Reporting on the transgender community has been a complete learning experience for me. Not only have I learned to report better, but I feel as if I have also become a part of a community of people who have gone through so much emotionally, psychologically and physically, just to be happy. The stories I have written were told from emotion and firsthand experience. I have learned what it feels like to be rejected by society and loved ones while managing to wake up every morning with a smile.
I have gained the partner’s perspective and understanding; it isn’t easy watching the person you love go through so much agony and change within months or even years. What I liked most about reporting this beat so far is getting to know different people and how they view sexuality and gender roles. Ariel, the partner I interviewed for my profile story, identified as a lesbian before her partner Collin’s transition. Since his transition, she has said she still loves women, but now realizes that one truly falls in love with a person, not their gender.
I think what’s been most frustrating for me is the lack of transgender resources in Greeley and Loveland. This is what I dislike the most about this beat and I wish I was more aware of it before I attempted to cover it. I think I have done a good job on interviewing my sources and gathering information, but I think I can work on making my stories more intriguing. It is a very controversial and interesting topic I’m writing about, so I would like to provide readers with stories that want to make them spread tolerance and to help them understand what it means to be transgender and how community members live the average lives.
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