If I Could Talk to The Animals
Nora A. Simone
… even if we cannot “talk” to animals,
we can still have relationships
If I Could Talk to The Animals is a song from the 1967 musical Doctor Dolittle. The song is about a human’s desire to talk to animals by learning their languages. The ability to talk with animals would certainly help us understand them better, learn about their feelings, thoughts, and the way they perceive the world. It would also help us manage nature by finding better ways to coexist that ensures our collective survival and the health of our planet.
Well, until “talking” is possible, valuable communication with animals already exists. For example, it’s established that animals can sense if we are sick, in pain, fearful, alive, or dead. They can hear your heart beat, smell cancer, and anticipate a seizure. In return, humans can detect when animals need food, shelter, comfort, and companionship. So even if we cannot “talk” to animals, we can still have relationships.
The question is, does a relationship with animals – especially pets – make a positive difference in the lives of transgender people?
In my view – absolutely!
The only study on this topic I could find was based on a relatively small number of teenagers in Australia. In summary: findings were supportive of the idea that animals provide an important social buffer to transgender youth. Not surprised, this reinforced my experience and those of my friends – specifically, that animals play a beneficial role in transgender people’s lives in at least three ways:
- As confidantes
Do you feel relieved after unburdening yourself with personal concerns? Just talking about your concerns is a healthy start towards resolution. Many transgender people start their lives with unique fear and confusion about gender. At the same time, they instinctually understand it’s better to not share these feelings with other people. Or perhaps they have revealed transgender feelings to others and suffered negative consequences. Thus, a trusted confidante would be extremely valuable.
Sophie Lynne, a transwoman agrees. She says that her dog Nittany “saw me dressed many times as I explored my feminine feelings before anyone else did, but didn’t at all care.” I believe that Nittany, like all good confidantes, completely understood, accepted Sophie, and never betrayed her trust. Good dog!
2. As offering a sense of non-judgmental safety
Compared to being with people, I normally feel safer from a gender perspective when with animals. Farms, zoos, aquariums, and even in the home of friends with pets, are places where I know animals will not judge me based on gender. I can just be me and not worry about the possibility of human emotions and feelings as a source of fear and anger against non-cisgender types.
Sure, I’ve been ignored by cats, stung by bees, and barked at by dogs – but never because I did not appear to be my birth gender. Yet, in contrast when presenting as transgender, people have shunned me, attempted physical violence, and called me unflattering names. My case is not unusual. People can be mean in a way animals generally are not capable of understanding.
3. As a touchstone to the more-than-human
Animals don’t have any biases that humans might have. Thus, they provide a counterpoint to cisgender social norms. Humans have a vast array of traits and abilities that help us survive, yet animals beat us at many specific ones. So instead of thinking we are superior to all animals, perhaps we should appreciate other animals for who they are, not who we want them to be.
Animals remind us that we are seen and loved and that being transgender makes absolutely no difference. In summary animals are generally reliable, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful, and loyal. How many people can you honestly say the same about?
Does gender ever matter to animals? Yes!
According to dog-lover friend DeeDee Allen “Human men and women have a completely different scent as registered by dogs. If a dog has been abused by either, the dog will remember and act accordingly.” This is consistent with my experience with an adopted dog described as a “manhater.” She had been mistreated by men. Yet, when meeting me, (transwoman impersonating a man), the dog displayed affection. “That dog has NEVER been comfortable around any man” according to the surprised rescuers. How did she know? Regardless, for fourteen years that dog heard my problems, felt my frustrations, adventured willingly, and saw me in dozens of disguises; yet she always loved me and never revealed my secret life to anyone. Priceless!
Love is all you need
When the Beatles sang “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make,” do you agree they intentioned all love was included, even to animals? I do, because love and relationships endure even after death. Today for example, Sophie says that her love with Nittany continues. She further says “Even though I could not take Nittany with me when transitioning required me to leave home, I do not count Nittany among the losses of that difficult period. Our love is forever.” It has been said that a dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself. Agree?
Points to remember …
• Animals provide a model for how all relationships should work: to be loved for existing, not for how someone identifies. Animals do not subject you to specific human constructs. They appreciate and love you for who you are.
• Animals appear to have emotions and empathy that you can also empathize with and thus form a relationship. You are free from thinking “Are they going to misgender me?” Whew!
• Animals provide an emotional anchor during dysphoria. They are a real connection with another living organism. They relate to you no matter what, because they don’t have the innate and experience-based biases that make us human.
Doesn’t the idea of unconditional acceptance sound good? If so, the world of non-judgmental animals awaits.
