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Call me Cate
Australian Story has just screened an excellent interview with Cate McGregor .
http://www.abc.net.au/austory/DON’T MISS IT – it is on iView.
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/series/1514564The introduction by Tony Abbott was just amazing. Cate is a very special person – but the acceptance she has should be an inspiration to us all.
Quote:Introduced by the Prime Minister, Tony AbbottLt Col. Cate McGregor AM has been a participant in some of the most significant chapters in recent Australian history.
She has been a political strategist for both the ALP and the Liberal Party.
In her current role as a senior Army officer, she wrote last year’s landmark speech by the Chief of the Army David Morrison which went viral around the world.
Now, she is the most high profile individual in Australia to ‘come out’ as a transgendered person.
When, after decades of private struggle, Malcolm finally decided to become Cate she was ‘terrified’ about the likely reaction from friends and colleagues.
Prime Minister Abbott, Army Chief David Morrison, Liberal pollster Mark Textor and political journalist Barrie Cassidy are among a range of high profile individuals who speak candidly about Cate’s transformation and its impact on them
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21 Replies
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I watched it after catching a promo yesterday. Sadly the TV guides didn’t have the right program listed so I’m sure many would have missed it. She is not just the bravest person but some of her psychological issues parallel mine so closely that I’m ashamed I didn’t come out while I was working.
Isn’t Tony Abbot a strange contradiction of a person. -
What a wonderful program and what an amazing lady. I have never seen a better example of some one who seems to be at total peace with herself. Her message to me was “I am who I am…this is me and I am comfortable with that…..I still love me.”
As I recall (I think) there was some reference somewhere in the program to clothing and she just stated how she really enjoyed wearing a dresses as it was normal for her.
I think she has done more for transgender people than anyone I have seen previously particularly in her approach to her industry colleagues.
Did Tony Abbott’s comments surprise me? They were beautiful! Without trying to be political in any way, I have always thought there is a great deal of substance to this man.
I think Cate is wonderful.
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A couple of things I forgot in my previous post.
It was stated that some people were hurt (affected) during Cate’s journey and while the story was lovely I guess there will always be someone hurt during such a journey.
I was also dying to know where Cate got the dress she wore to her childhood home…but…being a question I have opened a new topic.
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I watched the story with deep understanding, at first the rejection of being female then the acts to hide and even destroy the ideas.
You can not pick a harder path than this to follow. But yes there was victims along the way.
I think the story was good. But she still has some demons to face yet. like all of us. -
Quote:But she still has some demons to face yet. like all of us.True – but what I think Cate got right was to dwell on the positive and not go for the sympathy vote. In many places I detected that her choice of language was considered (as you would expect from a speech writer). I think we could learn as much from what she didn’t say, as what she did say.
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A very brave lady, gave me the courage to come out to my sister, Ive been trying & bottling out for years, all good
thank you Cate
Terri -
What an absolutely awesome woman. I am so happy for her that she has finally arrived at the place in her life she was always meant to be. I hope in time she does meet someone else who she can share her life with. In the meantime she can take much solace in the support that she has received and the well wishes of us all. Truly an inspiring Australian
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What a wonderful person Cate is. I have no doubt that the majority of people who watched that show would come away with a more enlightened attitude towards transgendered people. Ten points to the PM and the head of the Army for their role. Cate would make a great guest speaker at TF.
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Chrissy-ACt suggested Cate McGregor would make a wonderful guest speaker at the Transformal. Sorry Chrissy, it was already thought of, a request made to Cate and declined; Cate was busy, flat out. Maybe another year.
Cate Mc would have been a tremendous speaker holding guests absolutely spellbound. I also thought had Katoomba residents known that Ms McGregor was at the Carrington, the Carrington would heve been bursting at the seams.
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Quote:Chrissy-ACt suggested Cate McGregor would make a wonderful guest speaker at the Transformal. Sorry Chrissy, it was already thought of, a request made to Cate and declined; Cate was busy, flat out. Maybe another year.
Cate Mc would have been a tremendous speaker holding guests absolutely spellbound. I also thought had Katoomba residents known that Ms McGregor was at the Carrington, the Carrington would heve been bursting at the seams.
Liz,
As far as I know, what you have written is not true.
If it is true it would be good to let me know first.Please can we stick to facts… arranging TF is hard enough as it is.
A
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If we could explore the possibillity of having her at Katoomba, i f even for a few minutes, I would love to thank her in person
Terri -
I think as do all of you that she an inspiration to all of us, and I hope she continues to lead a happy life.
I can’t help wondering though would the story have been the same if she had been a mechanic or a truck driver or a shop assistant. She has spent her life moving in circles of intelligent high profile people, could this maybe have weighted the outcome more to the positive. We ordinary people who mix with the beer drinking, footy watching lets go fishing with a slab or two types, may have a different outcome.
Still I admire Cate and sincerely wish her continued happiness.
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Agreed. While I also admire her, it bothers me that ordinary people are undertaking the same journey every day which is far more inspiring for me personally than a media figure.
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Even though Cate’s story neither speaks to the specific challenges of my individual gender identity nor my chosen transition I still applaud her for her courage in sending such a powerful and effective message.
As a community we are frustratingly focussed on our own particular issues and regularly put down anyone who has a message that doesn’t fit our needs.
as a result we difuse our energy on internal division and pointless gender politics.
Knowing this inherent propensity to attack before empathising makes Cate’s outing doubly brave. I don’t think her high profile backgroud in any way devalues her experience. She undoudtably faced her own unique challenges and should be applauded for the way she has overcome them.We are all unique individuals but that shouldn’t stand in the way of us supporting the common good.
But so frequently it does
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It is considered easier to transition in a higher socio economic environment and as such many people who do have little interest in the process experienced by others. It is not the case that most who are successful will give the rest of the community much help often they fail to see the struggle of others as relevant to them as others who struggle fail to associate with the success.
I see it this way the gender diverse community has for the most part been ignored by the general population in the past . The reality of our lives has been mostly lost in the minds of most. They can’t see us and don’t hear us and we progress our causes at a snails pace because of our invisibility.
EXPOSURE is critical to the advance of the gender diverse community. Silent we remain vulnerable to the whim of others. I am not really sure if there is any value in questions about the validity of those who champion our cause there’s to much infighting over to many ultimately trivial matters and that holds us back.
Cate McGregor is making fantastic inroads into the media that would be all but impossible for the rest of us and is continuing to discuss the gender issues. That is only to be commended not questioned.
