Trans Call-In Radio

Episode 1: A Rose by Any Other Name Is Not to be [Dead Named].

[Note: All Trans Call-In Episodes are adaptations of actual interchanges I’ve had with real, live persons. Go here to get the next episode!]

(Bethany): Welcome to Trans Call-In Radio, where I, Bethany Beeler, a trans person, field cis folks’ questions!

(Caller #1): Hi! First-time caller! Bethany, I just hafta to ask what happened to [dead name]?

(Bethany): I’ve not gone anywhere. Bethany is who I’ve always been. Everything you need to know about [dead name]is talking to you right now.

Now a message from our sponsor — Transbuprofen®, the pain-reliever for trans folk!

(Sponsor): Transbuprofen® brings you Real-Life TransPain Rescue #17! “Dead-naming” a trans person (i.e., using their old name, even as a reference to what you perceive to be a past self) is taking a trans’ person’s name in vain and trying to dehumanize us (though you can’t take away our humanity no matter how hard you try!).

Transbuprofen® recommends a dose of the first Matrix movie to grasp the power of claiming one’s own name, one’s own truth! (Try this 60-second clip.)

It takes paragraphs to unpack the baggage dumped on a trans…