Mr. Elliot Hobaugh
We chose to interview Mr. Elliot Hobaugh because he is a trans male who used to lead a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) in his high school, and is now currently in charge of Allies-Training at his college. His rough experiences in transitioning from female to male combined with his determined, encouraging personality and his wits caused him to become an important person within his community, despite being only 19 years old.
Born and raised in Chicago, Elliot was raised the youngest of four, raised by two loving parents. He began to feel he was "different" from other girls around his years in preschool, before he even knew what transgender meant - later in his freshmen year of college, he realized who he was and began his transformation. Although he was concerned he might be disowned if he came out to his parents, he proceeded anyways, resulting in them acting as though it didn't happen. It took them about 2 years to start calling him by his preferred name, Elliot. Before college and before his transformation, Elliot had many friends and wasn't bullied or discriminated against much at all, but after his transformation, he lost many supposed friends and felt the discrimination in almost full force. He eventually found friends among the LGBT+ community - unfortunately, he an his friends were discriminated against in many ways, from religious persons such as pastor, to being kicked from a christian camp, to even watching a friend being beaten unconscious by 2 bouncers, then refused compensation for their medical bills. Instead of raging out at these acts, Elliot has decide to use his experiences to lead and to help train members of his local GSA, hoping to make a difference by helping people understand rather than forcing them to see from just one point of view; this is what he does currently, and this is what will help change his community one person at a time.
Born and raised in Chicago, Elliot was raised the youngest of four, raised by two loving parents. He began to feel he was "different" from other girls around his years in preschool, before he even knew what transgender meant - later in his freshmen year of college, he realized who he was and began his transformation. Although he was concerned he might be disowned if he came out to his parents, he proceeded anyways, resulting in them acting as though it didn't happen. It took them about 2 years to start calling him by his preferred name, Elliot. Before college and before his transformation, Elliot had many friends and wasn't bullied or discriminated against much at all, but after his transformation, he lost many supposed friends and felt the discrimination in almost full force. He eventually found friends among the LGBT+ community - unfortunately, he an his friends were discriminated against in many ways, from religious persons such as pastor, to being kicked from a christian camp, to even watching a friend being beaten unconscious by 2 bouncers, then refused compensation for their medical bills. Instead of raging out at these acts, Elliot has decide to use his experiences to lead and to help train members of his local GSA, hoping to make a difference by helping people understand rather than forcing them to see from just one point of view; this is what he does currently, and this is what will help change his community one person at a time.
Full Interview Transcript
What is your name and what was your name before if you changed it?
Elliott Hobaugh it was Grace
Where are you from, and where do you live? How long have you lived in your state/city?
Chicago, IL I've lived here for 19 years
What is your job?
I'm a student and an actor
What does discrimination mean to you in your own words?
Discrimination is the unjust treatment of people who belong to the outgroup.
Are you part of an activist or support group in the LGBT community? If yes, what is your role in the group?
Yes, I am part of Missoula LGBT activist, I was a leader for GSA in high school, I am in charge of allies training at my college.
Would you mind giving us a little backstory on yourself, maybe childhood life?
I was born and raised on the northside of Chicago. I'm the youngest of 4 and have 2 parents who have been together my whole life.
How did your family react to you telling them that you are transgender and how did you feel telling about telling them?
My family wasn't supportive and just kinda acted like nothing was different. It took them two years to ever call me Elliott. I was terrified to tell my parents because I didn't want them to disown me. I thought they might kick me out.
When did you realize you were transgender?
I realized I wasn't fitting in with the typical girl stereotypes in preschool but I didn't know what transgender meant until my freshman year of college.
Have you experienced any setbacks on your journey?
In the first 2 years I was out I felt stuck because I didn't have support from my family to start my medical transition. It was quite frustrating.
Were you ever bullied or discriminated against due to your identity?
Not while I was in Chicago because I went to an amazing high school but when I moved to Montana for college I started getting discriminated against for the first time.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone has discriminated against you because they believe being part of the LGBT+ community is against their said religion?
Yes, I went to a church before I was out that talked about stoning queer people and in Montana, we had some very problematic pastors come preach at out school and they were very anti-queer. I also used to go to a Christian camp and got kicked out of that camp when I came out and lost a lot of friends.
Is there any particular religious group you feel is the most discriminating?
Alt-right Christians
Are you a religious person? If so, what religion do you practice and did you face any discrimination from the people in your Church?
I am a Christian and I go to very accepting Churches and groups.
Do you feel as if religious discrimination towards the LGBT+ community has gotten better or worse over the years?
I feel that with the new administration In the country has brought upon a new wave of discrimination towards LGBTQ+ folks.
Have you ever been turned away by a healthcare provider (and if not, how would you feel)?
I have not but if I ever did I would feel dehumanized and less than the rest of others. It heartbreaking to think that you can be left to die just because of something you can't control.
Have you ever felt discriminated against in a medical setting?
No.
Have you ever felt afraid to go get medical help due to the fear of being discriminated against?
Yes, the first time I went to the health center in Montana.
Have you ever felt that a medical professional has treated you differently than people who are not in the LGBT community?
No.
Have you ever had gaps in health insurance coverage or trouble obtaining health insurance?
No
In your opinion, do you believe healthcare providers should be allowed to refuse to treat LGBT+ patients due to their own personal or religious beliefs?
Definitely not
Do you feel there are enough support groups for people in the LGBT+ community?
I think it depends on where you live. In rural places, no but in cities like Chicago, there are a lot of resources.
Do you feel that there are not enough medical professionals who are trained to work with the LGBT+ community?
No, it's something that more people need to be educated on.
What are your thoughts on homosexuality (until 1973) being previously considered as a mental disorder by medical professionals?
I think that people are afraid of what they don't understand. So back before 1973 not a lot of people were out and those who were-were very few and heteros were afraid of it. It isn't a mental disorder and should have never been classified as one.
What are your thoughts on the fact that being transgender is still considered a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization?
I think that there is a lack of education for everyone who is cisgendered, I think people just don't understand what being trans means and Isn't a mental illness and with more understanding over the years, that status will go away.
What are your thoughts on electroshock therapy and castration being previously used as "treatments" for people of the LGBT+ community
It's awful and as a psychology major, I have studied the negative effects of it on people. It doesn't work and leads to high amounts of suicide.
Have you ever felt discriminated against on social media?
Yes
How often do you feel yourself or other people are discriminated against on social media compared to in real life?
It's easier to do it over social media because it's not face to face.
Do you think that risk of bullying and other personal attacks might be lessened if the homophobic and transphobic ideologies weren’t spread via social media or news stations/newspapers?
I think that spreading awareness of the homophobic and transphobic ideologies makes people know what's going on and helps our allies realize that support is still needed and being queer isn't easy.
Do you think that newspapers and news stations cause just as much discrimination as social media?
I think it depends on each different media outlet, FOX news, and Breitbart is way more discriminatory than MSNBC and ABC.
Have you ever been in a legal situation where the authorities or someone higher in ranking have mistreated you?
No
Feel free not to answer, seeing as this is a personal question, but was it difficult to change your gender on official documents?
Yes, it is, it's different for each state. For Illinois, you can get your gender changed on your state ID but not on your birth certificate unless you've had surgery.
What is your opinion on people in the LGBT community who get accused of being rapists or pedophiles because of their sexuality?
I again think it is a lack of understanding and people being afraid of what they don't know.
There have been many cases where people in the LGBT community are forced take the blame or denied justice because of their sexuality, why do you think this is?
I have just witnessed my friend who got beaten to unconsciousness by 2 bouncers at a bar get no compensation for his medical bills and nothing happened to the bouncers. Everyone needs to be treated the same in the eyes of the law.
Do you think more of an effort could be made to create equality for people in the LGBT community, legally speaking?
Yes, having laws that are national rather than just by each state. I shouldn't lose my rights when I cross state lines.
Legally speaking, do you think things have been improving or getting worse?
I think that in some states it's getting better and in others, it's getting worse. You have states that are making bills to help queer people and others that are against people who are queer.
Has anyone you know or yourself, been in a situation where you have been refused justice due to your sexuality?
Yes, my friend I mentioned earlier was refused the justice he deserved after he was beaten up.
Elliott Hobaugh it was Grace
Where are you from, and where do you live? How long have you lived in your state/city?
Chicago, IL I've lived here for 19 years
What is your job?
I'm a student and an actor
What does discrimination mean to you in your own words?
Discrimination is the unjust treatment of people who belong to the outgroup.
Are you part of an activist or support group in the LGBT community? If yes, what is your role in the group?
Yes, I am part of Missoula LGBT activist, I was a leader for GSA in high school, I am in charge of allies training at my college.
Would you mind giving us a little backstory on yourself, maybe childhood life?
I was born and raised on the northside of Chicago. I'm the youngest of 4 and have 2 parents who have been together my whole life.
How did your family react to you telling them that you are transgender and how did you feel telling about telling them?
My family wasn't supportive and just kinda acted like nothing was different. It took them two years to ever call me Elliott. I was terrified to tell my parents because I didn't want them to disown me. I thought they might kick me out.
When did you realize you were transgender?
I realized I wasn't fitting in with the typical girl stereotypes in preschool but I didn't know what transgender meant until my freshman year of college.
Have you experienced any setbacks on your journey?
In the first 2 years I was out I felt stuck because I didn't have support from my family to start my medical transition. It was quite frustrating.
Were you ever bullied or discriminated against due to your identity?
Not while I was in Chicago because I went to an amazing high school but when I moved to Montana for college I started getting discriminated against for the first time.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone has discriminated against you because they believe being part of the LGBT+ community is against their said religion?
Yes, I went to a church before I was out that talked about stoning queer people and in Montana, we had some very problematic pastors come preach at out school and they were very anti-queer. I also used to go to a Christian camp and got kicked out of that camp when I came out and lost a lot of friends.
Is there any particular religious group you feel is the most discriminating?
Alt-right Christians
Are you a religious person? If so, what religion do you practice and did you face any discrimination from the people in your Church?
I am a Christian and I go to very accepting Churches and groups.
Do you feel as if religious discrimination towards the LGBT+ community has gotten better or worse over the years?
I feel that with the new administration In the country has brought upon a new wave of discrimination towards LGBTQ+ folks.
Have you ever been turned away by a healthcare provider (and if not, how would you feel)?
I have not but if I ever did I would feel dehumanized and less than the rest of others. It heartbreaking to think that you can be left to die just because of something you can't control.
Have you ever felt discriminated against in a medical setting?
No.
Have you ever felt afraid to go get medical help due to the fear of being discriminated against?
Yes, the first time I went to the health center in Montana.
Have you ever felt that a medical professional has treated you differently than people who are not in the LGBT community?
No.
Have you ever had gaps in health insurance coverage or trouble obtaining health insurance?
No
In your opinion, do you believe healthcare providers should be allowed to refuse to treat LGBT+ patients due to their own personal or religious beliefs?
Definitely not
Do you feel there are enough support groups for people in the LGBT+ community?
I think it depends on where you live. In rural places, no but in cities like Chicago, there are a lot of resources.
Do you feel that there are not enough medical professionals who are trained to work with the LGBT+ community?
No, it's something that more people need to be educated on.
What are your thoughts on homosexuality (until 1973) being previously considered as a mental disorder by medical professionals?
I think that people are afraid of what they don't understand. So back before 1973 not a lot of people were out and those who were-were very few and heteros were afraid of it. It isn't a mental disorder and should have never been classified as one.
What are your thoughts on the fact that being transgender is still considered a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization?
I think that there is a lack of education for everyone who is cisgendered, I think people just don't understand what being trans means and Isn't a mental illness and with more understanding over the years, that status will go away.
What are your thoughts on electroshock therapy and castration being previously used as "treatments" for people of the LGBT+ community
It's awful and as a psychology major, I have studied the negative effects of it on people. It doesn't work and leads to high amounts of suicide.
Have you ever felt discriminated against on social media?
Yes
How often do you feel yourself or other people are discriminated against on social media compared to in real life?
It's easier to do it over social media because it's not face to face.
Do you think that risk of bullying and other personal attacks might be lessened if the homophobic and transphobic ideologies weren’t spread via social media or news stations/newspapers?
I think that spreading awareness of the homophobic and transphobic ideologies makes people know what's going on and helps our allies realize that support is still needed and being queer isn't easy.
Do you think that newspapers and news stations cause just as much discrimination as social media?
I think it depends on each different media outlet, FOX news, and Breitbart is way more discriminatory than MSNBC and ABC.
Have you ever been in a legal situation where the authorities or someone higher in ranking have mistreated you?
No
Feel free not to answer, seeing as this is a personal question, but was it difficult to change your gender on official documents?
Yes, it is, it's different for each state. For Illinois, you can get your gender changed on your state ID but not on your birth certificate unless you've had surgery.
What is your opinion on people in the LGBT community who get accused of being rapists or pedophiles because of their sexuality?
I again think it is a lack of understanding and people being afraid of what they don't know.
There have been many cases where people in the LGBT community are forced take the blame or denied justice because of their sexuality, why do you think this is?
I have just witnessed my friend who got beaten to unconsciousness by 2 bouncers at a bar get no compensation for his medical bills and nothing happened to the bouncers. Everyone needs to be treated the same in the eyes of the law.
Do you think more of an effort could be made to create equality for people in the LGBT community, legally speaking?
Yes, having laws that are national rather than just by each state. I shouldn't lose my rights when I cross state lines.
Legally speaking, do you think things have been improving or getting worse?
I think that in some states it's getting better and in others, it's getting worse. You have states that are making bills to help queer people and others that are against people who are queer.
Has anyone you know or yourself, been in a situation where you have been refused justice due to your sexuality?
Yes, my friend I mentioned earlier was refused the justice he deserved after he was beaten up.