Trans News/ Issues

[theoddz]

So I am at the SF VA Medical Center thursday morning. All over the VA are these flat screens that have announcements of stuff on them. It's a variety of things going on at the VA for veterans and staff members. One of the announcements was the following:

Transgender Awareness Day
Oct 3 8:00am-12:00noon

Featured speaker is Marci Bowers, MD

there are other speakers also.......

and yes I think I will go just to hear what is being said..........



please ohhh please vote, vote often and vote Democratic........

I promise if Romney wins none of this kind of stuff will be happening at any VA....we can count on a reduction in services and an attempt to privatize veterans health care.........just like they want to do with Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security.......it will be voucher-VA, voucher-care, voucher-caid and voucher-security
__________________

You know, I heard that, at one time, the SF VA was doing SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery) for MtF's. IF they ever did it, I don't think it was for long.

It's very encouraging that Dr. Bowers is giving a lecture there. Since the SF VA, like most other VA's is a teaching institution, I am hoping that Dr. Bowers and other surgeons and physicians who treat transpeople will encourage more new physicians to enter fields that provide services to transfolks and transgendered Veterans. Right now, the VA health care system is mandated to provide psychological treatments and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgendered Veterans, but they are forbidden from performing any kind of surgical treatment.

I, myself, get my Testosterone, along with all of my injecting supplies and health monitoring (including Testosterone levels) from the VA. It saves me a lot of money and I've found my doctors to be both understanding and cooperative.

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[Toughy]

I don't know about SRS at SFVA (in the past) but I'll see what I can find out cuz I am now curious........I know they are not doing it now. I know transwomen are getting their healthcare in the Women's Clinic......a friend of mine gets her care there....and trust me she would be vocal if she was not happy....laughin.... I'm not sure about transmen.

I'm not sure what the format will be for the program, but I am sure there will be a Q&A after the lectures....it is a teaching hospital.....so it should be very interesting.

I'll come back and give y'all my impressions if you like.........

[Nadeest]

I'd have loved to hear Marci Bower's lecture. It should prove very interesting. I would love to hear your impressions of the lecture.

[theoddz]

There has been a new directive in the VA recently that outlines the specific policy concerning treatment of Transgendered/Transsexual Veterans. It was a loooooooong time coming, let me tell you, but we have it now and I, for one, couldn't be happier!! The long and short of it is that the VA will provide both psychological services, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), monitoring and gender-appropriate health care services.......EXACTLY what is afforded to XX or XY gendered (or "cis") gendered Veterans.

Here is a link to the official VA policy:

http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2416

As of right now, however, the VA still does NOT offer surgical services for SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery), and this is why I am so excited that Dr. Bowers is going to be presenting a lecture at the SFVAMC. :clap::cheer:

It seems that good things are on the horizon for us. :winky:

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[theoddz]

I don't know about SRS at SFVA (in the past) but I'll see what I can find out cuz I am now curious........I know they are not doing it now. I know transwomen are getting their healthcare in the Women's Clinic......a friend of mine gets her care there....and trust me she would be vocal if she was not happy....laughin.... I'm not sure about transmen.

I'm not sure what the format will be for the program, but I am sure there will be a Q&A after the lectures....it is a teaching hospital.....so it should be very interesting.

I'll come back and give y'all my impressions if you like.........

Toughy, that would be really great if you could do that!!! That's so kind of you to take your time to do that for us. I'd love to hear more about it.

There are, indeed, some very wonderful perks in living in the Bay area/GLBTQ "Mecca"!!! :thumbsup:

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[Toughy]

Toughy, that would be really great if you could do that!!! That's so kind of you to take your time to do that for us. I'd love to hear more about it.

There are, indeed, some very wonderful perks in living in the Bay area/GLBTQ "Mecca"!!! :thumbsup:

~Theo~ :bouquet:

I'm doing it for me too Theo......I like to keep up.......so here it is:

It was a great mini-conference. I would say about 50 folks were there with large majority social workers and they got CME/CEU credit for it.

There were 3 presentations from 4 presenters.

Sira Maguen, PhD and Angela Waldrop, PhD MD Working with Transgender Individuals: Mental Health Highlights

Covered definitions (transgender, transexual, sexual orientation) along with issues of violence, barriers to care, HIV, substance abuse risks and what the VA does. Only 29% used VA hospitals and then all the abysmal civilian care issues we all know about such as denial of care, discrimination. I did not know this, but there is a "Transgender American Veterans Association" and they did a study that is the first empirical data on trans vets with 827 trans vets answering questions. link to their website: http://www.tavausa.org/

They then talked about VA Care and the directive of June 2011. They covered pronouns, WPATH Standards of Care, issues with GID diagnosis (they don't like it), and the VA will provide pre-op and post-op care, HRT, mental health counseling (if needed and not everyone needs it), etc. The VA will not provide SRS surgery. The interesting thing pointed out by a later presenter is this exact quote from the directive which is titled 'Providing Health Care for Transgender and Intersex Veterans'. The Directive number is 2011-024 June 9,2011
Section 2b VA does not provide sex reassignment surgery or plastic reconstructive surgery for strictly cosmetic purposes.
That presenter felt this was a very smart little statement since no SRS including chest reconstruction is 'strictly cosmetic'. He thought this was a way to actually get the VA to do the surgeries. It will take time but it certainly could be an advocacy path......

I thought it was interesting that intersex folks are recognized by the VA.

Next Presenter was Marci Bowers, MD.

She is a warm, dynamic, funny as hell woman who has a tendency to ramble when she talks. The best and most interesting thing I heard from her had to do with female genital mutilation/female circumcision. It seems the damage can be repaired with a normal looking and functioning female genitalia as the result. Yes it can be fixed with what she called 'a simple surgery'. She is the only surgeon (she knows about) in the US that is doing this surgery and she does every one of them pro bono. There are surgeons who Europe who do it and she went to Paris and trained. I was stunned and so were the rest of the audience.

She talked about intersex folks as well MtF and FtM. She was clear that more work needs to be done to stop any surgery being done on an intersex persons until they decide what their gender is.

She does metoidioplasty and will create a scrotum with implants if individual wants it. She does not do chest reconstruction, but will also do hysterectomy. She is a board certified OB/GYN. She is not too impressed with available phalloplasty options.

She talked a bit about the history of trans folks and I mean way back history. She seems to think all those eunchs in the Bible were probably MtF folks who were castrated. It seems there was an FtM Pope....Pope John VIII 855AD was the reason that there is now a genital check for all those who are elected Pope. The Pope sits in a chair with a hole in it and one of the Bishops goes below the chair and looks for the necessary dangling bits....this is done in a special room and the Pope does not know who does it......

Another interesting thing she said was this idea of trans folks having 'regret' later is entirely un-supported by data (and in her practice) and is most likely transference on the part of the provider who may or may not have experience with trans folks.

Nick Gorton, MD (and an FtM) was the last presenter. He covered all the HRT stuff as well as some of the legal issues around documents and Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security issues. He does some work with the Transgender Law Center.

He pointed out the very large majority of health care for a trans person has nothing to do with the 'trans' part and everything to do with the human part. He says you already know 90% of what you need to know. 100% of the medical treatments and most of the surgeries are used in cisgender patients. He also does not do much in the way of labs for MTF/FtM.....at baseline, 2 months, 6 months and then yearly.

There is no data to suggest FtM on T will have more heart trouble, more bone fracture problems, and for MtF the big issue when on E is Embolism (blood clots).

-------------
I have a handout with all the slides from the 3 presentations. I figure we can work something out if anyone wants a copy of them. PM if you are interested.

If you have questions you can ask me and I will see if I can answer it based on what I heard today.


edited to add: Dr Bowers showed a 6 minute video (at high speed because the operation is about 3 hours long) of the MtF vaginoplasty...damn is all I will say....

[theoddz]

Wow, Toughy, that sounds like it was quite a presentation. I'd have loved to have attended, just to hear what was said. Thank you so much for sharing that with us!!!

I'm so happy that the VA is having these presenters and these kinds of presentations. I think that the time is quickly approaching when the VA system and other private insurance carriers will have to provide surgical services and coverage to transgendered and transsexual patients. That would certainly be great. If they do get into this in a full scale way, I'm sure it will go a long way into advancing the reasearch and subsequent quality of genital reconstructive surgery for FTMs, too. I've heard several plastic/reconstructive surgeons say that FTM genital surgery (namely, phalloplasty) is much more difficult that MTF genital reconstruction, simply because "it is easier to take away than it is to add".

Thanks again, Toughy, for sharing that. :)

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[Toughy]

The MtF surgery is easier because we all start life as a female.......in the second trimester sex differentiation occurs and in males there is room in the pelvic cavity for a vagina. The other thing is because you are using viable sex organ tissue (the penis) most if not all MtF are capable of orgasm of the clitoral and vaginal varieties. She also said transwomen have a G-spot....

Dr Bowers seemed to think the awful skin grafts needed to make a penis is a HUGE drawback and that yes there are intact nerves in the new phallus, however they are not nerves of the sexual stimulation variety. So no orgasm and you need a rod in the new phallus for penetration.

-------------------

The two women in the first presentation are at the SFVA and are more than happy to talk to any and all VA folks around the country about trans issues. They really are dedicated to quality service delivered in a respectful way.

[Jess]

not "news"... but, WOW!!!

IRLSgPQG0c4&feature

[Nadeest]

That poem definitely expresses things, in a way that helps people to understand, I think and hope.

[Nadeest]

I hope and pray that the VA starts doing our surgeries soon. I would really, really appreciate it if they did, especially if they started doing it in the area where I am living, as I will certainly take advantage of it.

[theoddz]

Nadeest, as you know, I work for the VA, and have worked in 2 different VA Health Care systems (Sacramento, CA, and here in Las Vegas, NV). When the VA decides to offer these services, and I believe that they eventually will, in time, I look for it to happen this way:

There are 22 VISN's (Veterans Integrated Service Networks) in this country and its territories. A VISN is similar to a "region", so to speak, and encompasses several, if not quite a few, individual health care systems, or facilities, with a VAMC and its collection of affiliated outpatient clinics. The big VAMC's are usually, but not always, sitting right beside and are directly affiliated with a state University medical school complex. The VAMC usually takes advantage of the teaching environment and its huge pool of medical residents, students and attending physicians, in addition to facilities and resources. By and large, the care in these VAMC's is usually only as good as the medical school that it is associated/affiliated with. Here in Nevada, for example, the state medical school is located in Reno, which is in northern Nevada, and only has a limited "satellite" type presence here in Las Vegas. The University of Nevada Medical School is not usually considered to be one of "the best" medical schools in this country, and that fact, combined with the fact that the school is not here in Las Vegas, has (IMHO) resulted in a "not so good" quality of care here at the Las Vegas VA. Because of this, I would not want to have any kind of surgery performed on me in this particular VA system. Now, when I worked at the VAMC in Sacramento, CA, we were affiliated with the University of California (Davis) School of Medicine. The care in our VAMC was second to none and the Veterans at the VAMC Sacramento had top-notch care. I would have gladly had surgery at that VAMC. Now, that being said.......

When gastric bypass surgery became popular in the private sector, the VA began offering it to veterans through the VA system, but it wasn't something that every VAMC offered. For the most part, a certain medical center in the VISN was chosen to perform that surgery and when a Veteran chose to undergo it, they were referred and sent to that VAMC for the procedure. The followup was then continued in the Veteran's local facility. The reason for this has to do with the financial resources. I think the VA is still managing these services this way and it's the same for all VISNs nationwide. When the VA begins offering SRS to transgendered Veterans, I look for them to handle it in the same way, but it may turn out to be so limited that it may only be offered in one VA facility, nationwide. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was only offered at the San Francisco VAMC. Remember, the VA health care system is a teaching institution, relying on medical teaching systems for a large part of its provider base. Any kind of lucrative surgical procedure or service will be taught to surgical residents and trainees who want to be able to make money off of it in the private sector. What the VA will do is offer it to Veterans in a teaching scenario for these student doctors at state medical schools. As with other procedures, the quality of that care will be largely dependent on how good the training program and its instructors are.

I wouldn't be one bit surprised if it turns out that the San Francisco VA will be the only facility participating in this kind of a training program and that it will be the referral center for transgendered Veterans seeking SRS, nationwide. Even though that would be inconvenient for many Vets, it would still be a wonderful thing if the VA would offer it. I certainly hope that it does come to pass and that we transgendered Veterans could take advantage of it.

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[ahk]

"Transmen" is a documentary that follows the lives of three Tennesseans during their transition from females to males. Each transman faces his own struggles in the film, such as the availability of health insurance for surgeries and discrimination in the workplace and school, as well as coming out as transgender to their friends and family. Currently, Tennessee is the only state with a "law" that bans gender changes on birth certificates. Ohio and Idaho have policy bans that can be overturned by an executive order signed by the governor or government agency. Tennessee is the only one with a law that passed the legislature. This film is a call to action for people to become involved in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues and lobby for legislation that will protect and serve all Tennesseans equally.

View the trailer. http://transmen.tumblr.com/


SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE!!!

Not sure if this has been posted, but its officially out on youtube or tumblr.

vgH404pesxw

and

7SPaNhlQZK8

[Toughy]

One of the things Dr Bowers talked about was the complete lack of surgical training at every medical school in the country. If the training is not available then you will not get surgeons to do SRS. That is one of the reasons so few surgeons do these types of surgeries.

She is now located in San Mateo (on the peninsula about 20-30 minute drive to SF) and also see patients in Seattle. The Trinidad office is closed. Her being located in San Mateo makes her availabe to UCSF medical school. The SF VAMC is affliated with the UCSF Medical School........consequently we get first rate, cutting edge care. I believe I heard her say she wants to work with UCSF and start a training program for SRS. If UCSF does it, then it's extremely likely the SF VA will end up doing the surgeries.

Theo ...great explanation for how the VA system is set up. Thanks for helping folks understand the VA model. The other thing that affects quality of care at every VA medical facility is leadership. Strong leadership in every facility translates to excellent care.

The VA model should be the single payer model for the entire country. I want to scream every time Obama and others say Medicare for all..........NO NO NO...........VA care for all. There is a pharmacy formulary (which the VA negotiates drug prices, Medicare does not) but it is huge and it's never been an issue for me to get drugs not on the formulary. The doc makes a call to the outpatient pharmacy and I go pick it up. There is no 'this test/procedure/referral must be approved' before it can be done. Physical Therapy gave me a cane to walk with on the spot and a special walker because of the RA in my wrists. No approval required. She ordered (on the computer) the special walker while I was sitting at her desk and it arrived at my house 2 weeks later. I'll stop because it's a derail...sorry

[Slowpurr]

Getting funding from non-traditional sources is not new, but it is becoming more popular-as is selling directly to fans. An inevitable yet delightful side of this is certainly more diverse entertainment being made available to a wider audience and in better quality.

Kickstarter is one of these crowd-sourced online funding platforms and Hand basket productions has received funding to help them reach their goal to fund a three volume erotic documentary named Doing it Again: In Depth, to be produced and directed by Tobi Hill-Meyer. The plan is for three volumes; the first two focusing on trans women with trans partners, trans women with cis partners and the third volume addressing gender queer trans women and trans women who choose genderqueer partners.

The bulk of the film will be filmed in the PNW, but casting calls will be made in a few cities throughout the US and CAN. There is an online application available. I will post a link to that as well as some general information about the documentary. Happy viewing!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tobitastic/doing-it-again-in-depth

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGVVU3gxLVhyTUJWMklLRjF1cHBIRlE6M Q

[Nadeest]

Toughy, Theoddz, from what you have said, it seems likely that that is how it is going to go, if all goes well. I think that it would be wonderful if that happened, even if Dr. Bowers only trains the surgeons at the medical school for a start. For starters, the more people that are trained to do it, the more likely it is that others will be trained, in time, as new surgeons become experienced at this procedure.
If they start also training people at the SF VAMC that would be even better. I'd happily go to SF to have my SRS done by the VA there. Mind you, I would still have to find the funds to get there, and support myself, but it would certainly be worth it, to me.

[Nadeest]

This is very good news, if limited in scope: http://gaystarnews.com/article/tasmanian-intersex-discrimination-plans-hailed-%E2%80%98world-first%E2%80%99211012

[Linus]

Saw this story: http://www.canada.com/news/national/Stem+cells+reverse+chemo+induced+infertility+monke ys+Next+step/7485924/story.html and made me wonder... hrmm... could this potentially open a door for FTMs?

[DMW]

Biden Gets It: Trans Rights Are a Defining Civil Rights Fight

by WATCHER Posted November 02, 2012 (6 hours ago)
http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/biden-gets-it-trans-rights-are-a-defining-civil-rights-fight/question-3292249/

http://www.care2.com/causes/biden-gets-it-trans-rights-are-a-defining-civil-rights-fight.html#ixzz2B52Y92U2

[Nadeest]

Linus, I think that it is possible that it eventually will open a door, but it is going to take lots of time, I'm afraid. There are also likely to be transphobes that freak out about it, if they find out that transmen are using this to help themselves father children.

[Greyson]

Transgender college hoops player keeps head high

By LISA LEFF
Associated Press


In the days leading up to the game, people had plenty to say about 6-foot-6-inch, 220-pound Gabrielle Ludwig, who joined the Lady Saints as a mid-season walk-on and became, according to advocates, the first transsexual to play college hoops as both a man and a woman.


http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/13/5053926/transgender-college-hoops-player.html

[alexri]

http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/2773

The last 12 months saw great advances in the areas of employment protections and health care access that should continue to yield considerable progress for months and years to come.

(My notes: very good start, a long way to go)

[alexri]

http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/corporate-equality-index-list-of-businesses-with-transgender-inclusive-heal

Since 2004, the HRC Foundation has asked employers whether they offer transgender health benefits without exclusion as part of its annual Corporate Equality Index survey. Businesses large and small have removed transgender exclusions from their health insurance contracts and modified clinical guidelines to provide health insurance coverage for mental health counseling, hormone therapy, medical visits, surgical procedures and other treatments related to gender transition or sex reassignment.

[Soft*Silver]

just ran across this on yahoo. Not totally relevant, but interesting nonetheless

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/sworn-virgins-of-albania-slideshow/sworn-virgins-albania-photo-1166559097.html

[Soft*Silver]

sorry...but that link seems to no longer work...

just ran across this on yahoo. Not totally relevant, but interesting nonetheless

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/sworn-virgins-of-albania-slideshow/sworn-virgins-albania-photo-1166559097.html

[Nadeest]

Isn't it interesting, the way that different cultures have chosen to deal with this?

[Linus]

http://bit.ly/11GH7of <--- link to search about the Virgins of Albania, which was the yahoo news article.

[Nadeest]

I just ran across this AP report. The Massachusetts Department of Education has issued rules on transgender students. From the article, the rules sound pretty good. Here is the link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2013/02/15/mass-dept-issues-rules-transgender-pupils/L0rr4AYIwCKH33z0hxcGTL/story.html

[Nadeest]

I just found this article about recent changes in health insurance in Oregon. It has very broad implications for the whole of the US. I hope that the insurance commissioners in every state take notice of this, and take action to start protecting transgender people. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/news/2013/02/15/53599/every-state-can-implement-transgender-inclusive-health-coverage/

[alexri]

CNN Money interviewed six different trans people on unemployment and financial struggles. (There are also other articles in a box on the right.)

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2013/02/21/transgender-debt/index.html

[Nadeest]

It seems that a California university expelled a transgender student for 'fraud', as she told the truth on her application to that university, in the question that asked her gender. She did so, and now they are upset about it. Here is the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/domaine-javier-lawsuit_n_2775756.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

[Greyson]

It seems that a California university expelled a transgender student for 'fraud', as she told the truth on her application to that university, in the question that asked her gender. She did so, and now they are upset about it. Here is the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/domaine-javier-lawsuit_n_2775756.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular


I read about this woman's story earlier this week online in a local paper for that area of Southern California. That article was more in depth. It explained that this California University is a private college affiliated with the most conservative conference of the Baptist Church. There is the rub. It is not really clear if these private Universities affiliated with churches are exempt because of religious beliefs. "Churches" are exempt from some federal and state law that would require them to act against the teachings of their church. (I am not an attorney so I am giving the jest of this in laypersons language.)

Apparently the young woman was accepted into the Nursing Program at California State University San Bernadino but she declined the offer. If she had chosen a public university her legal case would be much stronger. I think what happened to her is morally wrong, but I am unsure if her case will meet the legal requirments in place to determine discrimination.

[Nadeest]

I think that she will prevail, as they accused her of 'fraud'. Apparently, the application/questionaire asked for her gender, and she answered it. Her gender IS female. Since a person's gender is determined by their gender identity, therefore, she answered the question truthfully.

[Linus]

So I'm on the road tonight and there isn't nothing really on so I stopped at one channel that has Whitney, the comedy show on. As it turns out, its about Whitney dealing with the transition of her sister (soon brother) from Female-to-male. The whole discussion as to what will happen and the side effects of T, IMO, puts a nice humourous spin on the FTM transition. The episode is called "Lost in Transition".

[Nadeest]

It appears that the country of Malta has finally started coming to it's senses. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/04/03/malta-transgender-woman-wins-legal-right-to-marry-after-government-drops-case/

[Nadeest]

I found this to be a very interesting article, and may be of use to many here. http://www.policymic.com/articles/33137/transgender-rights-what-happens-to-custody-when-mommy-becomes-daddy

[Greyson]

I found this to be a very interesting article, and may be of use to many here. http://www.policymic.com/articles/33137/transgender-rights-what-happens-to-custody-when-mommy-becomes-daddy


Thanks for bringing this article to our attention. The part of the article that really spoke to me was about the accusations made by the disgruntled spouse in court about the Trans person. My now wife, had recently separated from her cisgender male husband when I met her. I met her by chance at a B-F dance.

Her ex is a Psychologist and the accusations he made in a court of law were outrageous. (The fact he is a licensed Psychologist makes it even more scary and sad. Some give added cache to doctors, law enforcement, psychologist.) Things like "I have lesbian friends and they have told me that FTM's are very aggressive and prone to violence because of the testosterone." Or, alluding to the possibility there may be sexual misconduct on my part with the minor daughter they share custody. I did not attend any of the divorce hearings. The divorce had nothing to do with me but the remarks, accusations made by a heterosexual cisgender male were sadly familiar.

Living the majority of my life as Butch left me and others vulnerable to homophobia. I had never dated a woman with children previously but many times the heterosexual parents, siblings and friends blatantly expressed their outdated, fearful and homophobic beliefs.

Thankfully, I live in Northern California, a large metropolis with many LGBTQ people living their lives here. The judge was not swayed by the Queerphobia. Then the age old threat that I would be outed as Butch or Trans was made. (Duh.... I have always wondered how some can believe they are outing me, us. My gender expression speaks for itself. Hello, I am not in the closet.)

Thankfully the worst of my "criminal" background is a parking ticket. What happens to others that may have a mistake, blemish from when they were younger and dared to live an authentic life.

Some may believe this post is snarky, perhaps. My motivation is a lifetime of queerphobia, trying to educate others, sharing so that others may not feel so alone or crazy.

[Nadeest]

Here is a link to an article about the US's top 100 trans community activists. I found it quite interesting. I am acquainted with one of the people on the list, and have been at a presentation by another person on this list. http://chicagophoenix.com/2013/04/09/list-of-nations-top-100-transgender-community-advocates-released/

[Nadeest]

Interesting, isn't it? They arrest her for displaying her breasts, and throw her into the male side of the jail. :(

http://www.wsav.com/story/21966635/trans

[Nadeest]

I happened to run across this article, this morning. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/13/17733363-transgender-woman-banned-from-idaho-grocery-store-over-restroom-use?lite

IF she has been standing up, while urinating, in the women's restroom, I can see the other people's reason for being upset. I probably would be, too. Mind you, I'm not necessarily convinced that that was what she was doing. It is certainly a possibility that someone is lying on that bit of information.

If it is true, however, I would say that she is very new to her transition, and it is likely that she has very little contact, at present, of other trans people, particularly trans women. I hope that she finds some mentors soon, that will help her get herself together, and make her transition a lot smoother.

It has been a long time, in my transition, since I had to face that issue. I do remember a bit about it, though. I hope that she is keeping a journal, about her transition. I was advised to do so, and I think that it helped me a lot, overall.

[Corkey]

Tomorrow is Day of Silence.
Will *you* be participating?
I will.

[Teddybear]

I happened to run across this article, this morning. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/13/17733363-transgender-woman-banned-from-idaho-grocery-store-over-restroom-use?lite

IF she has been standing up, while urinating, in the women's restroom, I can see the other people's reason for being upset. I probably would be, too. Mind you, I'm not necessarily convinced that that was what she was doing. It is certainly a possibility that someone is lying on that bit of information.

If it is true, however, I would say that she is very new to her transition, and it is likely that she has very little contact, at present, of other trans people, particularly trans women. I hope that she finds some mentors soon, that will help her get herself together, and make her transition a lot smoother.

It has been a long time, in my transition, since I had to face that issue. I do remember a bit about it, though. I hope that she is keeping a journal, about her transition. I was advised to do so, and I think that it helped me a lot, overall.

I recall back in the day prior to my transition that going to the restroom was almost a covert mission. There were times I was reported for being in the "wrong" bathroom. This dates back to elementary school.

When I "officially" began I lived in an area where my gender wasn't questioned however within months of starting my company moved me to a state that at the time had NO laws protecting any person of the lbgt community as a matter of fact I was "informed" by my manager that as long as I had "f" on my drivers license I better keep using that restroom or I could be arrested in that state.

I lives there less then a yr the moved far away. I don't know if theyhave changes the laws or not and really hope I never have to deal with such closed minded ppl again.

[Nadeest]

This article seems very interesting, and would be of interest to ftms, I would think. http://openmindedhealth.com/2013/04/article-review-long-term-evaluation-of-donor-site-morbidity-after-radial-forearm-flap-phalloplasty-for-transsexual-men/

[Nadeest]

A new article seems to have come out, about this transgender woman that is in a legal disgreement with a California religious university. One thing, I found particularly interesting:

"Southwick said state law requires universities that admit students regardless of religious affiliation – as Cal Baptist does – and that receive financial support from the state cannot discriminate against transgender people. The financial support, Southwick said, comes from Cal Baptist’s participation in a state tax-free-bond program."

Southwick is the presiding judge in this matter.

If this is true, it seems to me that Cal Baptist is going to be found wrong, in expelling her from school. Here is the link to the whole article:

http://blog.pe.com/multicultural-beat/2013/05/07/transgender-rights-cal-baptist-case-could-set-precedent/

[Nadeest]

A Hong Kong transgender woman has just won the right to marry her boyfriend, thru the courts there. http://news.yahoo.com/hk-transgender-woman-wins-legal-battle-marry-072149587.html

[DMW]

Interesting, isn't it? They arrest her for displaying her breasts, and throw her into the male side of the jail. :(

http://www.wsav.com/story/21966635/trans

This article isn't very clear as to whether or not Miss Del Valle was placed in a cell with bio males. I believe that she was placed in an area where the male population could see her but not touch her. I hope that this is the case. However, this is really beside the point of actual harms done.

This is the point and fact that makes this experience harmful to Miss Del Valle...
First and foremost, she has been recognized and outed to several people whom will be able to recognize her among the general public. Her life, therefore, has been put into jeopardy by these officers and this jail.
Good news is that she doesn't live in there.

Legally, if they booked her as male...how can they arrest her for (having a see threw blouse on that shows her chest) indecent exposure baring her chest?

Interrupted by phone call...I am.

[DapperButch]

This article seems very interesting, and would be of interest to ftms, I would think. http://openmindedhealth.com/2013/04/article-review-long-term-evaluation-of-donor-site-morbidity-after-radial-forearm-flap-phalloplasty-for-transsexual-men/

Thanks for posting this, very interesting.

Recently, I have been interested in the similarity of brains differences in trans vs cis brains (both in form and in function). They find transwomen's brains more similar to cissexed women's than cissexed men's. Less studies have been done for transmen, of course, but there are some small ones done.

The article you linked helped me find this one. It is a bit dense, but worth the read in my opinion. Thanks!

http://openmindedhealth.com/2012/01/results-of-transsexual-brain-studies/

[Nadeest]

That link that you posted was most interesting. Thank you for sharing it!

[alexri]

A Navy SEAL member, who was part of the Seal Team Six (the team that captured and killed Osama Bin Laden), has come out as transgender and has written a book. The book is available on Amazon Kindle.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/06/transgender-navy-seal-memoir/65823/

[EnderD_503]

http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Federal_trans_bill_passes_Senate_committee-13707.aspx

Federal trans rights bill C-279 was adopted unamended at a Senate Committee on Human Rights meeting June 10.

The bill aims to add gender identity to the list of grounds protected from discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Witnesses who testified include Rebecca J Bromwich and Robert Peterson with the Canadian Bar Association; Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, a director of the equality program of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association; Susheel Gupta, acting chair person of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal; N Nicole Nussbaum, president elect of the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health; and Sara Davis Buechner of the University of British Columbia.

Diane Watts of REAL Women of Canada also appeared as a witness.

In November, Watts testified against the bill at the Parliamentary standing committee on justice and human rights, saying that if the bill passed children would be put at risk by pedophiles using the bill to their advantage.

The bill’s originator, NDP MP Randall Garrison, called Watts’ testimony “offensive.”

The bill will now go to third reading in the Senate. If C-279 passes third reading, it will then require royal assent before becoming law.

C-279’s Senate sponsor, Senator Grant Mitchell, is hopeful the bill will pass third reading. He told Xtra last month that he has confirmation from 16 Conservative senators that they will vote in favour of the bill.

“But you don’t know until you actually get there. If all 16 voted with us then it would pass. It would be a little bit close but it would pass,” Mitchell said at Ottawa trans support group Gender Mosaic’s 25th anniversary reception, May 29.

Xtra is following this story.

Still unsure how I feel about it, and it won't actually change much for a lot of trans people when it comes to housing and employment...in most cases people don't tell you to your face that they won't rent to you or hire you/fired you because your trans and this kind of stuff only really helps in the "obvious" cases. It's society and the education system itself that needs to change so that people aren't such assholes generally, and I don't think this piece of legislation will really help it do that.

[Linus]

http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Federal_trans_bill_passes_Senate_committee-13707.aspx



Still unsure how I feel about it, and it won't actually change much for a lot of trans people when it comes to housing and employment...in most cases people don't tell you to your face that they won't rent to you or hire you/fired you because your trans and this kind of stuff only really helps in the "obvious" cases. It's society and the education system itself that needs to change so that people aren't such assholes generally, and I don't think this piece of legislation will really help it do that.


It won't change people but at least it will protect trans when this can be proved (akin to discrimination that's happened to various gays in Canada, vis-a-vis gay marriage). It really should be a two-pronged approach but given who's in charge of the gov't, I'm impressed that this is even being considered at this point.

[EnderD_503]

It won't change people but at least it will protect trans when this can be proved (akin to discrimination that's happened to various gays in Canada, vis-a-vis gay marriage). It really should be a two-pronged approach but given who's in charge of the gov't, I'm impressed that this is even being considered at this point.

Thing is to me, even since it passed in Ontario there hasn't been much change (which doesn't make much difference in Toronto since the city already had its own policy beforehand). Still regular/blatant discrimination by health care providers on basic checkups, still lots of homeless and unemployed trans people. The government passes legislation like this, and then they go and try to make cuts to ODSP or do little to force the Catholic school board to follow provincial discrimination laws and backed down from school reforms to include queer and trans people in the curriculum, the minute Conservatives complained. It just seems like a little fluff to try to appease trans people so they can now say "oh look, you have your rights" like they did with gay marriage (you know, "you can get married now, what more do you want?"), meanwhile making cuts to social services that many trans people need to survive or don't address other ways employers/landlords can easily dodge discrimination claims.

[Corkey]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mara-keisling/a-huge-small-step-the-obama-administration-delivers-big_b_3444713.html

Good news on the SSN front.

[DapperButch]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mara-keisling/a-huge-small-step-the-obama-administration-delivers-big_b_3444713.html

Good news on the SSN front.

Awesome! Thanks for posting!

[Nadeest]

Apparently, the AMA has passed a new resolution, in favor of transgender people having access to accurate birth certificates. Here is the link that I found it on: http://www.glad.org/current/item/glad-applauds-ama-resolution-supporting-accurate-birth-certificates-for-tra

[DapperButch]

Apparently, the AMA has passed a new resolution, in favor of transgender people having access to accurate birth certificates. Here is the link that I found it on: http://www.glad.org/current/item/glad-applauds-ama-resolution-supporting-accurate-birth-certificates-for-tra

Wow, things seem to really be moving along nicely for trans people the last year. I feel like there is some real inertia moving towards equality.

Thank God, Obama came into office, or we would be at a standstill, if not sliding backwards

It is like trans is becoming the new gay. Corportations, professional organizations, etc., seem to be jumping on the bandwagon of it being "ok" to be gender variant, in order to be politically correct.

Do others here think similarly?

[DapperButch]

I received my January-March 2013 volume of the International Journal of Transgenderism today in the mail at work.

I don't remember the name of the study, but it was written by Milton Diamond, M.D. (he is a big dealio in the field) about identical twins.

I only read the abstract and forgot to bring it home with me. However, evidently based on a study he did, along with data from past studies, 20% of identical twin pairs both transitioned if one transitioned.

He says they controlled for environmental factors, but I didn't see anywhere that it said that this was for twins raised apart, so I will have to see how they controlled for this.

Anyway, interesting stuff!

[Linus]

"Hormonal therapy for transsexual patients is safe and effective, a multicenter European study indicates. The results will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco."

http://www.sciencecodex.com/hormonal_therapy_for_transsexualism_safe_and_effec tive-114284

[Greyson]

"Hormonal therapy for transsexual patients is safe and effective, a multicenter European study indicates. The results will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco."

http://www.sciencecodex.com/hormonal_therapy_for_transsexualism_safe_and_effec tive-114284

Thanks for posting this Linus. Honestly, I still have concerns. I hope in the near future there will be studies done on long term use of hormones. This study was based on only 12 months of study.


"Hormonal therapy involves large doses of male or female sex hormones, which has led to concern about its health effects. This study found that short-term hormonal therapy for transsexualism is effective and safe, with few side effects."

"Female-to-male transsexuals received a form of the male sex hormone testosterone. Male-to-female transsexuals received anti-androgen treatment in combination with a form of estrogen, which is the principal female sex hormone. Treatment was for 12 months."

I am in the SF Bay Area and I am going to see if I can get into conference to hear about the study and/or get an entire copy of the study. Thanks again.

[Nadeest]

We definitely do need more information on it, that is for certain. We do know, however, the effects of NOT having hormonal therapy, and being able to transition. We also know something about the effects of stopping hormonal therapy, from the experience of all the people that have had to do that. I, personally, do not ever wish to go off my hormones. They help keep me fairly sane, and somewhat content with my body.

[DapperButch]

We definitely do need more information on it, that is for certain. We do know, however, the effects of NOT having hormonal therapy, and being able to transition. We also know something about the effects of stopping hormonal therapy, from the experience of all the people that have had to do that. I, personally, do not ever wish to go off my hormones. They help keep me fairly sane, and somewhat content with my body.

This reminds me of something. After my colon cancer I went to see a doc in Chicago who had a different approach to cancer treatment besides just the usual chemo (what you eat, stress, exercise, supplements, etc). Anyway, his/my/lots of people's belief, is that the environment that we live in contributes to cancer. Last time I looked my state was 5th in the nation for cancer. The state with the least amount of cancer is Utah. Arizona is second. So, I asked him if I thought that I should move to Utah, if that would make me safer from a recurrence.

His response was to ask me to think about the distress I would feel about leaving where I currently live. Did I like my job here? Would I be ok moving away from my family? His point was, the distress of leaving my home could create just as much chance of recurrence as the environment/atmosphere could.

We all know the connection between emotional stress and physical illness. Will the transperson who does not use cross sex hormones due to fear of cancer actually be more likely to get cancer due to the level of distress they have from their body dysphoria?

Just some food for thought.

[DapperButch]

I went to the trans-health conference in Philly last week. On Saturday there was a workshop on hormones and cancer. I was not able to attend that particular workship, but I plan to try to get a hold of the presenter and see if he/she can send me any materials.

I can post the information here, if anyone is interested.

[Nadeest]

This reminds me of something. After my colon cancer I went to see a doc in Chicago who had a different approach to cancer treatment besides just the usual chemo (what you eat, stress, exercise, supplements, etc). Anyway, his/my/lots of people's belief, is that the environment that we live in contributes to cancer. Last time I looked my state was 5th in the nation for cancer. The state with the least amount of cancer is Utah. Arizona is second. So, I asked him if I thought that I should move to Utah, if that would make me safer from a recurrence.

His response was to ask me to think about the distress I would feel about leaving where I currently live. Did I like my job here? Would I be ok moving away from my family? His point was, the distress of leaving my home could create just as much chance of recurrence as the environment/atmosphere could.

We all know the connection between emotional stress and physical illness. Will the transperson who does not use cross sex hormones due to fear of cancer actually be more likely to get cancer due to the level of distress they have from their body dysphoria?

Just some food for thought.

That, is a very good point!

[Greyson]

Gendered Restrooms and Minority Stress: The Public Regulation of Gender and its Impact on Transgender People’s Lives

By Jody L. Herman
June 2013

Transgender and gender non-conforming people report being denied access to gendered restrooms, and experiencing verbal harassment and physical assault in these spaces at alarming rates. The Washington, DC- based survey, conducted with the DC Trans Coalition, found that 70 percent of survey respondents report experiencing verbal harassment, assault, and being denied access to public restrooms. The study identifies the impact that transgender people’s negative experiences in gendered restrooms can have on their education, employment, health, and participation in public life.

Findings include:

• 27 percent of those who worked in Washington, DC, experienced problems using restrooms at work that, in some cases, caused them to change jobs or leave their employer entirely.

• 54 percent of all respondents reported having some sort of physical problem from trying to avoid using public restrooms, such as dehydration, kidney infections, and urinary tract infections.

• 58 percent reported that they have avoided going out in public due to a lack of safe public restroom facilities.

• 10 percent of survey respondents who attended school in Washington, DC, reported a negative impact on their education, including having excessive absences and dropping out of school due to issues related to restroom access.

• People of color and people who have not medically transitioned fared worse in some measured survey outcomes.

Read the Full Report:

http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Herman-Gendered-Restrooms-and-Minority-Stress-June-2013.pdf

__________________________________________________ ________

In the final point above it says "medically transitioned." I think we can all agree that medical transition could include surgeries and hormones. I point this out because many Butches experience the same sort of stuff when using the restroom. I don't think this only happens to Transexual people. I think it happens to people that do not conform, express their gender according to whatever "mainstream" construction that is put upon gender expression. This would include even female identified butches. Many may disagree with me but I think there are many butches that are transgender and not transexual. IMO, transgender is those who do not conform, express, fit in the box of what most of society thinks their gender should look and act like. You can very well be a butch and identify completely as a woman and still live your life outside of what most consider "gender norms."

My point, maybe we have commonalities that trump the differences.

[Nadeest]

Gendered Restrooms and Minority Stress: The Public Regulation of Gender and its Impact on Transgender People’s Lives

By Jody L. Herman
June 2013

Transgender and gender non-conforming people report being denied access to gendered restrooms, and experiencing verbal harassment and physical assault in these spaces at alarming rates. The Washington, DC- based survey, conducted with the DC Trans Coalition, found that 70 percent of survey respondents report experiencing verbal harassment, assault, and being denied access to public restrooms. The study identifies the impact that transgender people’s negative experiences in gendered restrooms can have on their education, employment, health, and participation in public life.

Findings include:

• 27 percent of those who worked in Washington, DC, experienced problems using restrooms at work that, in some cases, caused them to change jobs or leave their employer entirely.

• 54 percent of all respondents reported having some sort of physical problem from trying to avoid using public restrooms, such as dehydration, kidney infections, and urinary tract infections.

• 58 percent reported that they have avoided going out in public due to a lack of safe public restroom facilities.

• 10 percent of survey respondents who attended school in Washington, DC, reported a negative impact on their education, including having excessive absences and dropping out of school due to issues related to restroom access.

• People of color and people who have not medically transitioned fared worse in some measured survey outcomes.

Read the Full Report:

http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Herman-Gendered-Restrooms-and-Minority-Stress-June-2013.pdf

__________________________________________________ ________

In the final point above it says "medically transitioned." I think we can all agree that medical transition could include surgeries and hormones. I point this out because many Butches experience the same sort of stuff when using the restroom. I don't think this only happens to Transexual people. I think it happens to people that do not conform, express their gender according to whatever "mainstream" construction that is put upon gender expression. This would include even female identified butches. Many may disagree with me but I think there are many butches that are transgender and not transexual. IMO, transgender is those who do not conform, express, fit in the box of what most of society thinks their gender should look and act like. You can very well be a butch and identify completely as a woman and still live your life outside of what most consider "gender norms."

My point, maybe we have commonalities that trump the differences.


I can definitely agree with your point!

[Tony]

Thank you to Corkey & Nadeest for posting about SSN & birth certificates. Great information. And much appreciated.

[Gemme]

6 Year Old Transgender Girl Wins Case (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/24/coy-mathis_n_3488306.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D334791)

[GraffitiBoi]

As a former journalist this really bothers me. As a transman this sickens me.

Ms. Brownworth's article had no need, in my personal opinion, for the description of Devon's genitals. She hid behind Freedom of Speech in order to satisfy her own morbid curiosity and more than likely to gain readership. Her own article contradicts her responses to her actions in subsequent interviews regarding the incident.

There is so much more I can say but I have had my fill of discrimination and exploitation from being trans. For now, I will hold my tongue.

http://www.transadvocate.com/gawking-at-transkids-genitalia-is-freedom-of-speech-says-philly-pd.htm

[Ms. Meander]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this. Please let me know if you can think of a better place.

I want to help encourage awareness about these queer and trans refugees who are living in dire circumstances and need. Please take a look and help in any way you can, if only to help spread the word.

Health Care For Queer And Trans Refugees In Turkey

https://www.facebook.com/notes/sima-shakhsari/health-care-for-queer-and-trans-refugee-folks-in-turkey/10151634484873422

"Dear Friends,

I visited Iranian queer and transgender refugee applicants in several Turkish towns last month and was struck by the lack of affordable health care for refugees. Turkey extends protection under the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees only to persons originating in Europe. However, the Turkish government allows non-European asylum seekers to remain in Turkey temporarily while their cases are pending with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Refugee applicants are required to register with the Turkish Ministry of interior and with the UNHCR, while waiting to be interviewed several times in a span of several years. If approved as true refugees, they are allowed to apply for resettlement to a third country of asylum. Upon registration with the UNHCR, the applicants are assigned to small “satellite cities” where they are registered by the Turkish Police and are required to stay during the time they are interviewed by the UNHCR and the embassy of the country of asylum. The registration process with the UNHCR, registration and assignment to small satellite towns in Turkey, interviews with the UNHCR for refugee status determination, and interviews with the third country of asylum take years, during which time asylum seekers are required to pay for their own expenses. Queer and trans refugees who have no choice other than working “illegally” face discrimination and exploitation. Many lose their jobs or face violence if they are “outed” as queer and trans to their employers. While the Turkish government provides limited social and medical services to refugee applicants, this requires a fee-based foreign number/blue book (kimlik), which costs 198 TL (around $100). This card will not be issued unless the applicant pays a $50 “temporary resident permit,” which needs to be renewed every 6 months. Many refugee applicants cannot afford the kimlik fee and therefore do not have access to necessary health care. While the current refugee application processes bind healthcare to strategies of surveillance through a foreign ID card, currently this is the only way for refugee applicants to have access to basic health services.

I have been in touch with a group of queer refugees who are willing to volunteer their time to identify people who urgently need to buy kimlik in order to receive healthcare. We need to raise at least $12,000, but are hoping to raise more funds to reach out to as many queer and trans refugees as possible. There are at least 537 queer and trans refugee applicants who are currently living in Turkey, 470 of whom are from Iran. While I am only in contact with Iranian queer refugees, we will certainly reach out to other queer and trans applicants (mostly from Iraq and Afghanistan), in order to increase the life chances of people who fall through the cracks in the international human rights regimes. We choose not to receive funding from states or organizations that serve the neocolonial agendas in the Middle East, nor do we wish to become complicit with any kind of pinkwashing propaganda that claims to save or liberate queers. We believe that social change will happen through grassroots politics and organizing, and not from above. That is why we have chosen crowdsourcing to raise funds for the Iranian queer and trans refugees who are living under dire conditions and are not receiving sufficient support from the "liberating” states and human rights NGOs.

We hope that you can participate in this fundraising effort. http://fundly.com/health-care-for-queer-and-trans-refugee-folks-in-turkey

Thank you,

Sima Shakhsari"

[GraffitiBoi]

In case any of you haven't seen this before:

http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/irs-affirms-that-transition-related-care-is-tax-deductible/

[DapperButch]

In case any of you haven't seen this before:

http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/irs-affirms-that-transition-related-care-is-tax-deductible/

I didn't know this. Thanks so much for posting the information!

[DapperButch]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/15/visible-bodies-transgender_n_3757714.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Look through the slideshow.

[Jesse]

I'm wondering how many of the Bradley supporters will stick by her, now that she has announced her desire to transition. I fear for her life if they follow through with sending her to Leavenworth.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/22/bradley-manning-woman-chelsea-gender-reassignment

[Cin]

I'm wondering how many of the Bradley supporters will stick by her, now that she has announced her desire to transition. I fear for her life if they follow through with sending her to Leavenworth.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/22/bradley-manning-woman-chelsea-gender-reassignment

I read an article about her on alternet and the comments at the end were mostly supportive, so one can hope.

[Nadeest]

I found the statistics about the trans community within this article very disheartening. :( http://www.transadvocate.com/5-questions-libertarian-feminism-and-trans-people.htm

[Jesse]

I know this is Florida and the gov. is bass ackwards here but come on...

http://eastlake.patch.com/groups/schools/p/transgender-student-banned-from-public-bathrooms-on-school-campus

[Nadeest]

If she is legally female, the school is totally in the wrong, and she is entitled to damages, I would think. I hope that she sues the heck out of them and wins.

[*Anya*]

Tell The American Family Association, ‘Kids Are Off-Limits’

by DAVID BADASH on SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
in BIGOTRY WATCH,DISCRIMINATION,NEWS,POLITICS

Folks, consider this a personal plea. Today, as we reported, Bryan Fischer, who is 62 (that’s him in the photo, above, center) verbally attacked a child. Using the power of America’s airwaves, backed up by the American Family Association‘s nationwide radio station network and online resources, Bryan Fischer told a 16-year old transgender girl that “he has a mental illness” — because she is transgender and had the audacity to be crowned Homecoming Queen.

That’s not OK.

I just published a petition over at Change.org, and I’m asking you to join me in signing it.

Here’s what I wrote:

The American Family Association is a certified anti-gay hate group. They get their money — about $18 million a year — from people who believe in hating LGBT people. And they’re a 501(c)(3) organization, so your tax dollars subsidize their hate.

While the American Family Association has every right to their business model, do you believe they have every right to publicly single out children and attack them on the nation’s airwaves?

American Family Association spokesperson Bryan Fischer recently verbally attacked Cassidy Lynn Campbell, a 16-year old transgender teenager, who was crowned Homecoming Queen at her (very conservative) Orange County, California high shool.

“He has a mental illness, he thinks he’s a girl and they elected him homecoming queen and the school officials allowed this charade to go on,” Fischer proclaimed to his listeners who tune in daily to the hundreds of American Family radio stations that litter 38 American states. “That violates everything we know about gender, about sex, about genetics, about biology, about human health, about what mental health is, it violates every known standard of decency and normality in America.”

Tell the American Family Association, ”kids are off-limits!” It’s not OK to attack children, and it’s not OK to use America’s airwaves to do it.

It’s time to send the professional, multi-million-dollar anti-LGBT hate groups a strong message: ”Kids Are Off-Limits!”

Do you agree it’s not OK for a multi-million dollar anti-LGBT hate group — and here’s the extreme irony — that claims to be a “pro-family” “Christian ministry” — to publicly attack a child?

I don’t, and I’m asking you to take a moment now to sign my petition to tell the American Family Association that they can attack the LGBT community all they want — they have the First Amendment behind them — but ”Kids Are Off-Limits!”

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/tell-the-american-family-association-kids-are-off-limits/politics/2013/09/24/75620#.UkWIuee9KK1

[DMW]

Bump this to put it back up front.

Tell The American Family Association, ‘Kids Are Off-Limits’

by DAVID BADASH on SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
in BIGOTRY WATCH,DISCRIMINATION,NEWS,POLITICS

Folks, consider this a personal plea. Today, as we reported, Bryan Fischer, who is 62 (that’s him in the photo, above, center) verbally attacked a child. Using the power of America’s airwaves, backed up by the American Family Association‘s nationwide radio station network and online resources, Bryan Fischer told a 16-year old transgender girl that “he has a mental illness” — because she is transgender and had the audacity to be crowned Homecoming Queen.

That’s not OK.

I just published a petition over at Change.org, and I’m asking you to join me in signing it.

Here’s what I wrote:

The American Family Association is a certified anti-gay hate group. They get their money — about $18 million a year — from people who believe in hating LGBT people. And they’re a 501(c)(3) organization, so your tax dollars subsidize their hate.

While the American Family Association has every right to their business model, do you believe they have every right to publicly single out children and attack them on the nation’s airwaves?

American Family Association spokesperson Bryan Fischer recently verbally attacked Cassidy Lynn Campbell, a 16-year old transgender teenager, who was crowned Homecoming Queen at her (very conservative) Orange County, California high shool.

“He has a mental illness, he thinks he’s a girl and they elected him homecoming queen and the school officials allowed this charade to go on,” Fischer proclaimed to his listeners who tune in daily to the hundreds of American Family radio stations that litter 38 American states. “That violates everything we know about gender, about sex, about genetics, about biology, about human health, about what mental health is, it violates every known standard of decency and normality in America.”

Tell the American Family Association, ”kids are off-limits!” It’s not OK to attack children, and it’s not OK to use America’s airwaves to do it.

It’s time to send the professional, multi-million-dollar anti-LGBT hate groups a strong message: ”Kids Are Off-Limits!”

Do you agree it’s not OK for a multi-million dollar anti-LGBT hate group — and here’s the extreme irony — that claims to be a “pro-family” “Christian ministry” — to publicly attack a child?

I don’t, and I’m asking you to take a moment now to sign my petition to tell the American Family Association that they can attack the LGBT community all they want — they have the First Amendment behind them — but ”Kids Are Off-Limits!”

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/tell-the-american-family-association-kids-are-off-limits/politics/2013/09/24/75620#.UkWIuee9KK1

[Nadeest]

Signed. :)

[Jesse]

Signed! :readfineprint:

[*Anya*]

Trans Six-Year-Old Is Argentina's Youngest to Amend Gender on Birth Certificate

A six-year-old girl who was assigned male at birth won her legal battle to change her national ID card and birth certificate to reflect her accurate gender.

BY SUNNIVIE BRYDUM SEPTEMBER 28 2013 2:40 PM ET

A six-year-old girl named Luana, or "Lulu" for short, may be the youngest person ever in Argentina to legally change her gender from that which she was assigned at birth, reports the U.K. Telegraph.

Argentina enacted its new gender identity law in May 2012, which permits individuals to determine their own sex and gender, and be identified appropriately on their national identity card, the DNI, as well as their birth certificate, according to the Telegraph.

Lulu's mother, Gabriela, petitioned Buenos Aires Mayor Daniel Scioli and Argentine president Cristina Kirchner to allow her daughter to be legally recognized as female, though she was assigned male at birth. Gabriela told the public officials that her daughter has identified as female since she first began to speak.

"By accepting that my son was not the son I gave birth to, but a girl, I accepted her identity and put myself at her side," Gabriela told the Telegraph from Buenos Aires.

Gabriela first filed the request for her daughter's legal gender change last December, but was denied because of her daughter's young age. But Argentina's secretary of children, youth, and family subsequently overturned that decision, citing international human rights doctrine that determined a person under 14 can legally consent to such a change.

Following that decision, Mayor Scioli approved Lulu's application to change her name on her DNI and birth certificate, reports the Telegraph.

"The government of the province of Buenos Aires has decided to provide a solution to this particular case raised by the family," Scioli's chief of staff, Alberto Perez, reportedly told Spanish-language news outlet La Nación.

Argentinian reports claim Lulu's case is the first in the world where a transgender child has been able to change their legal gender through an administrative process, without turning to the judicial system.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2013/09/28/trans-six-year-old-argentinas-youngest-amend-gender-birth

[Nadeest]

This article was brought to my attention via one of my friends on Facebook. I thought that people might be interested in viewing it. http://openmindedhealth.com/2013/09/article-review-breast-cancer-development-transsexual-subjects-receiving-cross-sex-hormone-treatment/

[DapperButch]

This article was brought to my attention via one of my friends on Facebook. I thought that people might be interested in viewing it. http://openmindedhealth.com/2013/09/article-review-breast-cancer-development-transsexual-subjects-receiving-cross-sex-hormone-treatment/

I don't know...what do you think, Nadeest?

I see that the article says that for both transwomen and transmen (on cross sex hormones) that the incidence of breast cancer is equal to cis men.

The theory is that it is due to tesotosterone that the transmen have a lower incidence. Although their "female" hormones don't drop, testosterone neutralizes it so to speak (is what I am reading anyway).

This same theory doesn't fit for transwomen because as they are not just adding female hormones (estrogen/progesterone), they are also blocking male hormones (testosterone). So, if it is the testosterone that is keeping the transmen safer than a cis women, what is keeping transwomen safe?

I admit that I don't know much at all about how sex hormones and breast cancer works, but I would take pause if I were a transwoman taking cross sex hormones. I would want to be treated like any other person who had estrogen/progesterone flowing through their bodies (mammorgrams if have breast growth).

What are your thoughts on this Nadeest? I admit to being ignorant when it comes to this issue with transwomen, but would like to know more. I know that you cannot speak for all, but what does the transwomen community say about this issue?

[Nadeest]

I can't speak for the community, especially as I haven't really talked to many transwomen since I moved to Florida. However, as for my thoughts: First off, it was a very small study. As far as I know, it has not been replicated, so the results can't really be confirmed. Secondly, Europeans use a different anti-androgen then we do, here in the US, so that factor must also be considered. I think that we need a lot more information before we can really draw any solid conclusions from this. Mind you, it IS interesting, but not positive proof, at least to my mind.

Oh, I definitely have been getting mamograms, since I am over 50, or at least I was through the Houston VA hospital system. Hopefully, my new doctors down here in Florida will also insist that I get them. I do suspect that I am going to have to educate them, as well as the pharmacist, though, as to how to approach medical treatment of transwomen.

[Nadeest]

Ok, I just reread the article, and so I take back my statement about the size of the study. 3102 people is a respectable size for a study, I would think, though, to be fair, I am not acquainted with the way to properly review studies. However, the study was restricted to one clinic/hospital system. I still feel that we need more data, confirming such information before we can trust it. Also, we still have to consider the factors of the different anti-androgen in common usage between the US and Europe.

[DapperButch]

Ok, I just reread the article, and so I take back my statement about the size of the study. 3102 people is a respectable size for a study, I would think, though, to be fair, I am not acquainted with the way to properly review studies. However, the study was restricted to one clinic/hospital system. I still feel that we need more data, confirming such information before we can trust it. Also, we still have to consider the factors of the different anti-androgen in common usage between the US and Europe.

I'm glad to hear that you have no problems getting mammograms (that is where my concern and head was going...if "research" says that transwomen have no greater chance of breast cancer than cis men do, will insurance companies refuse mammograms for MTFs? Worrisome).

I did not know that there are different anti-androgens between the two countries. Great information to know! Thanks!

[Linus]

For those unaware, the Philadelphia Trans Health conference is held annually. If you've never attended and want to get more info, visit here: http://www.trans-health.org/

I highly recommend it. I attended just as I began my transition and found it to be one of the best experiences I've ever had.

[Linus]

I had the pleasure of hearing Miss Major speak at the Philly Trans Health conference back in 2007 or 2008. There is a kickstarter going on to raise money for a documentary on her. If you can donate or want to learn more visit here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/missmajorfilm/major-a-new-documentary-film

[Linus]

So, just so y'all know: trans individuals will be the cause of the fall of Western Civilization (http://lgbtweekly.com/2013/10/09/washington-times-op-ed-transgender-equality-movement-will-dismantle-civilization/) and not something like a gov't shutdown or partisanship or anything like that.

[Gentle Tiger]

So, just so y'all know: trans individuals will be the cause of the fall of Western Civilization (http://lgbtweekly.com/2013/10/09/washington-times-op-ed-transgender-equality-movement-will-dismantle-civilization/) and not something like a gov't shutdown or partisanship or anything like that.

I am going to start identifying as a halibut. I didn't even know that was a label!

[Nadeest]

Interesting article: http://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2013/10/09/feds-sue-texas-rv-park-transgender-discrimination

[Linus]

http://thetrans100.com/nominations/ -- Nominate someone you think is making a difference for trans individuals.

[Linus]

FYI: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/18/a-self-made-man_n_4100942.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender

[*Anya*]

Tell Azusa Pacific University to support Professor H. Adam Ackley

When theology professor H. Adam Ackley announced that he is transgender, Azusa Pacific University asked him to resign from his position. Professor Ackely is still teaching, and students have rallied support for their teacher.

One student has started a Change.org petition, demanding that the school put in protections for transgender students and faculty.

Adam Ackley, a beloved theology professor of fifteen years, was "asked to step down" from his position as a professor at Azusa Pacific University due to his recent openness about his identity as a transgender man. This event has sparked fear and anger within the LGBTQ and Ally community of APU. We stand in solidarity with Adam, and strive to create a safer environment for students and faculty who have been marginalized by APU's conservative policies, as well as those who have been victims of spiritual violence on campus.

Add your name to those who are supporting Professor H. Adam Ackley, and tell Azusa Pacific University that transgender students and faculty need to be supported.

Tweet your support for Professor Ackley and all transgender students and faculty at Azusa Pacific University by using the hash tag #westandwithadam.

Sample tweet: Trans professor dismissed from @azusapacific. Protect all trans students and faculty. #WeStandWithAdam http://www.glaad.org/standwithadam

About GLAAD
GLAAD amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality.

[Kelt]

Heard this on the radio this morning. Unbelievable.

Sasha Fleischman, Agender California Teen, Allegedly Has Skirt Set On Fire While On Moving Bus (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/agender-california-teen-attack-_n_4227373.html)

The community support is good (http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_24466900/support-pours-man-lit-fire-aboard-ac-transit) for something that should never have happened (local coverage).

Here is the link (http://fundly.com/helping-sasha-fleischman-have-a-speedy-recovery) to contribute to medical expenses.

[Greyson]

Kelt, I am away on a Leadership retreat this week. I read this story just as I was preparing to return to the group after our lunch break. I was so stunned by what I had read by the time it came around to my turn to tell my story, all I could do was cry. In fact it was so intense for me, today I am in bed sick up here at the retreat site.

This gender variant young person, set on fire for nothing more than having enough trust to catch a cat nap on the public bus. This young person was on their way to school, Maybeck. Maybeck is a private High School in Berkeley. Right around the corner for where I lived for many years. A "nice neighborhood."

Now that I am in seminary I have the opportunity with other Queers and allies to bring these acts of hate front and center to institutionalized religion and show them how "they" are responsible in supporting such hate and inhumane treatment of other human beings. Enough.



Heard this on the radio this morning. Unbelievable.

Sasha Fleischman, Agender California Teen, Allegedly Has Skirt Set On Fire While On Moving Bus (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/agender-california-teen-attack-_n_4227373.html)

The community support is good (http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_24466900/support-pours-man-lit-fire-aboard-ac-transit) for something that should never have happened (local coverage).

Here is the link (http://fundly.com/helping-sasha-fleischman-have-a-speedy-recovery) to contribute to medical expenses.

[Greyson]

Here is a follow up story to the above story about Sasha, a gender variant youth being set on fire.


http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Teen-whose-skirt-was-set-ablaze-begins-surgery-4961732.php

[Jesse]

It doesn't ever get any easier to read these types of articles and to know there are people out there who have so very little respect for the life of another human. As bad as it hurts, I hope it never does get easier to read about or hear about.

[*Anya*]

Meet Stephen Alexander, America's first openly trans high school coach

By Alexandra Bolles, Programs and Communications Fellow |

November 12, 2013

Stephen Alexander made an impression on Glocester, Rhode Island as a kid as a local star athlete. Now that Stephen’s all grown up, he’s got a new goal in his conservative hometown: finding acceptance as the country’s first openly transgender high school coach. Outsports.com first reported the story.

When Stephen returned to Glocester three years ago after transitioning in New York City, he faced an uphill battle. The small, rural community is, to say the least, not known for its diversity or liberalism. With a population of less than 10,000 people, 98% of which are white, residents tend to be staunchly conservative.

But with some time, honest conversations, and a solid support network, Stephen has been able to educate his community about what it means to be transgender, starting with his closest family and friends.

One of Stephen's former coaches said about the young man's oppenness, “When you don’t know the individual, you don’t know how to deal with them, how to accept them,” said George, “But once you know the person, then it becomes a lot easier to accept the process…It’s the same person.”

On the court and off, Stephen is teaching the people of Glocester, young and old, the meaning of teamwork and working together. While there are still strides to be made, Stephen’s inspiring story is one of resiliency, dedication, and in many ways, sportsmanship.

Read more about this story on

Outsports.com

[Tony]

Meet Stephen Alexander, America's first openly trans high school coach

By Alexandra Bolles, Programs and Communications Fellow |

November 12, 2013

Stephen Alexander made an impression on Glocester, Rhode Island as a kid as a local star athlete. Now that Stephen’s all grown up, he’s got a new goal in his conservative hometown: finding acceptance as the country’s first openly transgender high school coach. Outsports.com first reported the story.

When Stephen returned to Glocester three years ago after transitioning in New York City, he faced an uphill battle. The small, rural community is, to say the least, not known for its diversity or liberalism. With a population of less than 10,000 people, 98% of which are white, residents tend to be staunchly conservative.

But with some time, honest conversations, and a solid support network, Stephen has been able to educate his community about what it means to be transgender, starting with his closest family and friends.

One of Stephen's former coaches said about the young man's oppenness, “When you don’t know the individual, you don’t know how to deal with them, how to accept them,” said George, “But once you know the person, then it becomes a lot easier to accept the process…It’s the same person.”

On the court and off, Stephen is teaching the people of Glocester, young and old, the meaning of teamwork and working together. While there are still strides to be made, Stephen’s inspiring story is one of resiliency, dedication, and in many ways, sportsmanship.

Read more about this story on

Outsports.com

Kudos to this young man. I have mad respect for him.

[*Anya*]

238 Trans People Murdered Worldwide In The Past Year

The Transgender Murder Monitoring Project reveals the greatest number of killings took place in countries with some of the most progressive LGBTI rights laws.

posted on November 13, 2013 at 10:15am EST

J. Lester Feder
BuzzFeed Staff

Brazil and Mexico lead the list for the most reported killings of trans people in the past year, according to a report released Wednesday by Transgender Europe’s Trans Murder Monitoring project.

The report was released in anticipation of the 15th International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which will be observed on Nov. 20, 2013.

The report only includes murders of trans people that can be documented through publicly available information or are reported by local advocacy organizations, and so may not be a complete picture of the scope of crimes committed worldwide. But the map suggests even countries where rights for gays and lesbians have made huge gains remain dangerous places for trans people.

Same-sex couples in both Brazil and Mexico won judicial rulings in the past year that pave the way for nationwide marriage equality. Yet, 95 trans people were reported murdered in Brazil and 40 were killed in Mexico. Sixteen murders of trans people were reported in the United States.

Some small nations were also found to have very large numbers of murders relative to their population size. In Honduras, for example, three trans people were reported killed for every two million inhabitants.

The Trans Murder Monitoring project also found the highest number of murders of minors in the five years it has been keeping statistics. Since the start of 2013, 22 trans people were reported killed. Eleven of these were under the age of 18.

These include a 13-year-old trans girl strangled in Macaiba, Brazil, on June 9; a 14-year-old trans girl strangled in the city of Ibipora, Brazil, on Oct. 15; and 16-year-old trans girl murdered by a mob at a house party in St. James, Jamaica, on July 22.

Since 2008, Transgender Europe has documented 1,374 murders of trans people in 60 countries worldwide. Of these, 108 victims have been under the age of 20.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/238-trans-people-murdered-worldwide-in-the-past-year?

utm_content=buffer0efe3&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

[DapperButch]

http://www.drinknation.com/fun/urinaltest

[Jesse]

No singing huh?

http://www.drinknation.com/fun/urinaltest

[DapperButch]

No singing huh?

Surprisingly, no. :police:

It seems the way to go is to present as homophobic as possible. If you remember this, you pass (hardy har har), with flying colors! :tease:

[Tony]

No singing huh?

LOL..Never ever singing..or talking..maybe a grunt and nod if the guy next to you was foolish enough to initiate some sort of conversation.. And if I ever walk into a bathroom and hear someone singing "I feel pretty, oh so pretty" my bladder will automatically go into "we can hold this, get the f*ck outta here" mode... LOL

[Bèsame*]

http://ftmark.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/tdor.jpg

[Nadeest]

I wear black nail polish , this day (TDOR), and often during the week that it occurs.

[Nadeest]

This: http://blog.timesunion.com/transgender/court-takes-couples-children-because-father-is-transgender/1690/ , I am sorry to say, is a normal risk, if one is both transgender, and a parent. :(

[o'queery]

http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/tdor-remembrance01.jpg

[Jesse]

This sounds so crazy to my brain cells but it really is true.

Surprisingly, no. :police:

It seems the way to go is to present as homophobic as possible. If you remember this, you pass (hardy har har), with flying colors! :tease:

[Jesse]

I would likely wait for the stampede to clear and see who the cool dude was.

LOL..Never ever singing..or talking..maybe a grunt and nod if the guy next to you was foolish enough to initiate some sort of conversation.. And if I ever walk into a bathroom and hear someone singing "I feel pretty, oh so pretty" my bladder will automatically go into "we can hold this, get the f*ck outta here" mode... LOL

[o'queery]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1zm8ryXT81qzk5h3o2_500.jpg

[DapperButch]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1zm8ryXT81qzk5h3o2_500.jpg

You mean in the women's room, or you are having problems in the men's (this is a trans thread, so that why clarifying)?

[o'queery]

You mean in the women's room, or you are having problems in the men's (this is a trans thread, so that why clarifying)?

The mens room.

Most times it is when i am out in the community that i grew up in.

Though before i had become the boy that i am i was constantly ushered out of the ladies room.

Most times I try not to really let it get to me, but today it just did.

<3

[Nadeest]

Hang in there, dameonboy. I suspect that I would have had that problem, had I lived in one place, all of my life, and also transitioned there. I moved to Texas, from Michigan, during the early part of my transition, and then, just recently, moved to Florida. The only person, here, that knew me as a male, is my mother, and she accepts me as her daughter, now. Few here realize that I have transitioned, unless I tell them.

[Nadeest]

I'm not sure if this fits under this thread or not, but I do find it interesting, and worthy of support. I know several, if not all of the authors of this book. http://www.curvemag.com/Curve-Magazine/Web-Articles-2013/The-Gender-Book/index.php

[DapperButch]

I'm not sure if this fits under this thread or not, but I do find it interesting, and worthy of support. I know several, if not all of the authors of this book. http://www.curvemag.com/Curve-Magazine/Web-Articles-2013/The-Gender-Book/index.php

I preordered this book two weeks ago. Looking forward to it!

[Yew]

I don't get static in men's rooms, but I do feel a little gut-knot going into one I am unfamiliar with. Many of my last visits to a women's room were met with double takes, weird looks etc, some women even leaving, then immediately returning and either embarrassed or hostile, informing me of the exact words on your sign...this was a continual sign that I should be in the Men's.

A couple of days ago I was going into what I thought was a general/unisex dressing room (it has always been free flowing and located between the mens and women's departments) with some two piece suits and was met at the door by a female employee who informed me "this is the women's dressing room" and blocked my entrance. I asked where the men's was and after finding it, made several trips in and out with zero problems. I guess sometimes I think the marker that is still on my ID actually means something, but this is a case of what you see is what you get, and people see me as a guy. The weird and shitty occasion where someone "she's" me can undermine my process a little and I think, Do I Really Pass As Well As I Think I Do?...mostly, yes I do, and so I have to stay true to what is inside- a guy. Sometimes stuff is just super weird. The most static I have gotten going into a men's room was in Pamplona, Spain and it was women waiting in line for the women's room who nailed me coming and going; this was pre-transition but I was still not feminine, and I suspect something about this aggression was about me being in there with 'their men", not cool at all.


http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1zm8ryXT81qzk5h3o2_500.jpg

[LeftWriteFemme]

State Requiring Health Insurers To Cover Gender Transition


http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-gender-identity-connecticut-1227-20131226,0,1545137.story

[Rockinonahigh]

State Requiring Health Insurers To Cover Gender Transition


http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-gender-identity-connecticut-1227-20131226,0,1545137.story



I wonder if this means medicare /medicaid would have to follow the same rules???

[DapperButch]

I wonder if this means medicare /medicaid would have to follow the same rules???

Medicaid is a state plan so I would suspect they would. Medicare is federal, so it would not be the case for them.

[Nadeest]

Yay! Now if we can get the rest of the states to do so!

[Nadeest]

Yet another attack on transgender people. :( Worse, the newspaper is claiming that they don't have a responsibility to check the facts, before they publish an article. :( http://www.transadvocate.com/toronto-newspaper-pushes-trans-hoax-claims-no-duty.htm

Note: Here is the original article, that Cristan Williams critisized.: http://www.thestar.com/life/2014/01/04/transgender_mans_behaviour_in_changeroom_unaccepta ble_gallinger.html#

[Kenna]

Medicaid is a state plan so I would suspect they would. Medicare is federal, so it would not be the case for them.

Unfortunately, Dapper, I feel the need to disagree. The Medicaid Policy Writer, Medicaid Legislative Analyst and Program Manager side of me wants to help out in this situation ....Medicaid and Medicare are both Federal. The Feds (through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services -CMS) tell the states what they can and cannot do with Medicaid policy and particular programs. When the Feds make a policy change, they publish it in the Federal Register...the states review the change and have the right to "comment" using the instructions published in the Register. .. There are two different ways that the Feds can direct the states to handle coverage: As a mandated item to add to the "State Medicaid Plan" or as an optional item that the state can decide if they want to cover it or not....THEN there's also the possibility of a "State Waiver" where a state can apply to CMS (the feds) for approval to cover something that's not written in "The State Plan" ...

My suggestion is for any advocate of gender reassignment surgery to be added to MEDICAID or MEDICARE, please write in hard copy to the management of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in D.C...and also the Secretary of the federal Health and Human Services....in pleading any case for mandating coverage, it must be documented as "medically necessary".

Yes, there are Medicaid programs and services that are funded with Federal money and Medicaid programs/services/Waivers that are funded by state budget money. But the policy is driven from the feds down to the states...
if a procedure is currently NOT covered by Medicaid there are.certain legislative contacts to push it through.

I remember recently when dental care for adults has been drastically restricted because the feds and states reduced their budgets for items they decided to remove from the State Plans....
My worry is that even if Medical Necessity is proven for this surgery, several people at the federal or state level (ie. those against LGBTQ rights) will block any additions to the Medicaid or Medicare budget and policy.

[Kenna]

I'm sorry for any typos and for saying "if Medical Necessity" is proven ...I hate typing on my phone and intended to say AFTER Medical Necessity is proven ..

my hope certainly is that it becomes a covered surgery and also any therapy needed is covered ...if they cover Viagra, there are many other,services that need to be addressed. (I'm upset they cover viagra but nothing related to gender reassignment).

[Corkey]

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/12/11/medicare-re-examine-gender/

From another thread. But it fits the conversation.

[Kenna]

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/12/11/medicare-re-examine-gender/

From another thread. But it fits the conversation.

Thank you Corkey. I wasn't aware of this article or the wonderful statement reinforcing medical necessity because I decided to leave the Medicaid world after I discovered how my management are very dirty politicians and the worst bigots I've ever known. My old boss is the exact kind of sexist pig who would work diligently to block coverage for any sort of gender therapy or surgery.

I like the assertive statement made by Davis in this article...if they get the Medicare ban lifted, then it opens the door for Medicaid policy to be addressed.

[Kenna]

. Snipped....if they get the Medicare ban lifted, then it opens the door for Medicaid policy to be addressed.

In my distraction to deal with frozen pipes today, I neglected to clarify a few things. My apologies,
If *you* see any articles or news reports about "health insurers" being mandated by the state to cover gender surgeries, this would only apply to Insurance companies (like blue cross blue shield or Signa) or self insured agencies like an employer that has a "company health and welfare plan" (not to be confused with The Department Of Welfare or Social Services)....

sadly, any law mandating INSURERS to cover something does not apply to Medicaid (because Medicaid is "an entitlement program and not insurance") or Medicare (because Medicare is also not "insurance", its coverage identified under the Social Security Act for retired or disabled individuals).

They certainly can't make anything simple.

My boss from PA (the best supervisor I've ever had) used to say it "would take an act of god to add a covered item to Medicaid"
But the good news is, they are analyzing the MEDICARE policy, which usually ends up in the feds considering Medicaid....

[*Anya*]

Fox News, CNN Ignore Their Own Advice On Transgender Coverage
Blog ››› January 27, 2014 3:57 PM EST ››› LUKE BRINKER


Media critics on Fox News and CNN criticized a recent article that outed the inventor of a golf putter as a transgender woman. The two networks' history of problematic transgender coverage suggests that CNN and Fox could stand to take their own advice.

On January 15, the sports website Grantland published a lengthy article by Caleb Hannan about Dr. Essay Anne Vanderbilt, the founder of Yar Golf and inventor of a "scientifically superior" golf club. In the story, which Hannan described as "the strangest story I've ever worked on," Hannan outed "Dr. V" as a trans woman. Hannan wrote that during the course of his reporting, Vanderbilt resisted his outing of her. At the end of the article, he revealed that Vanderbilt had killed herself.

Hannan's digging into Vanderbilt's personal life -- and his problematic framing of a transgender woman's identity as "strange" - sparked fierce criticism and generated questions about the role his invasive reporting may have played in Vanderbilt's suicide. On January 26, CNN's Reliable Sources and Fox's #MediaBuzz weighed in on the controversy, with hosts and panelists on both shows agreeing that Grantland should have consulted a trans person before proceeding with the article.

On Reliable Sources, host Brian Stelter invited ESPN.com's Christina Kahrl and GLAAD's Tiq Milan to discuss the story and the ethical questions it raised:

MILAN: What journalists can take away from this is exactly what [Grantland editor-in-chief] Bill Simmons said in his letter ... to consult with LGBT organizations like GLAAD or like the National Center of Trans Equality to see how to better -- what are the best practices to deal with situations like this.

STELTER: It goes back to one of these journalistic maxims that diversity is so important to have in newsrooms. But I wonder if that's easier said than done sometimes for these places. I think you made a point, Christina, that the article was being written for an audience that could have learned a lot about the transgender community if only the research had been done.

Meanwhile, on Fox's #MediaBuzz, host Howard Kurtz dubbed Grantland's story a "media fail":

The two shows' criticism of the Grantland piece stands in stark contrast to how CNN and Fox have previously reported on transgender issues. After Army Private Chelsea Manning came out as transgender in August, both networks repeatedly misgendered her, disregarding GLAAD's Media Reference Guide, which calls on news organizations to refer to transgender people by their preferred gender pronouns.

Fox is particularly notorious for its transphobia. Host Bill O'Reilly, for instance, has advised parents to punish sons who like the color pink. In a typical display of the network's flippant attitude toward trans people, host Megyn Kelly trivialized a transgender inmate's fight for necessary medical treatment by deriding it as "a get out of male prison free card." One of Fox's most prominent transphobic faces, "Medical A Team" member Keith Ablow, has said he doesn't believe there's such a thing as being transgender.

Grantland's woefully flawed piece on Vanderbilt underscored the dangers of media ignorance about trans people. Reliable Sources and #MediaBuzz rightfully drew attention to the story's manifold problems, while highlighting the need to have the input of actual trans people when reporting on transgender issues. It's a message that both networks would benefit from heeding.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/01/27/fox-news-cnn-ignore-their-own-advice-on-transge/197771

[DapperButch]

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/23/265356667/after-20-years-transgender-inmate-is-a-step-closer-to-surgery

[Linus]

Small photo gallery on Pioneers in Transgender Activism: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/photos/pioneers-of-transgender-activism-1.2581912 I didn't even know of any of these but very interesting.

[Jesse]

Fashion Model Geena Rocero comes out on TED.

http://www.ted.com/talks/geena_rocero_why_i_must_come_out

[Jesse]

TED Blog (http://blog.ted.com)

How should we talk about transgender issues?

http://blog.ted.com/2014/03/31/how-should-we-talk-about-transgender-issues/

[cricket26]

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/transgender-couple-photographs-opposite-transitions/story?id=23748282

[DapperButch]

Matt Kailey, the author of "Just Add Hormones" died in his sleep last night. Heart Failure. No article anywhere on it. This is his blog.

http://tranifesto.com/category/just-add-hormones-excerpts/

I'll update the thread when I get more info.

[Nadeest]

You know, I keep a photographic record of my transition, just to be able to look back at it, later on, when I need to do so. Sometimes I use it to help people that are considering transition, so that they can see how much can change.

[DapperButch]

You know, I keep a photographic record of my transition, just to be able to look back at it, later on, when I need to do so. Sometimes I use it to help people that are considering transition, so that they can see how much can change.

I love when people share those pictures, videos.

I love watching the youtube videos of FTMs on testosterone. The compilations of one picture a day for 1 year, over 2 years, etc.

I think sometimes people don't realize how dramatic changes are for MTFs on HRT.

[Nadeest]

From what I understand, and have seen, the physical changes aren't as drastic, generally, for ftm's as for mtf's. Am I fairly correct in this?

[DapperButch]

Matt Kailey, the author of "Just Add Hormones" died in his sleep last night. Heart Failure. No article anywhere on it. This is his blog.

http://tranifesto.com/category/just-add-hormones-excerpts/

I'll update the thread when I get more info.

http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/05/21/op-ed-remembering-pioneering-trans-writer-activist-matt-kailey


It was heart failure. I believe he was a smoker.

[Kelt]

http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/05/21/op-ed-remembering-pioneering-trans-writer-activist-matt-kailey


It was heart failure. I believe he was a smoker.

Good article, thanks for the link.

Bit of a leap to correlate with smoking. A lot of things cause heart failure.

A pioneer is lost.

[DapperButch]

Good article, thanks for the link.

Bit of a leap to correlate with smoking. A lot of things cause heart failure.

A pioneer is lost.

Yes, it probably looked like I was leaping. The comment was made on another site I was on and I think there was other information that caused the focus to go to his smoking. I don't have the background.

[cricket26]

Lkn06Y8prDU

[cricket26]

yAHCqnux2fk

[cricket26]

http://time.com/130734/transgender-celebrities-actors-athletes-in-america/

[Linus]

Just noticed this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/06/mariette-pathy-allen_n_5441303.html

And I wonder how we will look 10, 15, 20 years from now (hopefully with better fashion sense; padded shoulders should never be a fashion statement -- ever.)

[Kelt]

This story just aired this morning. I don't see the video online but this is the article it was based on.

​Born this way: Stories of young transgender children (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/born-this-way-stories-of-young-transgender-children/)

[DapperButch]

You might enjoy this, Kelt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHCqnux2fk&feature=youtu.be

[Kelt]

You might enjoy this, Kelt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHCqnux2fk&feature=youtu.be

You're right, I'd not seen this. :cheesy: Thanks!

[theoddz]

R. Kelly's child (born female) has come out as Trans. :clap:

http://roygbiv.jezebel.com/reporting-around-r-kellys-child-shows-depth-of-trans-i-1587876454/+Kyosuke

I hope he finds love, support and acceptance in his family, amongst his friends and in his community. Best wishes to him for a successful and happy future. :winky:

~Theo~ :bouquet:

[Kelt]

R. Kelly's child (born female) has come out as Trans. :clap:

http://roygbiv.jezebel.com/reporting-around-r-kellys-child-shows-depth-of-trans-i-1587876454/+Kyosuke

I hope he finds love, support and acceptance in his family, amongst his friends and in his community. Best wishes to him for a successful and happy future. :winky:

~Theo~ :bouquet:

Thanks for posting this, I also wish the best for another young person going through this. :cheesy:

As I read through the article I kept being struck yet again with just how much the english language needs a non-gendered pronoun for individuals. We as a culture adopt new words into the lexicon all the time, com'on "google" is now a common verb, it shouldn't be this hard. Other languages have them, why are we so stubborn on this? It would eliminate the whole argument entirely instead of this bizarre circle-the-drain debate that seems to overshadow the trans experience in favor of semantics.

Hmm, looks like a rant. Sorry, this bugs me to no end. :seconddoh:

[Liam]

*Rev. Cameron Partridge Will Be First Openly Transgender Priest to Preach
at Washington National Cathedral*

Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge will make history on *Sunday, June 22*, as the first openly transgender priest to preach at the
historic Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in honor of
Pride Month. *The Rt. Rev Gene Robinson*, known as the first openly gay
priest to be elected a bishop, will preside at the service.*

"Cameron Partridge is a priest of great intellect, pastoral presence, and
possesses a deep passion for the Gospel. We are excited for him to preach
at the Cathedral," said The Very Rev. Gary Hall, the dean of Washington
National Cathedral. In a statement sent to The Huffington Post, he said:

"As an advocate both within the Church and wider community, Cameron's
presence in the pulpit, I hope, will also send a symbolic message in
support of greater equality for the transgender community, which suffers
from acts of violence, discrimination, unemployment, homelessness, and
financial inequality. We at Washington National Cathedral are striving to
send a message of love and affirmation, especially to LGBT youth who suffer
daily because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. We want to
proclaim to them as proudly and unequivocally as we can: Your gender
identity is good and your sexual orientation is good because that's the way
that God made you."

Partridge is *one of just seven openly trans clergy in the Episcopal Church*.
He became one of the first trans chaplains at a major university when he
was appointed Boston University's chaplain in 2011, according to Religion
and Politics' profile.
In 2012, the Episcopal Church officially voted to change its "nondiscrimination canons" to include "gender identity and expression" so that transgender people could not be barred from becoming priests, under law.

Partridge was in the process of being ordained as a priest when he told his
bishop, The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, that he was transitioning from female
to male in 2001. Shaw supported his decision and has gone on to become a
dedicated advocate for trans issues within the diocese of Massachusetts.
Boston's Cathedral Church of St. Paul now hosts a memorial on the annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance, to mourn those who have died because they were trans. Shaw told Religion and Politics, "I stand up in front of them each year and say
that the conception of God that judges you is not the conception of God in
this diocese."

Washington National Cathedral is one of the most high-profile Christian
advocates for LGBT equality. In 2013, Hall announced a policy of blessing
same-sex marriages, and held a service to celebrate the Supreme Court's
rejection of the Defense of Marriage Act.

However, policy does not always immediately translate into true acceptance,
which is one reason why Partridge's service at the Cathedral is so
important. Chris Paige, a transgender activist who runs Transfaith, a nonprofit focusing on faith and spirituality issues, told The Huffington Post in 2013 that
"The trans experience is still little-understood in the general community
and even more so at times in churches and spiritual spaces. Most of the
time when we go into a congregation, we have the experience of being the
first one. Even in congregations that say they accept transgender people,
it doesn't mean they have ever met a trans person."

The fact that Partridge is trans means that he has a wealth of experiences
and struggles to share with his congregations. "In one sense, my being
trans doesn't matter," he said to Religion and Politics about his role as
chaplain for Boston University.

"In another way, I'm able to have certain conversations about the
complexities of human identity with college students, who are figuring out
their own identities."

Paige also feels that trans people have a lot to offer religion, and vice
versa. "There is such an intersection between being trans and religious,"
Paige told The Huffington Post.

"Some of the fundamental religious questions -- 'Who am I? How do I fit
into the world?' -- those are very familiar questions that people ask on a
journey of gender exploration."

From Huffington Post. 6/6/14

[EnderD_503]

Just read this today. Another news story about Wren (a young trans boy out west who has been in the news a few times in the past), apparently he has now been granted an amended birth certificate. To my knowledge he's the first trans kid who has managed to get his birth certificate changed in Canada (since laws were recently changed so that you don't need to have had surgery anymore).

Somehow even after all these years, though, I still make the mistake of reading the comments and they still make me fume. At least I don't allow myself to get pulled into signing up and responding to the ignorant assholes anymore, though :p

EDMONTON – A 12-year-old transgender Alberta boy has been granted a new birth certificate that recognizes him as male.

Wren Kauffman was presented with the new document on Sunday in Edmonton during a Pride festival brunch hosted by the city’s mayor.

The province’s culture minister, Heather Klimchuk, made the presentation.

A spokesperson for the minister says the new certificate simply has a “M” instead of an “F.”

Kauffman had filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission over the inability to change the sex on his birth certificate.

READ MORE: Does gender no longer work on birth certificates

Alberta law states that transgender persons must have reassignment surgery before they can change the sex on their birth certificates, but Premier Dave Hancock said in April that the surgery requirement will be dropped.

Wren, who was born a girl, had said it was stressful being listed as female.

A week after Hancock made the announcement, a judge ruled that the Alberta law dealing with birth certificates violates the rights of transgender people.

READ MORE: 10-year-old transgender child fights to have gender removed from birth certificate

In the 1970s, most provinces changed their laws so people could change their birth certificates after sex reassignment surgery. The revision left out transgender children, because people must be at least 18 to be eligible for the surgery.

Ontario revised its law following a human rights tribunal ruling in 2012 that declared it discriminatory to require an actual sex-change operation for a transgender woman who wanted to switch to female from male on her birth certificate.

It now allows a change with a note from a doctor or psychologist testifying to a person’s “gender identity,” but the province set an age limit of 18 and over and said it needed more time to consider the issue.

READ MORE: 2 transgender children struggle to be themselves

Other human rights complaints have also been filed in at least three other provinces: British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1395508/alberta-gives-new-birth-certificate-to-12-year-old-boy-who-was-born-a-girl/

[Corkey]

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/06/16/american-medical-association-trans-people-shouldnt-need-surgery-for-legal-gender-recognition/?utm_content=buffer3a55f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[*Anya*]

New York State Sued Because Trans-Exclusionary Medicaid Regulation Has Got To Go

Posted by Maddie on June 27, 2014 at 5:00am PDT

Last week, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Legal Aid Society and the law firm of Willkie, Farr and Gallagher filed a class action lawsuit against the state of New York, which has discriminated against transgender people seeking healthcare since 1998 with a regulation that categorically denies Medicaid coverage for gender affirming healthcare. SRLP has been working to reverse this regulation since they opened in 2002.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two women, Angie Milan-Cruz and I.H., who have both been denied medically necessary healthcare by New York State Medicaid because of the discriminatory regulation. While Milan-Cruz and I.H.’s names are on the suit, Sylvia Rivera Law Project staff attorney Elana Redfield said, “Class action is the right avenue for this case, because so many people are impacted by the issue. We estimate that as many as 8,000 people could be affected by this regulation — too many to represent on a case-by-case basis.”

In a press release on the SRLP website, SRLP Staff Attorney Pooja Gehi said, “This regulation aggravates discrimination against a community that is already struggling to survive… When our clients cannot access healthcare they need, they have a harder time getting identity documents such as state ID, or getting jobs, housing, and basic social services.” The release also described the legal case they are making against the regulation:

“The lawsuit challenges the regulation on three main legal points:

>>> New York State’s Medicaid regulation conflicts with the federal Medicaid Act, which prohibits certain forms of discrimination in state Medicaid programs. Medicaid discriminates because it provides most of the healthcare transgender people need to others who are not transgender.

>>>> New York State’s Medicaid regulation conflicts with the Affordable Care Act, section 1557, which prohibits discrimination in health care on the basis of gender identity expression amongst an entity that receives federal funding.

>>> The New York State Constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes sex stereotyping. Denial of necessary medical care solely on the basis of assigned birth sex is discrimination on the basis of sex stereotyping.”

The suit comes shortly after the Obama administration’s recent announcement that gender affirming healthcare will no longer be excluded from federal Medicare coverage. While this announcement still leaves state Medicaid programs like the one in New York free to keep regulations like the trans exclusionary one intact, Redfield is hopeful states to follow the federal government’s lead:

“Since the Medicare decision, we have also seen Massachusetts reverse its exclusion, and Washington state declare that transgender discrimination is illegal in private healthcare. I think it’s only a matter of time before other jurisdictions follow suit.”


http://www.autostraddle.com/new-york-state-sued-because-trans-exclusionary-medicaid-regulation-has-got-to-go-242956/

[LeftWriteFemme]

Man Crush Monday: Jaden Remy Introduces You to Philly’s Hottest Trans Bachelors

http://cdn.phillymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Riley.jpg

http://www.phillymag.com/g-philly/2014/07/14/man-crush-monday-jaden-remy-introduces-phillys-hottest-trans-bachelors/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EDIT:%20G%20Philly&utm_content=#gallery-1-1

[LeftWriteFemme]

'Trans Bodies, Trans Selves': A Modern Manual By And For Trans People

http://media.npr.org/assets/bakertaylor/covers/t/trans-bodies-trans-selves/9780199325351_vert-26bd37c89f949548b03aeae542f9e60139a9f347-s2-c85.jpg

http://www.npr.org/2014/07/17/332051691/trans-bodies-trans-selves-a-modern-manual-by-and-for-trans-people

[ProfPacker]

I heard the interview on NPR yesterday it was really meaningful

[JDeere]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/25/mills-college-transgender-students_n_5710441.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender

[MsTinkerbelly]

Bill AB1577 the "respect after death" law was signed into effect by Governor Jerry Brown, allowing a person to have their gender identity of choice listed on their death certificate.

The person "closest" to the deceased will be allowed to say what the gender is, and people may sue to be that person or bring forth documentation from the deceased if it looks like someone is not using what the deceased would say was their identity.

[Linus]

I've been making it my goal to find happier stories on Trans individuals and ran across this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/15/transgender-instagram-documentation_n_5948248.html

[JDeere]

http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/11/misconceptions-trans-ally-understand/


Good read!

[Nadeest]

That is a VERY good read, to my mind. :)

[JDeere]

I hope it will help and folks understand.

[LeftWriteFemme]

Ugandan Transgender Web Series ‘The Pearl of Africa’ Releases Episode 3

http://oka-cdn.okayplayer.com/wp-content/uploads/pearl-of-africa-cleo-kambugu-2.jpg

http://www.okayafrica.com/news/the-pearl-of-africa-ugandan-transgender-documentary-web-series-episode-3/

[cricket26]

India has elected a transgender mayor.
Madhu Bai Kinnar – an independent candidate – defeated her opponent from prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) by more than 4,500 votes to be elected mayor of Raigarh, in the central state of Chhattisgarh, on Sunday.
Kinnar, 35, is a member of the lowly Dalit caste, once known as ‘untouchables’. Before running for mayor, she earned a living by singing and dancing on Howrah to Mumbai trains, collecting money for her performances. She only stopped when asked to represent her community.
“People have shown faith in me. I consider this win as love and blessings of people for me. I’ll put in my best efforts to accomplish their dreams,” said Kinnar after her win.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-politics/11327416/India-Transgender-woman-elected-mayor.html

[DapperButch]

http://www.eonline.com/news/612713/annette-bening-and-warren-beatty-s-transgender-son-speaks-out-in-wake-of-leelah-alcorn-suicide?cmpid=par-121113-outbrain-paid-links&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories



India has elected a transgender mayor.
Madhu Bai Kinnar – an independent candidate – defeated her opponent from prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) by more than 4,500 votes to be elected mayor of Raigarh, in the central state of Chhattisgarh, on Sunday.
Kinnar, 35, is a member of the lowly Dalit caste, once known as ‘untouchables’. Before running for mayor, she earned a living by singing and dancing on Howrah to Mumbai trains, collecting money for her performances. She only stopped when asked to represent her community.
“People have shown faith in me. I consider this win as love and blessings of people for me. I’ll put in my best efforts to accomplish their dreams,” said Kinnar after her win.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-politics/11327416/India-Transgender-woman-elected-mayor.html

Awesome, thanks for posting this!

[Gemme]

Russia Bans Drivers with Gender Disorders (http://www.aol.com/article/2015/01/09/russia-bans-drivers-with-sexual-or-gender-disorders/21127593/?cps=gravity_1967_1278646456254717148)

Russia says those with what it calls "disorders" of sexual preference or gender identity can no longer hold driver's licenses.

A list came down from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's office last month that disqualifies those with certain mental or behavioral disorders from driving.

The order references certain subsections of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases: mental, gender or sexual identity disorders including transsexualism, fetishism, exhibitionism, compulsive theft or pathological gambling.

The government explains the new driving rules are intended to reduce deaths from road traffic accidents, but the announcement generated fierce and immediate criticism from civil rights advocates. Human Rights First called it "an alarming violation of the rights of the transgender community."

A representative from the Russian Psychiatric Association voiced concern to the BBC that some people "would avoid seeking psychiatric help, fearing a driving ban."

The new rules come as Russia has clamped down on the rights of gays and others practicing what it considers "non-traditional lifestyles." Human Rights Watch reports a marked escalation of homophobia in the country starting in late 2012.

USA Today reports human rights lawyers in Russia plan to demand clarification of the new rules from the country's Constitutional Court.

[Rockinonahigh]

On the golden globs award show tonight, Transparent won two awards,check it out.

[JDeere]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robi-ludwig/marriage-a-transgender-ma_b_6404000.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular,transgend er

I love reading stories like this, more trans men having positive news articles.

[Kelt]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robi-ludwig/marriage-a-transgender-ma_b_6404000.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular,transgend er

I love reading stories like this, more trans men having positive news articles.

Thanks, this is one of the best I've seen in a while.

[Martina]

I have known or known of a large number of trans men who are way more attracted to other men than they are to women and yet marry or partner with women. I do not get that. Seems the case with this marriage. I also don't get being married to someone who is more hot for a gender that is not yours. To each his or her own. But I don't get it.

[JDeere]

Thanks, this is one of the best I've seen in a while.

Indeed, I try to find more positive instead of negative.

[nhplowboi]

Hey.......Is anyone planning on attending First Event in the Boston area this year? I'm planning on going Saturday and thought it would be nice to lunch with anyone who might be attending from this site.

[MsTinkerbelly]

The Governor of the state has named a woman to the office of Physican General, which is the highest office a transgendered person has achieved in Pennsylvannia.

Congratulations to Dr. Rachael Levine!

[cricket26]

http://kaiserhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/medicare-sex-change/

[DapperButch]

http://kaiserhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/medicare-sex-change/

Well, it actually isn't that it covers surgery per se, it is just that it doesn't actually outright refuse to pay for surgery.

To my knowledge, there isn't actually a case yet where they have paid. However, Dr. Marcie Bowers has been willing to do surgery under the assumption that they will pay.

[LeftWriteFemme]

BU researchers find biological basis for transgender identity

http://dailyfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/transgender-400x161.jpg

http://dailyfreepress.com/2015/02/18/bu-researchers-find-biological-basis-for-transgender-identity/

[DapperButch]

BU researchers find biological basis for transgender identity

http://dailyfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/transgender-400x161.jpg

http://dailyfreepress.com/2015/02/18/bu-researchers-find-biological-basis-for-transgender-identity/

Thanks for posting this. As the people said in the comments, I wish they had linked the journal article.

[Soon]

Thanks for posting this. As the people said in the comments, I wish they had linked the journal article.

I clicked on the word 'review' in the article and was brought to the Journal where you can get the article. Here it is:

http://www.endocrinepractice.org/content/2k70161258g45656/fulltext.pdf

[JDeere]

Ugh,I dislike when there is no link to a medical journal but good article.

[*Anya*]

I clicked on the word 'review' in the article and was brought to the Journal where you can get the article. Here it is:

http://www.endocrinepractice.org/content/2k70161258g45656/fulltext.pdf

Thanks for posting this.

It appears to be a well-done study, with many citations and sources.

I learned a great deal.

[DapperButch]

I clicked on the word 'review' in the article and was brought to the Journal where you can get the article. Here it is:

http://www.endocrinepractice.org/content/2k70161258g45656/fulltext.pdf

Ah. Thank you so much, Soon.

[Kelt]

Planet fitness and gym locker rooms in the news (http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/28278233/planet-fitness-drops-member-after-gender-identity-complaint)

I think it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Linus]

Planet fitness and gym locker rooms in the news (http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/28278233/planet-fitness-drops-member-after-gender-identity-complaint)

I think it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

Interesting. When I had contacted them as a gym one time they said that the sex on my ID had to match which room I'd use for changing. And since that hasn't been altered yet I was like "nope, not going here" simply because it'd be fairly obvious I didn't belong in the women's room.

[DapperButch]

Interesting. When I had contacted them as a gym one time they said that the sex on my ID had to match which room I'd use for changing. And since that hasn't been altered yet I was like "nope, not going here" simply because it'd be fairly obvious I didn't belong in the women's room.

Hey, Linus. Can I ask why you haven't altered your gender marker on your I.D. yet? I know that you had top surgery, correct?

[Gemme]

Planet fitness and gym locker rooms in the news (http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/28278233/planet-fitness-drops-member-after-gender-identity-complaint)

I think it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

Good. It's such a rarity that a corporation sticks up for the trans community at all.

The repeated use of 'he' tells me that, despite what she says, she does not get it.

[Martina]

Chinese sex expert announces she is married to a trans man (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/07/world/asia/chinese-advocate-of-sexuality-opens-door-into-her-own-private-life.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=Moth-Visible&module=inside-nyt-region&region=inside-nyt-region&WT.nav=inside-nyt-region)

[Gemme]

See the Real Me (http://www.aol.com/article/2015/03/14/jazz-jennings-becomes-new-face-of-clean-and-clear/21153326/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl12%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D627779)

Transgender girl, Jazz Jennings, Becomes Face of Clean & Clear.

[LeftWriteFemme]

Stellenbosch University doctors perform first successful penile transplant in the world


http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/PublishingImages/NewsCarousel/2015Nuus/transplantSU_.jpg

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=2328

[Linus]

Hey, Linus. Can I ask why you haven't altered your gender marker on your I.D. yet? I know that you had top surgery, correct?

Because Canadian law requires all necessary surgeries to change passport as does the Ontario gov't (last time I looked).

At the time of the Planet Fitness issue I hadn't had any surgeries yet.

[Linus]

Stellenbosch University doctors perform first successful penile transplant in the world


http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/PublishingImages/NewsCarousel/2015Nuus/transplantSU_.jpg

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=2328



Hrmm.... I suspect this was for a cis-gendered individual. If it was for a trans-man, now that would be impressive. But likely still well out of the financial reach of most trans-men.

[JDeere]

I can't find a specific link for the law that some states want to pass for transfolks to use the bathroom of the gender they were born as!

WTF is up with this?

Any comments?

[DapperButch]

I can't find a specific link for the law that some states want to pass for transfolks to use the bathroom of the gender they were born as!

WTF is up with this?

Any comments?

I start here for anything that I am looking for.


http://transequality.org/

[JDeere]

I looked on that site but didn't find what I was looking for.

But it is a bill they are trying to pass in Florida regarding transfolks using the bathroom, I should have been more specific in my last post, if I find it, I will post it.

[DapperButch]

I looked on that site but didn't find what I was looking for.

But it is a bill they are trying to pass in Florida regarding transfolks using the bathroom, I should have been more specific in my last post, if I find it, I will post it.

Yes, I was only giving you link as a place to start when looking for anything going on politically/legally, as it is where I go. I didn't mean to imply they had the information.

I do remember hearing some rumblings around bathroom use in FL.

[JDeere]

I'm hoping such rumblings do not head to Oklahoma or Texas.

[cricket26]

I can't find a specific link for the law that some states want to pass for transfolks to use the bathroom of the gender they were born as!

WTF is up with this?

Any comments?



does this help....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/09/florida-transgender-bathroom-law_n_6645910.html

[JDeere]

Yes tyty Cricket!

[Gemme]

Trans teen comes out in front of his class (http://www.aol.com/article/2015/03/24/transgender-teen-makes-brave-coming-out-speech-in-front-of-cla/21157039/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl15%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D632754)

[JDeere]

I am deeply saddened by this news, another trans teen suicide

http://goqnotes.com/34689/young-transgender-activist-blake-brockington-mourned/

When are the killing and suicides going to stop?

[Nadeest]

I know that I am going to ignore that law, if it passes, and to hell with them. If I go to jail, I might well ask the judge why the hell isn't HE/SHE in jail, along with me, since that is a very unjust law.

[JDeere]

I hope that law doesn't make it's way to Texas, but then again I would defy it anyways. When I have to go, I have to go.

[*Anya*]

Feds Say Georgia's Treatment of Transgender Prisoners Is Unconstitutional
—By Samantha Michaels| Fri Apr. 3, 2015 4:36 PM EDT

For three years, the Georgia Department of Corrections allegedly has denied transgender inmate Ashley Diamond medical treatment for gender dysphoria, causing her such distress that she has attempted on multiple occasions to castrate herself, cut off her penis, and kill herself. In February, Diamond filed a lawsuit against GDC officials, and on Friday the Department of Justice dealt the GDC a major blow, claiming that the state's failure to adequately treat inmates with gender dysphoria "constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment."

The DOJ weighed in on Diamond's case via a statement of interest, which offers recommendations for how the district court in Georgia should rule in the case. It focused on Georgia's so-called freeze-frame policy, which prevents inmates from receiving hormone therapy for gender dysphoria if they were not identified as transgender and referred for treatment immediately during the prison intake process.

"Freeze-frame policies and other policies that apply blanket prohibitions to such treatment are facially unconstitutional because they fail to provide individualized assessment and treatment of a serious medical need," DOJ officials wrote, adding that similar policies have been previously struck down in Wisconsin and New York.

Chinyere Ezie, Diamond's lead attorney, says the defense has until next Friday to submit briefs in response to the complaint, which may include a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The first hearing for the case is scheduled for April 13. You can read the DOJ's entire statement below, and check out our earlier coverage of Diamond's case.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/04/doj-georgia-policy-trans-inmates-unconstitutional

[Corkey]

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/09/maryland-birth-certificate-bill-receives-final-approval/

[DapperButch]

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/09/maryland-birth-certificate-bill-receives-final-approval/

W.O.W.

:| <---speechless

[Nadeest]

I've been thinking about the proposed Florida trans bathroom law. I wonder if those legislators realize that, if everyone obeyed that law, they WOULD be having bearded men (transmales) going into the ladies restroom. How are they proposing to deal with that, I wonder. Certainly there will be a LOT of trouble, overall, I am thinking. I wonder how they are planning to keep the transfolk from harm, IF they are , at all. How are they proposing to deal with all the 'unlawful arrest' lawsuits that are sure to be filed? I know, that IF I obey this law, and I am harrassed when in the men's bathroom, I will do my level best to hurt the person responsible. I will also file a claim for sexual harrassment.

[Linus]

I've been thinking about the proposed Florida trans bathroom law. I wonder if those legislators realize that, if everyone obeyed that law, they WOULD be having bearded men (transmales) going into the ladies restroom. How are they proposing to deal with that, I wonder. Certainly there will be a LOT of trouble, overall, I am thinking. I wonder how they are planning to keep the transfolk from harm, IF they are , at all. How are they proposing to deal with all the 'unlawful arrest' lawsuits that are sure to be filed? I know, that IF I obey this law, and I am harrassed when in the men's bathroom, I will do my level best to hurt the person responsible. I will also file a claim for sexual harrassment.

The more important question is how are they going to verify it. Seriously. Are they going to check every person that goes into the washroom? I'd love to see how long the law would last if a cis-gendered woman was asked to show her genitals to verify that she is a woman (say if she is naturally more "masculine" in features).

[Daniela]

I think this is the right place for this post; let me know if it isn't...

Transgender Man Could Be Men's Health's Next 'Ultimate Guy'

http://jezebel.com/transgender-man-could-be-mens-healths-next-ultimate-guy-1697958213

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--KhC7A4GO--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1210048675274763410.png

and a direct link where you can vote for him:
http://ultimateguy.menshealth.com/entry/347/

[DapperButch]

I think this is the right place for this post; let me know if it isn't...

Transgender Man Could Be Men's Health's Next 'Ultimate Guy'

http://jezebel.com/transgender-man-could-be-mens-healths-next-ultimate-guy-1697958213

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--KhC7A4GO--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1210048675274763410.png

and a direct link where you can vote for him
http://ultimateguy.menshealth.com/entry/347/

I voted for Aydian. He is also a good guy.
Garamone was his top surgeon, by the way. Double incision.

[GraffitiBoi]

I voted for Aydian. He is also a good guy.
Garamone was his top surgeon, by the way. Double incision.

I also voted for him. After checking the leaderboard, he isn't just in the lead, he's crushing his competition!

[DapperButch]

This is the story that got the Aydian Dowling celebrity started. Hopefully, he doesn't get a big head from all of this.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jasonrobertb/transgender-magazine-recreates-naked-adam-levine-p-1c4ex

[Nadeest]

I'd love to see how people reacted to him, if he ever walked into a women's bathroom, here in Florida!

[DapperButch]

I'd love to see how people reacted to him, if he ever walked into a women's bathroom, here in Florida!

haha Indeed!

[Liam]

Army soldier becomes first openly trans person in the military! Sgt Shane Ortega (https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/10/army-soldier-becomes-first-openly-trans-person-in-u-s-military/)

[JDeere]

I am glad to see some massive positive posts about trans folks!

I wish there were more positive lately then negative to read about.

[Hominid]

Fantastic -- back in the day, I had an appointment to West Point. I blew it off, much to my dad's chagrin, because I couldn't stand being in those clothes, as a woman ... seems so silly now. Nobody ever said 17 was a smart age.

[DapperButch]

This is the first time I have seen a penis transplant research team mention the potential for FTM patients.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/trickiest-part-first-successful-penis-transplant-finding-donor-180954639/

I personally can't see myself doing this, but I thought others might find it interesting.

[Gemme]

Transgender Teen Settles with DMV (http://www.autoblog.com/2015/04/23/transgender-teen-settles-with-state-over-license-photo/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl39%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1323837475)

Chase Culpepper denied a driver's license photo, citing 'altering appearance.

[Feasting Panther]

In Australia each State seems to have differing laws concerning name change, gender etc.
In Western Australia you cant legaly change from M2F without undergoing SrS, however i was given an exemption due to medical issues, i can also tick 'other' or have Intersex registered on some forms, documents etc.
Its a bit complicated and annoying, but Australia never seems to take a step forward in anything, just 3 steps backwards...

[Gemme]

Testosterone Shot Risks (http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/stroke-rounds-testosterone-shots-tied-greater-risks/?xid=aol_eh-mens_1_20150518_&aolcat=HLT&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl7%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1826761597)

A study finds links to strokes, acute coronary syndromes, hospitalization, and death from short-acting testosterone injections.

I'm curious; have those that take T injections been given the option of gel or patches? This study says that those that used gels or patches didn't have these elevated risks.

[GraffitiBoi]

Testosterone Shot Risks (http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/stroke-rounds-testosterone-shots-tied-greater-risks/?xid=aol_eh-mens_1_20150518_&aolcat=HLT&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl7%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1826761597)

A study finds links to strokes, acute coronary syndromes, hospitalization, and death from short-acting testosterone injections.

I'm curious; have those that take T injections been given the option of gel or patches? This study says that those that used gels or patches didn't have these elevated risks.

I was given the option but I chose the shots. I've been injecting once a week for 12 years and no problems at all. I get checked twice a year for everything. :)

[Gemme]

I was given the option but I chose the shots. I've been injecting once a week for 12 years and no problems at all. I get checked twice a year for everything. :)

Thanks for the response! I'm not aware of how many brands there are of injectable T but they specifically mentioned Bolus.

[GraffitiBoi]

Thanks for the response! I'm not aware of how many brands there are of injectable T but they specifically mentioned Bolus.

Bolus is what happens when you inject. I copied this from a site regarding T injections since I didn't know how to explain it: "When you inject your T, it forms a bolus in the middle of your muscle (if it’s an intramuscular injection) or fat (if it’s subcutaneous). A bolus is a big lump of T that will release into your bloodstream over time."

The main risk of long term injectable T is developing polycythemia, which is a high increase of red blood cells. It can lead to clots which can cause the strokes and coronary syndromes you mentioned. It's usually treated by taking one baby aspirin per day and quitting smoking, if you smoke.

[Gemme]

Bolus is what happens when you inject. I copied this from a site regarding T injections since I didn't know how to explain it: "When you inject your T, it forms a bolus in the middle of your muscle (if it’s an intramuscular injection) or fat (if it’s subcutaneous). A bolus is a big lump of T that will release into your bloodstream over time."

The main risk of long term injectable T is developing polycythemia, which is a high increase of red blood cells. It can lead to clots which can cause the strokes and coronary syndromes you mentioned. It's usually treated by taking one baby aspirin per day and quitting smoking, if you smoke.

That was a perfect explanation and makes a ton of sense. Thanks!

[DapperButch]

Bolus is what happens when you inject. I copied this from a site regarding T injections since I didn't know how to explain it: "When you inject your T, it forms a bolus in the middle of your muscle (if it’s an intramuscular injection) or fat (if it’s subcutaneous). A bolus is a big lump of T that will release into your bloodstream over time."

The main risk of long term injectable T is developing polycythemia, which is a high increase of red blood cells. It can lead to clots which can cause the strokes and coronary syndromes you mentioned. It's usually treated by taking one baby aspirin per day and quitting smoking, if you smoke.

To clarify, though, you aren't saying that transmen who take T are at any higher risk for developing this than natal men, correct?

As an aside, you have been doing IM for all 12 years, I assume? Have you considered trying out sub-q?

I can't imagine doing IM. I am glad sub-q was available when I started.

[GraffitiBoi]

To clarify, though, you aren't saying that transmen who take T are at any higher risk for developing this than natal men, correct?

As an aside, you have been doing IM for all 12 years, I assume? Have you considered trying out sub-q?

I can't imagine doing IM. I am glad sub-q was available when I started.

I doubt transmen are at a higher risk, but I don't know the specifics. I can look into it more.

I was off of T for one of those years due to medical reasons not related to being on T or being trans.

I did try sub-q a few times but my moods seemed to shift. I went back to IM and no more mood shifts. I assume that's because the dosage for IM vs SQ are different and mine wasn't adjusted correctly.

[DapperButch]

Testosterone Shot Risks (http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/stroke-rounds-testosterone-shots-tied-greater-risks/?xid=aol_eh-mens_1_20150518_&aolcat=HLT&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl7%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1826761597)

A study finds links to strokes, acute coronary syndromes, hospitalization, and death from short-acting testosterone injections.

I'm curious; have those that take T injections been given the option of gel or patches? This study says that those that used gels or patches didn't have these elevated risks.

Gemme, I was given the option of gel and I did use it a bit at first. I didn't like it. It was sticky and with the brand I had (Testim), you weren't supposed to have contact with a person until you washed it off (not the two hour wait some gels state). The cost is higher than injections. It is true that daily application keeps a more steady dose of T in the body. Historically, FTMs would inject every two weeks intramuscular. Now every 10 days for intramuscular or every 7 days for sub-q is the most common.

Sub-q is started to gain some acceptance and validity in the U.S. Like other new medical approaches it started in the urban areas (due being close to research hospitals and such)and slowly moving out. This is what I do. Weekly shot into the fat. Painless (pretty much...it is like giving yourself insulin, I suspect).

I know of only one guy that is on the patches. He is in Europe.

Europe's most common testosterone method is undecanoate (less shots, longer acting). I personally wouldn't even consider being open to doing that until at least a year of being on a consistent dose.

I snagged this dosing schedule for undecanoate off this site

DOSING: Males over 18 years of age: The recommended dose of testosterone undecanoate is 750 mg (3 ml) intramuscularly; followed by 750 mg (3 ml) intramuscularly after 4 weeks, then 750 mg (3 ml) intramuscularly every 10 weeks thereafter.


Even if I had been taking the same dose for a long period of time, I would hesitate on signing up for an injection of a medicine that I could have problems with taking...but I would have to wait to get rid of it? 10 weeks? All just for convenience? No thanks.

I worry about this being prescribed for early transitioners. Everyones response to T is different. One guy may need half the dose tht the other guy needs. It take some to figure it all out. I have read cases of a guy having his first injection and then a week later going onto nebido. I would they would at least wait to change after his blook work (at 3 months), to tell you if his levels are in the right place.

Anyway, I am dozzing off here, actually even closing my eyes while I am typing. ha. night.

[Jesse]

I've been injecting T intramuscularly for 16 years now, (.5cc weekly) without any problems...knock on wood. :) I admittedly take it less often now, no special reason other than I sometimes simply forget about taking it until I realize I am long overdue. At this point I doubt I would consider switching things up and trying the sub-q route, as interesting as it sounds, simply because why fix what's not broken? The intramuscular method has worked well for me.

I am interested in hearing from guys who do try the sub-q, and of their personal experiences using that method of injection.

[DapperButch]

I've been injecting T intramuscularly for 16 years now, (.5cc weekly) without any problems...knock on wood. :) I admittedly take it less often now, no special reason other than I sometimes simply forget about taking it until I realize I am long overdue. At this point I doubt I would consider switching things up and trying the sub-q route, as interesting as it sounds, simply because why fix what's not broken? The intramuscular method has worked well for me.

I am interested in hearing from guys who do try the sub-q, and of their personal experiences using that method of injection.

I can see myself being less than eager to change if something has been working for me and I am comfortable with it. The concern with IM is scar tissue buildup in the muscle. Since subq it is injected into the fat, that is not an issue.

I like the small needles, and hardly feel the needle going in. However, like I said in my other post, I have never tried IM.

You may enjoy this article:

http://transguys.com/ref/research/subcutaneous-injections

[Jesse]

Thank you. I read the article prior to posting.

[ahk]

I started out with cream/gel-- for the first 6 months and really didn't like it. I felt like it was always 'there' and worried about rubbing off onto my wife. Plus, I was still having issues with bleeding (menopause big time), no change in voice, and just felt like crap. Then I switched over to IM (.5cc/weekly), went in butt cheeks, upper arms and did this for 1.5 years. My last check up with doc he wanted to start me on SubQ (.25cc/biweekly) and honestly I LOVE it. I don't feel a thing, my anxiety of needle pain went away, and and I feel like I get more benefit from it-- but it's probably all in my head than anything.

[DapperButch]

I started out with cream/gel-- for the first 6 months and really didn't like it. I felt like it was always 'there' and worried about rubbing off onto my wife. Plus, I was still having issues with bleeding (menopause big time), no change in voice, and just felt like crap. Then I switched over to IM (.5cc/weekly), went in butt cheeks, upper arms and did this for 1.5 years. My last check up with doc he wanted to start me on SubQ (.25cc/biweekly) and honestly I LOVE it. I don't feel a thing, my anxiety of needle pain went away, and and I feel like I get more benefit from it-- but it's probably all in my head than anything.

It may not be (in your head). Studies are beginning to show that subq is more efficient than IM.

[Nadeest]

I have used estrogen patches before, and I ran into difficulties keeping the patch on, especially during hot weather. I don't know if that same problem might occur with T patches or not, though.

[DapperButch]

I have used estrogen patches before, and I ran into difficulties keeping the patch on, especially during hot weather. I don't know if that same problem might occur with T patches or not, though.

I didn't know that estrogen came in patches. Can I ask what you use currently?

[Nadeest]

Of course you can ask, Dapper. I originally started on estradiol, then went to a patch, back to estradiol, and am currently on premarin. Of course, I am also taking an antiadrogen as well, spirolactenone. I've never used injectable estrogen, nor the implants that I have heard about.

[Kelt]

I just saw a promotion for a new episode of PBS's "Frontline (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/growing-up-trans/)" show that will air on June 30th Called "Growing Up Trans (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/growing-up-trans/)" about trans kids.

I'll be watching. (Either link gets you to the page)

[Jesse]

There is also a new show on ABC called, "Becoming Us" that is really good so far. I believe it is only 10 episodes.

It is based on a Chicago area family who's husband/father is transitioning to female and it mostly done from the point of view of the teenage son and his girlfriend who's father is TG. Great, honest conversations without a lot of hoopla.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-becoming-us-transgender-evanston-lehwald-family-20150608-story.html

http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/becoming-us/about-the-show

Monday nights, 9pm, but it is also on Hulu

[DapperButch]

I just saw a promotion for a new episode of PBS's "Frontline (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/growing-up-trans/)" show that will air on June 30th Called "Growing Up Trans (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/growing-up-trans/)" about trans kids.

I'll be watching. (Either link gets you to the page)

Bump.

It's tonight.

[JDeere]

Watching the last part of the Frontline show mentioned above!

I saw it from the beginning and the deal with the very young kids transitioning bugs me, I feel some of them need to grow a bit before they start this journey because it is not easy.

That is my take on it.

[Gemme]

The Girl Scouts of Western Washington were offered a $100,000 donation.

With one stipulation.

To exclude trans girls.

They gave it back (http://www.upworthy.com/a-donor-gave-100000-to-the-girl-scouts-to-exclude-1-group-of-girls-they-gave-it-right-back?c=aol1&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl35%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D-1534398262).

So proud!

[JDeere]

I am currently watching a show called Transgender Kids on TLC!

I can see alot of myself in these kids regarding the way they were forced to dress and how painful it is to be the wrong gender.

[DapperButch]

The Girl Scouts of Western Washington were offered a $100,000 donation.

With one stipulation.

To exclude trans girls.

They gave it back (http://www.upworthy.com/a-donor-gave-100000-to-the-girl-scouts-to-exclude-1-group-of-girls-they-gave-it-right-back?c=aol1&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl35%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D-1534398262).

So proud!

I meant to post this the other day and then I forgot.

I am always so proud of the Girl Scouts on this issue. They did the "right thing to do". Right from the beginning!

[Kelt]

From todays Fortune magazine.

Changing genders at work: Inside the Fortune 500's quiet transgender revolution (http://fortune.com/2015/07/13/transgender-fortune-500/)

"For over a decade, the nation’s largest companies have embraced transgender workers, even as the community remained socially marginalized."...

[Kelt]

Aaand another one today:

Pentagon announces plan aimed at lifting transgender ban (http://bigstory.ap.org/article/67db24e3b2604c39b20c4b7f7e5bcbf7/apnewsbreak-pentagon-readying-plan-lift-transgender-ban)

"WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon's current regulations banning transgender individuals from serving in the military are outdated, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday, ordering a six-month study aimed at formally ending one of the last gender- or sexuality-based barriers to military service."...

[DapperButch]

Aaand another one today:

Pentagon announces plan aimed at lifting transgender ban (http://bigstory.ap.org/article/67db24e3b2604c39b20c4b7f7e5bcbf7/apnewsbreak-pentagon-readying-plan-lift-transgender-ban)

"WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon's current regulations banning transgender individuals from serving in the military are outdated, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday, ordering a six-month study aimed at formally ending one of the last gender- or sexuality-based barriers to military service."...

HOLEEEEEY FUCK. DAMN. Didn't expect this this soon. In fact, there was reason to believe that the Petagon was not going to even look at this issue right now. Thank you Caitlyn!

[Nadeest]

I just came across an interesting resource. It is an ezine, and so far, there has only been a single issue. That issue costs $5, but so far, from reading it, I think that it is worth the money. I don't remember how I ran across it, but you should be able to find it with a web search. It is titled: "Fucking Trans Women", and is primarily directed towards pre-op/ non-op trans women. This is because, apparently, few post-op transwomen replied to the call for submissions.

[JDeere]

I watched Caitlyn Jenner's speech on the ESPYS, let's just say it moved me and even my conservative parents to tears!

I think we all could learn a lesson from Cait! Acceptance!

[Liam]

Here is an op-ed piece that was in the Advocate, about Transmen being silent about their being survivors of violence.
Boys Do Cry (https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/07/16/op-ed-how-lgbt-communities-can-better-listen-trans-male-violence-survivors)

If you struggle with thoughts of suicide, call: TransLifeLine at (877) 565-8860, or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255.

[Smiling]

https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2015/07/22/tampa-fla-sees-tenth-trans-woman-murdered-us-2015

This shit has just got to stop.

Rest in peace, India Clarke.
:praying: