In episode 12, Chris and Emma were joined by Ellie Krug and Tamara Grady for a discussion of gender and authenticity. Ellie is the author of Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change (2013), was a trial lawyer and has extensive experience providing training on diversity and inclusion. Tamara is an Osseo District School Board member in the suburbs of Minneapolis, and she is a proud mom of children who are a part of the LGBTQ community.
This conversation centers on authenticity, and the challenges faced by people discovering and becoming their authentic selves, through the lens of two personal and touching stories. We didn’t talk explicitly about Dąbrowski’s theory in our discussion but instead focused on the lived experience of Ellie and Tamara on their journeys of personal growth and development. Through these stories, we explore acceptance, unconditional love, and compassion—not only for others, but for oneself—in the context of the struggles faced by transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people.
Resources:
Ellie’s book: Getting To Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change
Tamara on:
Study dispels harmful gender dysphoria myth (“ROGD” is not a real thing)
Advice on how to use gender pronouns
* A transcript of this episode is available on the Dabrowski Center website.
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Email us at positivedisintegration.pod@gmail.com
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Gender and Authenticity