12 day post surgery update

"12 days into my post op life, and a little update, because I like my chest, and thought I should share it."

Giuliani and Transgender Rights: The Untold Story

by Pauline Park

More on: New York City transgender rights bill, Rudolph Giuliani

As Rudy Giuliani heads into a make-or-break primary in Florida on Tuesday, most pundits are saying that his quest for the Republican nomination for president of the United States seems to be on the verge of collapse.

Polls now show Giuliani battling Mike Huckabee for third place, well behind Mitt Romney and John McCain. With McCain gaining the endorsement of Florida Governor0 Charlie Crist and U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, the Arizonan may well have the momentum going into tomorrow’s primary. Even a strong second-place finish may not be enough to rescue Giuliani’s campaign, so an outright win may be do-or-die for the former mayor of New York City. It’s hard to believe that only a few months ago, Giuliani was all but the certain nominee and all but already installed in the White House; what a difference a few months can make.

But the one thing that hasn’t changed is the way the mainstream media invariably describe Giuliani as “pro-gay rights.” That reputation is largely based on a few high-level appointments to his administration and his signing a domestic partnership bill into law while mayor.

But as Giuliani attempts to court the religious right in his drive for the Republican nomination, he seems to be retreating from his support even for such limited measures as domestic partnership. And there is nothing in his record as mayor to suggest that he was or is supportive of transgender rights, despite his now-famous (if not notorious) appearance in drag as ‘La Rudia.’ As members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community evaluate Giuliani’s candidacy they should carefully consider his opposition to Int. No. 24, the transgender rights bill ultimately enacted by the New York City Council as Local Law 3 of 2002 after he left office. . . .Read More

How can I hide effects of mtf hrt at work

January 28, 2008

by Lisa V


I will be starting hrt very soon. I currently make very good money at my job but in the type of work I do I will not be able to transition and continue to work. I work in a very macho caveman field so I need to hide the effects as long as possible. I am in my early 30's so I cannot wait anymore because the older I get the harder it becomes to pass. I plan to go back to school at night and start taking courses to become a nurse. I should be able to transfer a great majority of my existing credits in order to breeze through the program and become an rn. I believe this is a good move because it gives me a chance at a job after transition that is in demand and will allow me to move and start fresh in stealth. I want to know if there are any repercussions to binding and possibly leaving some facial hair until I have saved money and have enough to move and start fresh. I know it will really be hard emotionally to hide the joy within at times during my transition but I can't wait any longer I need to get my life going in the direction I always have dreamed and believed I should have. I feel if I can accomplish this now I wil have a post op life with less worry or hardships associated with work related issues.

Can any of you give me some suggestions? . . .Read More

The L Word Lowdown

1/28/2008

by L. A. Vess

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Of all the characters on The L Word, it seems odd to make Alice be the one biased against including transgenders in the lesbian community. Open, caring, honest Alice—not who you would predict to regulate transman Max to his own separate "box", segregated from the delicate sensibilities of the dykes.

Perhaps, however, showing Alice (Leisha Hailey) acting with discrimination is not all that out of place. Instead, the message might just be that no matter how open-minded someone thinks they are—they can still be guilty of treating others who are different than them as less than equals.

Alice gives in and tells Max he can have a podcast on her lesbian website, but he has to be cordoned off from the 'guestbians' because she doesn't want to "be bombarded with a bunch of dykes flipping out about this transgender thing."

That attitude is exactly the kind of separation we find daily across the Internet and in real life. Take the Michigan Womyn's Festival for example. Transgender and transexual women had to fight for 15 years to finally be included in the festival—because they were not "born" women. . . .

Transgender candidate runs for Republican endorsement in Brainerd

Chrissy Nakonsky touts her experiences and her values in a bid that could break barriers in the Brainerd area, Minnesota and the nation.

By LARRY OAKES, Star Tribune

January 29, 2008

BRAINERD, MINN.

You could call Chrissy Nakonsky a candidate of change.

Until about five years ago, Nakonsky, who recently announced she's running for the Minnesota Legislature and will seek the Republican endorsement in her Brainerd-area district, was known as Jeff Nakonsky.

Nakonsky said the 2006 reelection of the state's only openly gay Republican legislator, Sen. Paul Koering of nearby Fort Ripley, gives her hope that Brainerd-area voters won't deny her a legislative seat because of her gender change.

"If people vote for or against me, it should be because of my values," Nakonsky said. . . .

NYC: Gender Identity Project

Welcome to the Gender Identity Project (GIP). We offer people of trans experience the opportunity to find support, information and a community - all in one place. Please check out our community announcements and sign up for our newsletter.
New: Transgender Basics, a 20 minute educational film on the concepts of gender and transgender people, is now online at gaycenter.org/transgenderbasics.

What is "trans"?
"Trans" means many things to many people: trans(s)exual, transgender, trans-amorous, trans-man, trans-woman, transfag, transdyke, MTF, FTM, genderqueer, intersex, pre-op, post-op, non-op, drag king, drag queen, gender-neutral, two-spirit, poly-gendered, boi, trans-partner, man, woman…. The list goes on, weaving an infinite web of identities that all come together at the GIP, where our peer-focused services create a unique trans-positive community for transgender, gender-different and gender questioning individuals, their partners and families.

The trans center of New York City
Our helping peers and professionals understand "trans" from the inside out. We combine our own life experiences with practical training to provide you with individual, couples, and group counseling, as well as information and referral services, community forums, and professional education. This distinctive combination of counseling and community building makes the GIP the trans center of New York City - a welcoming place for support, empowerment, and celebration.

Find out if the GIP is right for you:

I want to connect to the trans community in New York City. Where can I go to socialize with trans folks? The GIP offers regular opportunities to meet and greet in a space that's safe and fun. Many of our events also focus on education and activism. Check out upcoming Community Events. We offer trans movie nights, coffee houses, forums and informational clinics or call us for more information. The Comunity Event schedule also includes activities offered by other organizations in the trans communities. . . .