Guilty By Gender

Guilty By Gender:
Poems

By Hap Hanchett

1996

60 Pages



From the Introduction

The role of transsexual has never been recognized as a valuable one. Despite the fact that transsexuals can enhance our definition of what is woman and what is man, by offering a sharper perspective than any single gender vision, we have always been seen as a burden to society as opposed to a resource. . . .

After many years of indecision as to what writing format to use for telling my story, I finally chose poetry. I did so because poetry has no boundaries. Its form gives permission to make sweeping statements of personal truth. I also chose it because, as Gloria Steinem wrote, "There can be no revolution without poetry." Whether it be a revolution from within or from without (and I believe it must be both), MOVEMENT is what is needed in order to begin. And since poetry does not lend itself to argument, one can only be moved by it or not.


Table of Contents

IN THE BEGINNING
Hey Mister
Not All Girls
I was Me

BECOMING
My Father and I
Suspicious
Under the Knife
He Liked Me Better As A Woman
To Where the Grass Is Greener

DISCOVERING
Is This Legal?
Boys Will Be Boys
Decree
Penance
The Best Thing
Freedom

TRANSMUTING
Maybe, Maybe Not
Once A Year on The 4th Of July
Short Little Man
Barking Up The Wrong Tree
Drumming Blues
The Matters of Men
A Good Man
The Effects of Custom and Culture

TRANSCENDING
What I Have Learned
I Am
How We Listen
Scars
Understanding Why We Gotta Have It
See My Value
Authenticity
Sometimes
Prayer