wbur.org
support wbur today!
Listen to this story
Going Female
photo

By host Tom Ashbrook:

When Roy Berkowitz-Shelton was 50, he told his wife he was a woman — and probably always had been. Not in any way you could immediately see, but deep inside — a woman in a man’s body.

Now, the marriage is effectively over. Roy is “Deborah” — Dr. Deborah Bershel. Her patients are getting used to it. Her children’s lives have been changed by their dad’s revelation. And she is living a transgendered life.

It’s been a hard road to what feels, for this human being, like liberation.

This hour On Point: Dr. Deborah Bershel talks about her transgender journey.

Guests:

Dr. Deborah Bershel, physician at Davis Square Family Practice and subject of a 2-part Boston Globe Magazine article.

Dr. Norman Spack, Senior Endocrinologist and Co-Founder/Co-Director of Gender Management Services at Children’s Hospital Boston.

 
 

Comments are closed.

Recent Shows
After ‘No Child Left Behind’
Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Obama administration wants to rewrite No Child Left Behind. We’ll ask what’s coming for American education.

Comments [48]
 
The U.S.-Israel Blowup
Thursday, March 18, 2010

Top Pentagon brass complain the Israel-Palestinian impasse is undermining American interests. We’ll look at the US-Israel moment of crisis.

Comments [155]
On Point Blog
Sonny Rollins on Race and Jazz’s Future

Jazz legend Sonny Rollins joined us to reflect on his storied career and give us his thoughts on the future of music. To celebrate his 80th birthday, the hugely influential tenor saxophonist is embarking on yet another national tour.

More »
 
IED’s in Afghanistan: Hard Numbers

The Department of Defense provided On Point with some statistics about IED attacks in Afghanistan, where there has been an increase in the use of such weapons over the past 14 months. It’s striking to see the spike in numbers — from 2,677 IED incidents in 2007 to 8,159 last year.

More » | Comments [2]
 
Christopher Hill: U.S. Troop Withdrawal ‘On Schedule’

U.S. Ambassaor to Iraq Christopher Hill spoke with On Point live from Baghdad today as early voting gets underway, part of the run-up to Sunday’s elections. “So far so good,” Hill said, despite scattered violence. Hill said that the plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops by Sept. 1, and to leave only a residual advisory force of 50,000 or fewer, remains “very much on schedule.” Observers worry that a spike in violence could derail that timeline.

More »