Stephanie Mott, the executive director of Kansas Statewide Transgender Project, speaks on transgender education at the Emporia Public Library last Saturday. Stephanie Mott said it was common for transgender people to be homeless. Yiqing Fu/The Bulletin

Transgender education was the topic of discussion last Saturday at the Emporia Public Library.

Students and local residents gathered to hear Stephanie Mott speak on the stereotypes and struggles associated with being transgendered.

Mott, founder and spokesperson for the Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project, said the project is dedicated to providing education on transgender issues across Kansas.

The term “transgender” is an umbrella term that encompasses anyone whose identity falls outside of the binary and stereotypical gender dichotomy, Mott said.

But for Mott, transgender education has a special meaning.

Born a boy in a town just outside of Lawrence, and at the time named Stephen, Mott said she felt like she was placed in the wrong body and was not sure how to express her feelings.

“Any moment I got to myself, I would use it to express myself as a girl,” Mott said, recounting her childhood struggles.

Mott’s story impressed some of the attendees.

“I thought it was very inspiring hearing about Stephanie’s story, even more so that even though she had been through so much and seen so much hardship, she was able to find happiness and wanted to share her happiness with others and see that their road was not so long,” said Beth King, senior art education major.

Many questions were asked at the end of the presentation but the audience seemed moved by Mott’s story and her mission to educate people about the trials and tribulations of being transgender.

“I was moved by Stephanie’s story and wowed by her strength,” said Carl Dillman, freshman at Flint Hills Technical College. “I also found it extraordinary that she maintained her Christian faith through it all, until she described the church to which she belongs. She’s an excellent example of the kind of tolerance and acceptance that Topeka isn’t exactly known for, but by rights ought to be.”

Mott gave insight on just how misunderstood the transgendered community is, but she also said that some of the same struggles transgender individuals face are shared by all people.

“We all figuratively wear masks and are not always our true selves, so this isn’t something that affects transgendered people, but something that affects all people,” said Mott.

To learn more about transgender education, go to K-step.org.

Whitney Coleman

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