attended class or completed a reading I was exposed to a new subject or theory. One of the theories I had never expected to learn about was Queer Theory. In my experience, the term queer a derogatory term and should not used to offend someone. The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines queer as something that is different, odd, or strange. However, a secondary definition of the term is disparaging to those who are attracted to the same sex (cite).

Within the first few of the initial lecture presented to the class and by Jedediah Bragg, MSW and PhD Candidate, I learned that the term queer inside of the LGBTQ community. It is very commonly used due to the initials of LGBTQ has more letters than we all realize to include other such as alias, pansexual or those who identify as queer. When I decided to question Professor Bragg about his use of the term queer, he stated that “the word queer can be used as an umbrella term for individuals within sexual and gender minorities who may identify as such.”

With my expanded understanding of the term, I am much more open to its usage. To identify as queer is just one of the few ways to express oneself and to inform the world of who you are. To rebel against heteronormativity or to be anti-heteronormativity. In the 1980s, activists and scholars began to reclaim the term queer. In an attempt to help inaugurate community and to proclaim an identity distinctive from the gay identity (Sycamore, 2008).

Over the course of the class, we delved more deeply into Queer Theory. Initially, I had no idea what this theory entailed and what it was about, and I was still dazed by the positive use of the term queer. To be quite frank, In the 1980s, activists and scholars began to reclaim the term queer I possibly may of took that as I may have even taken that as an insult and perhaps decked you in the face.

  With my new understanding and knowledge of Queer Theory I can it apply in both micro and macro situations. Queer Theory is a basis of concepts established around the notion that identity is not a fixed construct and does not govern who or what we are (cite). It suggests that it’s virtually meaningless to speak in general context about “men” or any group (cite).  Identities can comprise of a multitude of factors; therefore the idea that people can be viewed in a collective based on one common characteristic is invalid (cite). In short, society cannot define you. You define you. 

I believe using the foundation of Queer Theory is necessary in both micro and macro practices. As a future social worker I can help create policies that will elevate and protect transgender or non-heteronormative with the need to be seen and heard on a macro level.  Within the micro setting or a direct practice space this theory can encompass many eye opening factors to a client. Such as what is gender, or place the thought to them that your gender identity doesn’t dictate your gender expression. The theory is simple once I got a grasp of it, heteronormativity doesn’t not fit into every person’s narrative of life. This theory can effect change not only in a therapy session with a client who is having an internal struggle, but I also believe this can be useful for societal change.

I have only heard about the hope theory here and there, but had never researched it or even used it in practice, so I thought. The idea of hope is perceived ability to develop pathways or action steps to a sought after goals, and encourage oneself through agency thinking to use those action steps (cite). While researching I realized that hope theory can be compared to other theories of optimism, learned optimism, self-esteem and self-efficacy (cite). The idea for the theory is simple, the higher consistency of hope is related to improved outcomes in physical health, psychological adjustments, education rates, and psychotherapy (cite)

I believe Hope theory can be very beneficial to the LGBTQ youth populace. I see that using this theory can help clients who are coming into their sexual and gender identity. I believe teaching or mentoring youth under the shadow of hope theory can help raise optimism towards the future. With the political climate we currently live in, transgender youth are hearing or reading hateful rhetoric that can be detrimental to their behavioral health and over all self-esteem. I love the saying “it gets better”, but adding action steps to the road of getting better in my point of view makes the idea of thing getting improved more tangible.

On a macro level using the hope theory in a community engament setting can light metaphorical fire underneath any member of a disenfranchise subgroup. I believe allowing people to feel like they are capable of evoking change can mass a large amount of change. This summer I went on advocacy trip to Washington D.C as part of the National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI) shadow program, before speaking to my assigned congressmen, I attended a seminar conducted by La Mikia Castillo. Castillo unbontce to me used Hope theory at each session, she stated that we are capable of creating a movement by doing a set of action steps that can lead to one goal (Cite). I myself be on the cusp of intersectionality of being African American, gay and a former foster youth, felt like I could conjure up change if I made the effort in each pathway to accomplish my goals. Castillo didn’t just inspire myself but over one-hundered former foster youth to create in her words “what? A movement”. Hope theory is the reason why marriage equality was fought for so hard.

My first experience meeting a transgender (trans) individual, was when I was a seventeen years old high-school school student. I understood that some people are born into the wrong binary and that is ok. One thing I was guilty of though, was assuming that an individual who identified as trans is available to the same resources and opportunities as myself. That sounds wonderful, but my ignorance was not dashed bliss, it was filled with terror when informed that Oklahoma lacked any anti-discriminatory laws for housing and employment.

I was heartbroken and infuriated by the alarming statistics of trans identifying indviduals living in poverty or homeless in the united states alone. In accordance to the 2015 “U.S Trans Survey” is was reported that a staggering 29% of transgender people live in poverty in comparison to the general population which sits at 14% (cite). The aforementioned survey reported that 30% of trans individuals are homeless at one point of their lives, 12% reports that their tenure of homelessness was within the past twelve months.

I believe a correlation to these discerning numbers are factored by the copious amount of job decimation. A gender non-conforming person can fired in Oklahoma for their gender expression and identity. It was heavily reported that 30% of transgender individuals have faced work place decimation, been fired, faced work place ill-treatment and been repudiated of promotions (cite). I as cisgender individual who expresses his gender as male doesn’t have to face this level of injustice. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to be in a home and work in peace regardless of their gender expression and identity.

I’m not an ignorant person by no means. I’ve always understood that hate crimes happen, granted I’m African American. In history we hear stories about the late Emmett Till who was tourchered, then murdered by a group of white men in the mid-1950s for allegedly whistling at Caucasian woman. This is a pivotal instance in the civil right movement. I have heard of the noun two-spirit, that being a community member in Tahlequah also known as the Cherokee nation. But the name Fred Martinez was unknown to me. Fred was a 16 year old Navajo two spirit or nádleeh which can be translated as “half man, half woman”. On the night of June 16, 2001 Martinez was murdered by Shaun Murphy in senseless act of violence. I was not aware of this incident what so ever, but I was not the only one, mainstream media did not pick this story up due to Fred’s minority status. Martinez’ death was not ruled a hate crime when the investigation went to trail. Instead Murphy plead guilty to second degree murder and is serving a forty year sentence.  

The transgender community faces shocking levels of hate crimes and violence towards them. In 2016 alone 27 transgender people were senselessly slain. As of January, 2017 8 transgender women of color have been murdered (cite). One thing that sticks out to me as a social worker in training are the multitude of states in America that do not have little to none anti hate crime laws that protect gender identity and expression. I was assigned to do a community interview with a person who is completely different than myself, I choose a transgender woman of color to interview. Before I went out to her home to conduct the interview I did some research. I was shocked to see the average life span of transgender women of color is the age of thirty-five years old (cite). With accordance of the code ethics of social work, it is our duty to help the trans community.

As of today July 26, 2017 the president of the untied stated add yet another obstacle towards the transgender community. Though through a swell of tweeter messages Donald Trump has banned trans individuals from serving in our armed forces, he see them as a “finical burden” (cite). I’m not surprised this occurred, I am however very disappointed, the leader of the “free world” is holding back an already disenfranchised group of people. The idea of thinking of the trans community is outrageous and highly disrespectful. I feel like as long as a trans person is willing to do their part and work in the military they should not be discriminated against due to their identity and expression. This is the new don’t ask don’t tell and just like this egregious law this too will fall.

During the progression of the course, my fellow students and I looked into what older versions and the current version of what the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM) views on gender identity and gender expressions. I was actually mortified that in earlier accounts of the DSM-3 listed gender identity disorders under psychosexual disorders, I was appealed to see what the caterogty of psychosexual disorders entailed. Under this titled they compared being transgender to those who would meet criteria for zoophilia, pedophilia, exhibitionism and voyeurism. This was super frustrating for me to read that behavioral health professionals used this as tool to help others, sexuality and gender identity don’t correlate to one another what so ever.

   What was very outrageous for me to read was the signs listed for children who could fall under this category. The document listed that if girls where into sports, and horse playing she is mostly wants to become a man (cite). On the other hand, when boys did stereotypical “female” activities like playing house or being stereotypical femine can lead to the child being transgender (cite). This jargon first a foremost places the heteronormative assumptions on what a role somebody’s assigned at birth sex, that us not ok at all. Because a cisgender girl decided to play football doesn’t football does not make her a trans individual, actions or hobbies of a person doesn’t make them trans. My final thought of the section was met with distain when authors of the DSM-3 called having gender dysphoria, transsexualism, that isn’t even culturally relevant.  

 The DSM-5 is start in the right direction in the case of validating trans rights. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has made an effort in making the DSM-5 reflect today’s societies increased sensitivity and respect towards the transgender populace. I was happy to see that the diagnosis of “Gender Identity Disorder” (GID) was removed and replaced with “Gender Dysphoria” I’m not the biggest fan of the terminology but I can deal with this as the APA is trying to make better strides to be more culturally competent. Though the DSM-5 is trying there are still some things I personally am not proud of, the term “transvestic fetishism” was replaced with “transvestic disorder”, this still add a stigma to the trans community and it needs to removed. I believe the idea is problematic at best.

I am a firm believer that gender variance is not a medical or psychological disorder. People are created differently and it is our job as human to not feel like we need to classify or stigmatize someone for who they are. We cannot let the DSM, though very helpful and respected dictate someone’s gender identity. That is up to the individual not society or medical book, that doesn’t even touch on the idea of non-binary people.

My favorite part of the class was doing the simulation in week two. The class and I were tasked to understand why a client has shown up to the Doctor’s office six-times in one month. The client was having issues with headaches. Our job as the social worker was to see if maybe an issue that wasn’t medical but social was the cause of the issue. Now the simulation was not going to be that easy, we were also tasked to interview the client without making heteronormative assumption while trying to get the client to open up to you so we could help solve the problem.

The task at hand had us the “social worker” work with the client Pat. By using gay affirmative practice, it was tasked to make non heteronormative statements and assumptions. The idea sounds easy, but it was not. We had to figure out how to address pat without making the assumption based on how they looked if they were male or female, or if they had husband or wife, and if the husband or wife in question was male or female. I was nervous for it at first but I think I exceled at the task.

In my line of work I work with a lot of the LGBTQ youth that Tahlequah Oklahoma has. I like to introduce myself like this “Hey, I’m Theron. My pronouns are he and him. What’s your?”  I believe affirming my pronoun allow individuals to ralise they are in safe spot, and I respect who they are and will let them tell how to identify them without judgement. I believe I was good at empathizing with Pat and getting them to understand whatever the real cause of the headache are they are save in this office.

 I have to say one thing I need practice on is my body language. I have the habit of looking fake for example over interested, or looking apathetic to the whole situation and process when working in simulation labs. I’m grateful for what this class taught me and showed me. I believe I want to take every lesson and apply it to my schooling and whatever practice I choose. Because of this class im still confused to which track ill take ADP or DP, time will tell.