T.J. Jourian on Larry King Live
Jen posted about Larry King focusing on trans topics on his February 15th show here, and you can find a link to the show’s transcript in the comments under her post.
Michigan State University paper “The State News” published this piece on T.J. Jourian’s appearance on the show.
Here’s an excerpt:
Jourian sat in the FOX affiliate television studio in Lansing while he spoke via satellite to King.
During the show, King asked, “T.J. Jourian, when did you start to have different feelings?”
“Well, that was pretty much early on,” Jourian replied. “But I didn’t really start questioning my gender until I was in college and around the age of 20. So it’s only been about four years now that I’ve really started identifying as a transmale.”
“Transmale meaning you want to be a woman?” King asked.
“No, transmale is another term for female to male, so transmale would be wanting to transition into a male identity,” Jourian said.
“Wait a minute,” King said. “Are you a girl?”
“I was born in a female body,” Jourian said. “I wish to transition to a male one.”
“But you look like a male,” King said.
“Yes, because I guess I am one,” Jourian replied.
“But you look like a male and you sound like a male,” King said.
“Well, that term is actually called passing,” Jourian said. “I pass pretty well for someone who hasn’t gone through the transition yet.”
According to King’s publicist Bridget Leininger, King would not comment on the interview.
“Larry likes to have his interviews stand on their own,” Leininger said.
Jourian said some of the questions weren’t framed the way he would have liked, but he expected the questions from King to be blunt.
“(I have) seen previous Larry King episodes, and that’s his style — to be kind of on semi-attack mode all the time and ask questions pretty aggressively,” Jourian said. “Another part comes from him not having any awareness of the language around transgender people.”
Jourian said the episode will help raise awareness of transgender issues throughout the world.
Many of you remember T.J. Jourian from Transgeneration.
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