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Category: Transgender Opinion
Now that the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has opened the military to openly gay service members where does that leave TGs who want to serve their country? Babs Casbar-Siperstein runs down the advances transgendered people have made in regard to military service and speculates on what will happen next. Citing the results of surveys and personal experience with trans soldiers Babs postulates that it won’t be long before TGs can proudly, openly server their country.
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This month our correspondent in Thailand has left the country for a trip to Hong Kong. Christine has highlighted the lot of transgendered people in Thailand but what has she found in Hong Kong? Fortunately it seems that progress is being made on transgendered rights and recognition. When Christine lived in Hong Kong, just a few years ago, the trans community was completely underground. Now thanks to the efforts of local TGs things are beginning to change. But is it enough progress?
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Age is all about numbers. Pick a number you like and stick with it is the philosophy espoused by The Artist D. When she was 21 she decided to tell everyone she was 23. But this month The Artist D turns 30. And she has a quandary — she’s spent several years being ages other than her actual age. How long should she stay 30? With Mick Jagger turning 70 and 70 becoming the new 50 how is a girl supposed to decide what age she should claim? Get all of The Artist D’s perspective on the numbers game in Dirty Thirty.
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A place for everything and everything in it’s place is a good way to run your life. Online groups for TGs however tend to try to do that but no matter how noble the groups purpose people join who have only one thing on their minds. A recent situation in an online group that was established to provide “role models” for TGs caused RachelX to write her take on the proper place for horn dogs who are only online so they can be hitting on people and about the meaning of “role model.”
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A news report about a FtM transgendered teen — or perhaps just a a teen with gender confusion — has prompted Dee Levy to write her contribution to TGF. The teen, born female, established and online male identity and courted a young girl. The teen went to visit the girl and they engaged in sexual activity without the girl knowing her boyfriend was not born with male parts. The boyfriend was arrested and is now a sex offender in the eyes of the law. And the “boyfriend” now identifies as female. See what Dee thinks of this complex affair.
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Stealth is useful when you don’t want your spy planes to be noticed by the people you are spying on. It’s not as useful and may be actually harmful when you’re transgendered. The burden of having to pass all the time, having to watch yourself constantly to make sure you don’t betray your gender status and then the damage to your personal relationships and career from being outed make it an unhealthy way to live. Dallas Denny read an essay by another TG writer on the dangers of stealth and has been inspired to expand on the subject.
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In 2011 a British television program called My Transsexual Summer followed seven transgendered individuals around documenting what, for them, it is like to be transgendered. Now the program is available on YouTube and recently our columnist Linda Jensen got an email from her friend Janne Carbonneau about the program. Ms. Chabonneau wanted to let everyone know that the program did a good job of introducing TGs to the world in a non-exploitative way. Linda thought she should share Ms. Charbonneau’s review with the TGForum readers.
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Sophie Lynne was at one time, back in the ’80s, an avid gamer on Playstation and her favorite was Twisted Metal 2. The thing that appealed to her about video gaming was the levels of play. You could start out at Easy, then move on to Medium and after you mastered that change the setting to Hard and really test your skills. Today Sophie finds a parallel to the levels of gaming in the transgender world. Find out what Sophie feels defines each “level” in the Transgender Game and see if you agree.
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For all of our gains in recognition and rights there we still often face transphobia. As Babs points out in this post some of the transphobia isn’t coming from the straight world. It’s coming from the gay, lesbian and bisexual parts of the community. Is there a resurgence of gay and lesbian transphobia menacing the T in GLBT? Babs looks a a few examples, like the firing of Allyson Robinson, after only 9 months on the job at Outserve-SLDN. And what about Janice Covington being told it would be better for her to join her state’s Democratic men’s auxiliary rather than the women’s. It’s enough to make you wonder. See what else Babs has to say about G&L transphobia.
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Recently an interview Dustin Hoffman did with the American Film Institute in 1998 surfaced on YouTube and went viral with the TG community. Hoffman talks about what the motivation for doing the film “Tootsie” was and how it affected his understanding of the relationship between the sexes. Much has been made of the fact that he broke down and wept when he realized that he had been judging women not by their character but by their looks. He reveals that he felt “brainwashed.” The AFI interview inspired our contributor Geogria TG to some commentary on the film and Hoffman’s epiphany. She thinks that Hoffman’s male character in the film would not have killed off Dorothy Michaels.
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Our correspondent in Thailand has filed another report on the ladyboys of that culture. Thailand is often thought of as a place where being transgendered is accepted but just like the rest of the world things are not that easy. And too often ladyboys are in trouble with the law. What do they need? Christine thinks she may know what it is.
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The Artist D admits it. She just can’t quit Facebook. The social networking site is everywhere (soon you’ll be able to log into TGF with your FB account) and it has caused the old Internet style of searching to wane. The Artist D sees both sides of the social networking trend and hopes you’ll post a comment on this blog so she gets feedback.
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Dee’s dad, a heterosexual man, fought alongside gays and drag queens at Stonewall because he believed everyone should be treated equally. Dee learned that you can’t stand by while other’s rights are being infringed. Today she tells us about her stand against a religious cousin who is not so openminded.
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What’s in a name? Is not a rose still a rose if we call it a daisy? Today RachelX talks about what it’s like to transition and have friends and family deal with remembering your new gender label and name. Learn how Rachel handles being called by her old name or with the wrong pronoun.
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Recently Linda Jensen spent the day with Lisa, a t-girl who makes no attempt to blend in to the crowd. Lisa seems to flaunt her difference. ‘Vive la différénce,’ as they say in France. Should our goal be blending? Linda ponders — ‘what is the right approach?’
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Some transgendered people are always playing defense. It’s somewhat natural since they have had to deal with mistreatment at the hands of others for all of their lives. Today Dallas Denny reminds us that the best defense is a good sense of humor. She counsels “Laugh a Little!”
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Sophie Lynne believes we are all effected by actions and events that send out ripples in reality. She brings that theory to an essay on the passing of JoAnn Roberts, the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference and polluted pond and some lyrics from The Grateful Dead. Like that pond Sophie is deep and this one may make you cry.
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Christine-Jane was inspired by the discussion started last week by TransJenn’s post on knowing what you’re talking about when you go out to educate about the TG community. Will Christine-Jane’s cartoon contribution today spark controversy? We’re not sure about that but we hope it sparks a chuckle.
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Our British contributor, Graham Holmes, dresses but makes no attempt to pass as a female. He uses the men’s room, does his errands and his work dressed but eschews wigs and breast forms. Does he run into trouble from this lifestyle? Most often from other CDs. And some of the general public.
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Our correspondent in Thailand is feeling let down about the progress transgendered people in Asia are making. While she applauds the strides forward she feels there are two many jumps backward. Thailand’s ladyboys should be not just tolerated but given equal opportunity. Read and learn why Christine is feeling Let Down.
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The world loves labels. LGBTQI is a label containing many other labels. Do we really have to choose which label applies to us? The Artist D feels that we’re all human beings and we should all be able to be who we are with no worries about what label fits. It’s Pride Month. Find out why The Artist D promotes pride for all.
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Despite all the adventures RachelX has had there are times when she still feels vulnerable and exposed. One of those times was an old friend’s pool party. Friends who knew her for years as a man would now see her in a two piece bathing suit. Rachel shares how she felt and why she refused to wear a 1-piece.
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Babs Casbar Siperstein tells us TGs will descend on the capital this month to lobby members of congress for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Why is ENDA important? TGs have no protections at the federal level and can be fired, denied promotions and be harassed. Support Lobby Days!
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She loves her husband but hates his crossdressing. Can the marriage continue? That’s Dee Levy’s topic today. If she desires a masculine lover can her shaved and soft CD husband satisfy her?
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Many transgendered people who live dual lives would never consider letting their TG friends glimpse their male side. Others, like Sophie Lynne, feel that letting them get to know the male personae is evidence of a great amount of trust. Today Sophie talks about several aspects of the dual life and its joy and pain.
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The 21st century is our time. Mens’ grooming in general is trending more to the use of traditionally feminine things like hair removal, skin lotions and makeup. That can only make things easier for the modern part time girl. Angela Gardner muses on the relaxing rules that make it easier to move between genders.
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