When she transitioned, Bobbie Scopa lost a bit. Her home has abandoned her. Her union sank. One of her children, at least once, has fewer conversations with her.
Her career wasn’t what she didn’t lose.
With the permission of Bobbie Scopa
Although it may seem contradictory, Scopa’s status as a wildland fire improved as a person.
According to Scopa, “I think the workforce is much more eager to have a worthy, strong, and tough woman join their ranks.” Much more so than someone who they do n’t consider to be a very masculine man.
According to the National Institutes of Health, people with gender dysphoria have higher rates of suicide thinking and suicide attempt. Coppa claims that her choice to change was a wise one.
She says, “For me, it was either change or I was going to end my life.” “I would not have survived,” I said.
Scopa is the author of “Both Sides of the Fire Line: Memoir of the Transgender Firefighter,” and he previously worked for the U.S. Forest Service as assistant fire director for all wildland fire operations in Oregon. He is also the author of “Both Sides of the Fire Line: Memoir of the Transgender Firefighter.” She spoke with network Geoff Norcross of OPB’s “All Things Considered.”
Courtesy Bobbie Scopa / Bobbie Scopa
Geoff Norcross: “Why do you think that after you transitioned, individuals in that world were so much more accepting of you”?
Bobbie Scopa: “Well, the situation is complicated. First of all, I don’t know how many people were aware that I had transitioned. Several persons did. Some individuals didn’t. It wasn’t the subject of discussion. However, I think the workplace is much more willing to accept a skilled, capable, and tough woman in their ranks if you’re perceived as a male who’s never especially masculine and you’re in a macho workplace. Much more so than someone who they do n’t consider to be a very masculine man. And I believe that explains why I did also after I transitioned.
Norcross:” You mentioned that you worked with some folks before and after you met. What connection did they have to you?
Scopa: “I may say, in general, hardly well. I have a dozen fire pals from several decades ago when I first started out. However, the majority of my close friends and acquaintances who I worked with before I transitioned, which is, you know, 25 years or more ago, didn’t want to have much to do with me. It’s a tough idea for people to accept, in my opinion. Particularly men, I believe they find it much more difficult because they find it to be very difficult, and I fully understand that. However, I never had any issues with the people I worked with after my change. I always experienced any problems. All was fantastic. They thought of me as the head. A nice, strong, and capable leader is all I wanted them to view.
Norcross: “What do you think would have happened to you if you hadn’t made this very difficult decision, if you hadn’t transitioned?”
Scopa: “Oh, I have no doubt that I wouldn’t have survived. You know when you have a problem with someone since you were three or four years older and are now 40 and trying to hang on. It was either shift or I was going to end my life for me. That is the reality. And it’s kind of depressing because so many individuals experience that. But for me, that’s how I know I may have ended up. Without that, I wouldn’t have lived.”
Norcross: You fought burns for more than 40 times. What aspect of being a fire was your beloved?
Scopa:” You know, the citizens. The citizens are their favourite feature. whether it’s the people you’re working with or when you’re dealing with a division that you’re trying to protect from a big fire coming in and you’re dealing with some of those people. The best part of my job was the citizens, and I’m a people person. Having said that, I enjoyed living in the fast-paced, high-stress atmosphere of firefighting. And that’s what made it all useful: dealing with the people, bringing people together, coaching, mentoring, and helping people. And I’m continuing to do it. I’m still trying to inspire people to get better officials.
Norcross:” You wrote this book after you retired. Why did you hold off until next?”
Scopa:” Well, I didn’t want to confound the circumstance I was in. I work and take care of countless individuals. My ability to influence others would have been compromised if I had written this book and begun discussing trans issues while I was still employed. Since Bobbie, the transgender fire chief or Bobbie, the transgender fire management officer would have been the focus instead of” Bobbie, the strong, competent good leader.” And I vehemently did not want to give up my ability to perform my job in favor of this desire to try to sour some people’s thoughts. I waited for that reason.
Norcross: “So would it be simpler for anyone on the fireline right now who is currently struggling with the inquiries you made about their sex and who they are to make that choice?” What kind of lifestyle exists”?
Scopa: “I think it is simpler for them right then. I haven’t known the word transgender for the majority of my life. It’s much more receptive then than it once was. I hope getting some expert help and guidance is simpler for people. I get so many comments from people that they find it surprising that I’m still a Holy or that I still go to church. And I sort of make fun of the notion that having nothing to do with being trans has nothing to do with my faith. However, the concept is the same. Citizens have these notions regarding what they believe the trans community is all about. And so I hope my book makes people realize that, also, this person had a successful job, lots of friends, a happy life, and they were trans. “Wow”!
