Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sometimes You Can't Go Home Again
DECEMBER 12, 2007
Homelessness among homosexual and transgendered teens is a problem under the radar for most
BY HOLLY WALL
Homelessness among homosexual and transgendered teens is a problem under the radar for most
BY HOLLY WALL
Sometimes going home isn't an option."You're going to burn in hell."
More likely than not, someone who is openly gay and living in Tulsa has heard these words, if not spoken directly to him or her, then at least as a generalization used by a condemning observer to describe his or her peers.
In the very worst cases, a young person has heard these words spoken directly to him from the mouth of a parent.
Michael heard these words twice in his life between the ages of 12 and 18, once spoken by his mother and once by his father. At 12 years old, he knew he was very different from his peers, but he couldn't find the words to describe the difference he was feeling. While the other boys his age were attracted to girls, he found himself attracted to other boys.
In an effort to put a name to what he was feeling, Michael went online and searched "homosexuality." When his mother caught him unexpectedly, they were both equally shocked, and it was then that his mother blurted out those painful words.
Although society has made great strides in the last 20 to 30 years in being more open and understanding to those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning, there is still a stigma associated with LGBT issues that makes it difficult for those people to be open and honest about their sexual orientation. For youth and teens coming to grips with their sexuality, especially those raised in devoutly religious homes, the trauma of coming out can be magnified by their parents' rejection of them based on their sexuality. Oftentimes youth coming out in hostile environments will be disowned by their parents, kicked out of their houses, abused or neglected.
Though Michael was one of the "lucky" ones--his parents didn't kick him out of their home and they were never physically abusive, but, thinking their son could very possibly be gay, they never treated him with the same love and understanding that they did before his sexuality became an issue--many children in Tulsa are forced onto the streets after coming out to their parents. . . .
German judge faces a 'tough call' he-or-she sex-change decision
12 December 2007
DPA
Cologne, Germany - A German judge, who must decide on a damages claim by a German person who was surgically converted to a man, said Wednesday it would be a tough call to decide. The court was told the claimant, who looks male, was intersexual or "hermaphrodite," a person born with a mixture of male and female physical features who is neither strictly a he nor a she.
Asked to choose whether to be called him or her in court, the claimant said she felt "mainly female." The judge said the evidence was that her chromosomes were definitely female.
The claimant, 48, who was raised by mistake as a boy, is suing the doctor who cut out her ovaries and womb when she was 18. The retired doctor did not appear in court in Cologne, but was represented by a lawyer.
Presiding judge Dietmar Reiprich said it would be "particularly difficult" to accept her claim because many of the records from 30 years ago had vanished. A verdict would be handed down on February 6. Both sides rejected an agreed settlement.
The rare medical condition is distinguished from trans-sexualism, where a person's physical sex is clear but they behave as the opposite sex and sometimes request cosmetic and other sex-change surgery. . . .
DPA
Cologne, Germany - A German judge, who must decide on a damages claim by a German person who was surgically converted to a man, said Wednesday it would be a tough call to decide. The court was told the claimant, who looks male, was intersexual or "hermaphrodite," a person born with a mixture of male and female physical features who is neither strictly a he nor a she.
Asked to choose whether to be called him or her in court, the claimant said she felt "mainly female." The judge said the evidence was that her chromosomes were definitely female.
The claimant, 48, who was raised by mistake as a boy, is suing the doctor who cut out her ovaries and womb when she was 18. The retired doctor did not appear in court in Cologne, but was represented by a lawyer.
Presiding judge Dietmar Reiprich said it would be "particularly difficult" to accept her claim because many of the records from 30 years ago had vanished. A verdict would be handed down on February 6. Both sides rejected an agreed settlement.
The rare medical condition is distinguished from trans-sexualism, where a person's physical sex is clear but they behave as the opposite sex and sometimes request cosmetic and other sex-change surgery. . . .
some notes on Living
The One, The Only, Chloe Elise!
December 13, 2007
Chloe Elise
So, as the readers here have guessed, I am the young transexual woman on YouTube posting informative and witty VLOGS (Video Logs) to educate the masses. Why am I doing such a thing? Why am I exploiting myself so? The answers are simple in their own complexity.
I have been publicly "out" as a MtF (Male to Female) TS (Transexual) for about a year now, and it pains me to no end to glance in all directions to see people staring at me. Are they trying to size me up? Are they trying to figure out if I am man or woman? Didn't their mothers tell them it's rude to stare at people? Most mothers do teach such valuable lessons. It's all a part of displaying good manners, and civil respect to other people. The problem lies deeper however.
We (transfolk) bring out a certain kind of fear in people. The words "male", "female", "man", "woman", "he", and "she", are so embedded into Western culture that they have become concrete establishments. Suddenly, when society sees a transgender individual, who is not afraid to be the person they are, that very solid bedrock part of their own identity is challenged. They begin to think, "Hey... what if I am trans as well?". This is not only a shocking revelation, but a very difficult thing to admit. Even those who are cisgender (not transgender) began to think twice about just how firm of a foundation gender really is. Well, I'm one to tell you the line between male and female is less than paper thin.
The problem goes even deeper than that.
Those who openly identify as transgender are subjected to scorn, disbelief, ridicule, harassment, discrimination, and even homicide. Transgender people are misunderstood more than anyone else on the planet. Misunderstanding breeds insecurity. Insecurity breeds fear. Fear breeds hate. Hate breeds anger. Anger is a path to the Dark Side of the Force. Seriously, though... that's the cycle that people go through when they don't understand what is different. As Professor Milton Diamond once pointed out: Biology loves diversity; society HATES it. The world we live in (contrary to popular belief) is not black/white, male/female, straight/gay. We live in a world where there are a multitude of ethnic backgrounds, a spectrum between male and female (which includes cisgender people as well), and a world where there are many different facets to our own sexual orientation.
It used to be impossible for black people to make people understand that they are people, just like everyone else. Now we have Black History Month, BET, and quite a few cultural icons such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Some of us still misunderstand why black people feel as if they were mistreated as human beings, so, we still have racism. It's not quite as bad as it used to be because strong, courageous leaders in the black community took a stand. They took a stand for a dream they collectively had: To be respected, and treated like the human beings that they are. Equal on all levels.
Women were subjected to the same treatment. They were treated as the "weaker sex". They weren't allowed to work in the same fields men were accustomed to. The scale tilted heavily on the male side. Women's Lib fixed the majority of the problems, but it didn't fix everything. Male chauvinists still exist much to our dismay. Yet, feminism took hold, and (please don't hate me for this!) gradually turned into, in my honest opinion, female chauvinism. Women do however have a lot more respect, but they are still harassed and discriminated against by these horrible male pigs. No offense to men or women (these are merely my opinions and I don't discriminate anyone based on sex or gender!). What was womens' primary objective goal through Women's Lib? To be respected, and treated like the human beings that they are. Equal on all levels.
Then, of course, we have gay marriage. Why is this even an ISSUE?!?! Do you? I do. Do you? I do. I now consider you man and man/woman and woman. You may kiss your life partner. Why is this so hard? Two people, who obviously love one another, want to tie the knot and seal their lives together in unity... and people are against it. Here's what I have to say about it:
You STRAIGHT people make me sick! BREEDERS DISGUST ME! You don't deserve to get married! Why should you have the same rights as homosexuals? Go make babies somewhere else, you HETEROS! I want no part in your sinful lives, so take your desire to get hitched and go somewhere I don't have to be around you, you SICKOS! . . .
December 13, 2007
Chloe Elise
So, as the readers here have guessed, I am the young transexual woman on YouTube posting informative and witty VLOGS (Video Logs) to educate the masses. Why am I doing such a thing? Why am I exploiting myself so? The answers are simple in their own complexity.
I have been publicly "out" as a MtF (Male to Female) TS (Transexual) for about a year now, and it pains me to no end to glance in all directions to see people staring at me. Are they trying to size me up? Are they trying to figure out if I am man or woman? Didn't their mothers tell them it's rude to stare at people? Most mothers do teach such valuable lessons. It's all a part of displaying good manners, and civil respect to other people. The problem lies deeper however.
We (transfolk) bring out a certain kind of fear in people. The words "male", "female", "man", "woman", "he", and "she", are so embedded into Western culture that they have become concrete establishments. Suddenly, when society sees a transgender individual, who is not afraid to be the person they are, that very solid bedrock part of their own identity is challenged. They begin to think, "Hey... what if I am trans as well?". This is not only a shocking revelation, but a very difficult thing to admit. Even those who are cisgender (not transgender) began to think twice about just how firm of a foundation gender really is. Well, I'm one to tell you the line between male and female is less than paper thin.
The problem goes even deeper than that.
Those who openly identify as transgender are subjected to scorn, disbelief, ridicule, harassment, discrimination, and even homicide. Transgender people are misunderstood more than anyone else on the planet. Misunderstanding breeds insecurity. Insecurity breeds fear. Fear breeds hate. Hate breeds anger. Anger is a path to the Dark Side of the Force. Seriously, though... that's the cycle that people go through when they don't understand what is different. As Professor Milton Diamond once pointed out: Biology loves diversity; society HATES it. The world we live in (contrary to popular belief) is not black/white, male/female, straight/gay. We live in a world where there are a multitude of ethnic backgrounds, a spectrum between male and female (which includes cisgender people as well), and a world where there are many different facets to our own sexual orientation.
It used to be impossible for black people to make people understand that they are people, just like everyone else. Now we have Black History Month, BET, and quite a few cultural icons such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Some of us still misunderstand why black people feel as if they were mistreated as human beings, so, we still have racism. It's not quite as bad as it used to be because strong, courageous leaders in the black community took a stand. They took a stand for a dream they collectively had: To be respected, and treated like the human beings that they are. Equal on all levels.
Women were subjected to the same treatment. They were treated as the "weaker sex". They weren't allowed to work in the same fields men were accustomed to. The scale tilted heavily on the male side. Women's Lib fixed the majority of the problems, but it didn't fix everything. Male chauvinists still exist much to our dismay. Yet, feminism took hold, and (please don't hate me for this!) gradually turned into, in my honest opinion, female chauvinism. Women do however have a lot more respect, but they are still harassed and discriminated against by these horrible male pigs. No offense to men or women (these are merely my opinions and I don't discriminate anyone based on sex or gender!). What was womens' primary objective goal through Women's Lib? To be respected, and treated like the human beings that they are. Equal on all levels.
Then, of course, we have gay marriage. Why is this even an ISSUE?!?! Do you? I do. Do you? I do. I now consider you man and man/woman and woman. You may kiss your life partner. Why is this so hard? Two people, who obviously love one another, want to tie the knot and seal their lives together in unity... and people are against it. Here's what I have to say about it:
You STRAIGHT people make me sick! BREEDERS DISGUST ME! You don't deserve to get married! Why should you have the same rights as homosexuals? Go make babies somewhere else, you HETEROS! I want no part in your sinful lives, so take your desire to get hitched and go somewhere I don't have to be around you, you SICKOS! . . .
Transgender student fights for rights; Born a girl, NECC student wants to use men's locker room
Ethan Santiago, a transgender student at Northern Essex Community College, is fighting school officials' refusal to assign him a locker in the men's locker room.
Santiago, 20, was born Elizabeth Santiago, but said he lives and identifies as a man.
But his college ID | the one he had to show when he made the locker request | says differently. It lists his legal name and gender: Elizabeth. Female.
December 12, 2007
Staff
Nita Lamborghini, an assistant dean, consulted the school's lawyer before making a decision.
The lawyer recommended that the school deny Santiago's request.
"Our legal counsel indicated that an individual's anatomy determines which space they should use," said Lamborghini.
Santiago is still anatomically female. He has not had surgery to change his gender, but is in psychotherapy and taking hormone therapy while considering that option.
Lamborghini said the school's decision was also based on fear that he would not be safe in the men's locker room. Santiago said Lamborghini told him she would feel responsible should he be harmed. . . .
Santiago, 20, was born Elizabeth Santiago, but said he lives and identifies as a man.
But his college ID | the one he had to show when he made the locker request | says differently. It lists his legal name and gender: Elizabeth. Female.
December 12, 2007
Staff
Nita Lamborghini, an assistant dean, consulted the school's lawyer before making a decision.
The lawyer recommended that the school deny Santiago's request.
"Our legal counsel indicated that an individual's anatomy determines which space they should use," said Lamborghini.
Santiago is still anatomically female. He has not had surgery to change his gender, but is in psychotherapy and taking hormone therapy while considering that option.
Lamborghini said the school's decision was also based on fear that he would not be safe in the men's locker room. Santiago said Lamborghini told him she would feel responsible should he be harmed. . . .
Parents
December 8, 2007
Miss Use
I just emailed a letter coming out to my parents.
I wonder if this feels similar to what it would be like to hit the button that starts WWIII. Nothing to do but to sit back and wait for the return fire. . . .
Miss Use
I just emailed a letter coming out to my parents.
I wonder if this feels similar to what it would be like to hit the button that starts WWIII. Nothing to do but to sit back and wait for the return fire. . . .
Gender identity, gender change: Stratham school child case brings issue to forefront
by Charles McMahon
December 12, 2007
December 12, 2007
STRATHAM — Whether a girl is called a tomboy, or a boy has been told he throws a football like a girl, everyone in some way or another is affected by the issue of gender identity.
Most recently, after a letter was sent out to the parents of a Stratham Memorial Elementary School classroom regarding a student's choice to be recognized as transgendered, the frequency of the situation has surfaced as being more common than generally thought.
Unlike transsexuals, people who identify themselves as transgendered can be physiologically male or female, but feel as though they're trapped in a body of the wrong sex.
Tawnee Walling, executive director of Seacoast Outright, who has been in contact with the family of the 9-year-old student, confirmed on Tuesday that the school department sent a letter to the parents of students in one particular classroom, and that the letter addressed the student's decision to change his name in order to be recognized as a female.
According to Walling, children are able to differentiate their gender identity by the age of 3, and she herself has worked on 20 different cases this year alone involving transgendered youth in the Seacoast area.
"This isn't something to take lightly," said Walling. "It's a serious decision that has to be made related to the health and well being of the youth."
She also said that the student's parents, who do not wish to come forward at this time, have been very supportive of their daughter's choice and have done a considerable amount of research.
They also say they understand the risks entailed in the process, which is not a sex change, but a reassignment of the gender the person presents to the world.
"It's more about survival and not about gender identity," said Walling.
Most recently, after a letter was sent out to the parents of a Stratham Memorial Elementary School classroom regarding a student's choice to be recognized as transgendered, the frequency of the situation has surfaced as being more common than generally thought.
Unlike transsexuals, people who identify themselves as transgendered can be physiologically male or female, but feel as though they're trapped in a body of the wrong sex.
Tawnee Walling, executive director of Seacoast Outright, who has been in contact with the family of the 9-year-old student, confirmed on Tuesday that the school department sent a letter to the parents of students in one particular classroom, and that the letter addressed the student's decision to change his name in order to be recognized as a female.
According to Walling, children are able to differentiate their gender identity by the age of 3, and she herself has worked on 20 different cases this year alone involving transgendered youth in the Seacoast area.
"This isn't something to take lightly," said Walling. "It's a serious decision that has to be made related to the health and well being of the youth."
She also said that the student's parents, who do not wish to come forward at this time, have been very supportive of their daughter's choice and have done a considerable amount of research.
They also say they understand the risks entailed in the process, which is not a sex change, but a reassignment of the gender the person presents to the world.
"It's more about survival and not about gender identity," said Walling.
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