It’s hard to get people to accept the whole idea of transgenderism when they believe that genitals fully define what a person’s gender role will be. Many people feel that “men are men and women are women” and what men and women do in their lives is determined strictly by their physical sex. To them that’s the “natural state of affairs.” Today Dana Bevan asks, “What if that’s not the natural state of affairs?”
The road that Dawn and Hannah were traveling had begun to get a little rocky as the first blush of excitement started to wear off. Dawn loved helping Hannah become Hannah and at first it was wonderful being there to bring her feminine spirit to the fore. But then insecurities, bad communication, and old issues in both of them makes Dawn ask When is it Too Late?
Within the trans community there are different factions, cliques, gender identities and opinionated people. Today Cate O’Malley writes about how all those different types of people need to get along and that everyone who identities outside cisgender norms is entitled to full membership in the trans community. Also, they need they need the support of that community.
In collaboration with the Washtenaw Community Medical Society, Corner Health Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan presented a two-hour education and training on how to provide care for the growing number of trans youth in the area. This October 15, 2015 event was another example of local progress being made. Kristina Mayhem reports.
Dawn and Hannah have been together for almost a year. During that time both of them have changed. Hannah has become more feminine and grown as a woman and Dawn has been happy to see how being who she is meant to be has made Hannah a happier person. But as in every relationship there can be a few rough patches. Today Dawn blogs about one that has gone on for a month.
He, him, she, her, hers, his. Pronouns used in the English language to denote the gender of the person being mentioned in conversation. Markers that put you in the male or female category upon which how you are treated by society rests. Lately a new term has entered the language: preferred gender pronoun. Cate O’Malley isn’t too happy with that term. Do you wonder why? Read on.
Many girls have the desire to dress up as Elsa from the film Frozen and our contributor Amanda is no exception. This year she decided to do it and do it right with a professional Elsa costume. She and her friend “Cinderella” headed in to San Francisco where they found fun, excitement and some bigoted buttheads.
Acclaimed Transgender Surgeon Outlines Pre-Surgical Considerations for Transgender Children (Philadelphia, PA) “Transgenderism has no age limit”, said Dr. Sherman Leis, transgender surgeon of international renown, and founder of the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery. Recognizing that people who are gender dysphoric are that way from birth, Dr. Leis points out that it should be no surprise […]
Dana Bevan has been asked to speak to a youth group at her church on what her life has been like as a trans person. Today Dr. Bevan presents us with the outline she intends to follow for her talk. As you might expect from a person of scientific orientation she will tell the group of the scientific evidence she has gathered showing that being trans is not a choice but something you are born with.
After hearing the advice “follow your dreams” for most of her life Cate O’Malley has decided that is good advice by it needs to be amended. Not everyone will want you to chase your dreams. There will be those in your life, those you care about deeply, who will not understand your dream. See what Cate advises if that happens when you try to follow your dream.
The general public, thanks to the burst of publicity generated by Laverne Cox, Caitlyn Jenner, and others, has come to know the word “transgender.” But do they know the diversity of the people that fall under the transgender umbrella? Is it possible that crossdressers are being seen as trans women? If so, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Do CDs want to be the invisible transvestites?
Here it is! The Week In Transgenderism! Today we learn how Gigi Gorgeous became a star. Find some tips on transitioning — your wardrobe for the fall season. There’s change in the air for Harvard’s Hasty Pudding theatricals. We learn the story behind Too Wong Foo…. Every leading man in Hollywood tried out for the part Patrick Swayze landed. A trans girl wins homecoming queen. An Indonesian trans rights activist graduates from law school. Another state has refused to let a trans girl get her photo ID. Learn Ashley Diamond’s story. Iowa welcomes the Miss Gay pageant. Plus a lot more and a few TWIT Awards!
Christine’s Journey continues. So far things have been proceeding according to her plan. She is on track to begin full-time as a woman on December 1. She has spoken to all the management people at her job and is getting a “coming out” letter for her clients. Intensive electrolysis is doing its job. There are a couple of problems though, with family. And so the journey continues.
Hannah has come out of the closet for a week and allowed Dawn to help her be a woman. Dawn takes her out and treats Hannah like a lady. And a week is not enough. Now she is exploring her new world and learning what it’s like to be a girl, not the over-sexualized girl of her fantasies but a real trans woman who is finally free. Dawn continues to document how their lives have come together just when they both needed something.
When you’re contemplating gender transition it’s important to remember that there will be many challenges ahead. Even with the greater awareness of trans issues in recent years the trans road can be a bumpy one. It’s best to be aware of all the challenges that await you so you can do your best to prepare for meeting them head on.
Is too much diversity a bad thing when the transgender community is fighting for rights? Does the umbrella of transgender confuse people when they find everyone one from Caitlyn Jenner to weekend crossdressers standing under it? Christine Burr is concerned that it could be the case that the non-trans public won’t be interested in helping us since they can’t figure our who “us” is, leaving her asking “What Next?”
The Week In Transgenderism is here and it’s packed with all the TG news we could find! Today we learn that there’s a new trans employee on The White House staff. NCTE is conducting an online survey. There’s a trans housewife on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Three cities will soon have a new trans health resource. The BBC trans comedy has a trailer. Drag Race star Willam makes videos for WeHo. Vanity Fair puts out a special trans issue. Another trans girl is nominated for homecoming queen. Starz comedy Blunt Talk features a trans actress. Caitlyn Jenner could be charged with vehicular manslaughter. All that and a few TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
Christine Zee has embarked on her gender journey. She is moving toward living full time in her preferred gender and she is documenting the steps along the way in this blog. Today she moves closer to being Christine full-time. She completes disclosure of her intentions to her family, and gets closer to the all important reveal to her employer and associates. There are bumps in the road; her son does not want to see her, but her journey continues.
Dana Bevan has filed this report from the Transgender Word War. She feels that transgender people have been engaged in a war to find words to adequately express the phenomenon that we share. The war of words has proceeded along three fronts. In this post she outlines what those three fronts are and engages in a bit of hand to hand combat with the psychiatric establishment.
A couple of weeks ago, one of my dear friends, Amy, had her GRS done by Dr. Christine McGinn. Last weekend, I visited Amy at Gaia House, the recovery house for Dr. McGinn’s practice. Amy was in great spirits and enjoyed having visitors after her successful surgery. During the visit, another person staying at Gaia […]
Amanda F. has been on the transition road, living her gender journey and getting near the point when she will need to take the surgical step. Today she examines where she’s been, how far she has come, and muses on what she has learned along the way. But today, rather than seeing transition as a journey down a road she likens it to jumping into the rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland. Tag along with Amanda today while she patiently makes her way down.
Dawn is a mom of two boys and two girls. Both the boys exhibit gender fluid tendencies and one of them seems to be more than slightly interested in being a girl. But that’s not the whole story. While in the hospital for treatment of a collapsed lung Dawn met a guy she knew she had to know better. Now his name is Hannah and Hannah is a girl and Dawn is okay with that.
Josy C had always felt more feminine than masculine. From early childhood she was more interested in feminine pursuits and a bout with polio made sure that she could not engage in the more manly sports. After her retirement she she and her spouse moved to Florida where she found a new beginning.
Caitlyn Jenner blew up the media with her announcement that she was a woman. Initial reaction was positive but in just a little bit the voices of those who don’t accept trans identities as valid were raised in shouts of derision. Then a woman who told everyone she was black was revealed to be a white woman. Her claims of “trans-racial” identity added fuel to the anti transgender crowd’s rhetoric. Dana Bevan examines their thesis and finds it invalid.
