Interview with Nancy Nangeroni

By Allie McLaughlin

A final note: though Nancy and I are both in Cambridge, MA ó where, incidentally, thanks to Nancy's hard work the local anti-discrimination laws were amended to include transgender folk ó time constraints made it more convenient for us to exchange Q's and A's via e-mail. I am certain, though, that her trade-mark eloquence would have made an appearance in a person-to-person interview as well.

Were you politically active before your move to gender politics? If so, what issues motivated you? Are you active in other areas besides the gender issue now?

I was not active in politics before getting involved in gender issues, except for a period in my youth, during high school. I remember joining in a protest action following the American invasion of Cambodia and in general participating in anti-Vietnam War activism.

My parents, however, were both very active in social and political activism, and instilled in me both a caring about social issues as well as a general feeling of empowerment with respect to social/political work. Hanging on my wall here at home I have awards for activist work received by my parents from the NAACP, the National Conference of Christian and Jews, and a local civil rights organization called Freedom House. I am proud of their work and honored to have become empowered to follow in their footsteps.

I have found myself to be an effective agent of change around gender issues because of my own gender. However, my interests extend far beyond gender, and I hope to be able to do more as I gain experience and credibility.

It seems to me that one of the most pressing problems in our culture is the lack of respect given to children, and the plight of children who are different. Too many people spend too much of their adult lives trying to recover from abusive childhood situations. We need to find a way to intervene on behalf of children who are stuck with abusive -- or simply ignorant -- parentage. This is a particularly volatile issue, but one which also holds great benefit if addressed successfully. I don't pretend to know how to approach this issue, and can only hope that time will reveal to me a path that we can take successfully in this direction.

I also have strong concerns about the role of technology in society. It was technology that enabled populations to swell, technology that enabled mass genocide, and technology that empowers the extermination of countless species and habitats. Currently we are caught in a death spiral of accelerating technological competition that has us working harder and harder just to equip ourselves with the technology to keep working harder. This makes no sense, and demands a critical assessment.

I am also interested in reformulating ideas about workplace culture. For some reason, though we insisted that our government be democratic, we have contented ourselves to live with an autocratic workplace. The corporation allows individuals to divorce themselves from responsibility for their actions, enabling them to engage a completely different set of ethics in the workplace from those they would follow in public. Hence our corporations tend to behave with much less ethical responsibility than typical of our cultural beliefs, to the detriment of all of us. If a democracy has proven (it's manifest flaws notwithstanding) to be the most effective, successful, and beneficial form of government, why not the same thing for the workplace?

I've always held rebellious thoughts when confronted with repressive systems, and look forward to continuing to actively advocate for change. However, I am mindful of history's lessons, and in particular seek incremental rather than radical change, so that the effects of any change can be observed and felt before proceeding further in any direction. I am not so foolish as to think that I have the correct solutions to any problem. I only know of some solutions that might work, and always counsel caution in the adoption of any policy aimed at solving a problem. Like technology, most solutions cause more problems than they fix, so we would do well to adopt solutions most carefully.

I don't find it at all surprising that transgendered folk would tend toward liberal (if not left wing) causes. Considering the (albeit stereotyped) personality profile of most TGs: intelligent, sensitive, caring; and of course the years of feeling disenfranchised--it just seems natural.

I don't particularly like the labels "liberal" and "left wing." I prefer to judge each situation on it's own merits, rather than by some litmus test for liberalism or by the position taken on the issue by some group. If you knew me well, you'd know that my views are "conservative" in some ways and "liberal" in others.

What IS surprising though, is when you run across someone from the TG community, or anyone from a minority group for that matter, who has right wing or conservative values.

Some people will tell you that the crossdressing community tends toward conservatism. It makes sense if you don't assume that there's a connection between political views and propensity for transgenderism, and instead consider the economics involved. Closeted crossdressers tend to be more affluent than average. They are people with more to lose by coming out.

As for keeping transgenderism in the closet, sometimes I feel like I'm spoiling the fun of doing something forbidden. By making it more OK, you make it less exciting. It could be argued that my work is stealing from others the pleasure of a harmless transgression. I understand how some people might feel that way, and I'm sympathetic in spirit, if not in practice.

Can you comment on the importance of coming out as a political act?

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who came before us, who had the courage to come out of the closet and challenge both laws that made it illegal for a man to dress as a woman, and customs that ridiculed most forms of transgenderism.

I believe that debt is best repaid by doing likewise.

There is no single act that is more necessary for the health of our community, and for society as a whole, than the coming out of individuals, not just about gender, but about all kinds of issues which are hidden. The maintenance of false fronts and secrecy enables many of the sicknesses that plague our culture. Living honestly, openly, and with courage, gives us strength and makes it possible to stand up for what is right. When you lose secrets, you lose vulnerability. When you stand tall and speak the truth, you become as bedrock.

It is not possible to do this when you are closeted about your true feelings.

This is not to say that all must be revealed at all times. However, fear of revelation may be most reliably ended by revelation.

I don't believe that you can make people like us. I don't believe that passing laws is going to take us where we need to go. I believe that we need to win people's hearts, and I think we're succeeding. But passing laws will protect some people who are currently being hurt, so I support doing so.

But I believe we must be careful not to let our vision end at our own needs. Top truly fulfill our potential, we need to extend our compassion beyond the borders of our community, and help others. In native American culture, we were the shamans. I believe that we can again be shamans in our culture today, and it is happening for some transgender folk. We don't need permission to do what is right and best for others, too. We don't need laws to enable us to help others. We can do that on our own. It is our heritage. The way is in our hearts. We have but to look for it, and develop the courage to follow.

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