Transgender Issues 101: Do trans people want to do away with gender?

Matt Kailey

August 10, 2009

Some non-trans people wonder if transgender and transsexual people want to do away with or change the concept of gender as it is recognized by mainstream U.S. culture.

You will often hear trans people speak of the “binary gender system” — the two-gendered system under which our society is structured — and the strict limits that this system imposes on gender identity and expression.

But the system imposes those limits on everyone — not just trans people. And those very strict expectations about how men and women are supposed to think, dress, and behave can be detrimental to many people — not just to trans people. . . .Read More

This Morning - Worlds Youngest Transsexual: Kim Petras

World's youngest transsexual

At 16 years-old, with blonde good looks and a wholesome appeal, German pop singer Kim Petras is set to be a superstar.

But this is no ordinary girl - Kim was actually born a boy called Tim. Last October, after turning 16, she had a sex change operation to fulfil her dream of becoming a woman.

She is believed to be the youngest person in the world ever to have the dramatic surgery.

Kim says her family totally supported her decision to have a sex change: "They drove me to every doctors appointment and were there every step of the way." . . .Read More

ThisMorningChannel

Chicago Moms Blog: Just looking for a little support for my transgendered child

13 July 2009

By JEN KHATCHATRIAN
CHICAGO MOMS BLOG


"You are setting him up to fail" was the last thing I heard before my throat began to tighten and my eyes flooded with tears. How could my own family say such things to me? "I will not listen to you!" sputtered out of my mouth as I frantically searched for the button to drop the call. Did that just happen?

Heavy sobs rippled through me as I heard their final words ring through my head. Earlier in the conversation I shared that I was searching for a transgender play group for my child who has known for almost two years that he is a girl inside. Just recently he began wearing his dresses outside of the house and mentioning his loneliness for friends who felt the same way as he did. I assured him that I would find a play group and felt confident this was a positive step in supporting him as he navigated through his feelings.

Earlier in the day I felt disheartened after a trip to the Center on Halsted (well known for their support of the LGBT community) only resulted in a voice mail message. Instead of everything quickly falling into place as I hoped, I had to be patient and wait. If I thought that the frustration of the delay was bad, the phone call I made looking for some encouragement ended up being the lowest point of my day. . . .Read More

Transsexual Charged Again with Back-Alley Silicone Injections

by Natalie O'Neill

July 8, 2009


The male-to-female transsexual sent to jail after a client's botched cosmetic procedure ended in death was arrested again this morning. Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies and Florida Department of Health agents raided the quiet two-story home of Donnie Hendrix at 8 a.m. They collared her for practicing medicine without a license. She's accused of charging $400 to $600 for silicone injections, the same procedure that killed a 53-year-old Miramar secretary in 2001. . . .Read More

Female Pop Star, 16, Used to Be Male

13 July 2009

By ERICA DAVIES

At 16 years old, with blonde hair and a wholesome appeal, Kim Petras is set to be a superstar.

But this is no ordinary girl. Kim, of Cologne, Germany, was actually born Tim.

Last October, just days after turning 16, she had a sex change operation to fulfill her dream of becoming a woman.

According to doctors, Kim is the youngest person in the world to ever have the dramatic surgery.

"There never was a defining moment when I thought, 'I'm not meant to be a boy,'" said Kim, who spoke exclusively to The Sun. "I've lived my entire life as a girl."

Thanks to her campaigning, the legal age for transgender surgery in Germany was dropped from 18 to 16. Kim began hormone therapy at the age of 13 in Hamburg, and made headlines after appearing on a German TV documentary to push for the right to have a sex change. . . .Read More

Transgender 'Top Model' Contestant - Tyra (Part 2)

The Tyra Banks Show - ''Transgender 'Top Model' contestant'' (Recorded Nov 18, 2008, WWOR)

Megami284

Buck Angel: Self Made Man

By Travis de Jonk, 6th July, 2009

He is one of the most famous porn stars in the world with an impressive collection of films under his belt. He has been photographed and captured by many artists worldwide. He is ruggedly handsome, layered in stunning tattoos and his pierced sexy muscled body is a stunning example of manhood. But there are plenty more other reasons why Californian born Buck Angel is so captivating and fascinating. Buck is a self made man like no other. He was born and raised as Susan.

“A lot of people ask me what it was like growing up as a girl… it’s funny because I was never raised that way,” says Buck.

“I was a tomboy. I wore boys clothes and played outside a lot. Everyone always treated me like a boy growing up so always felt I was one.” . . .Read More

Couple speak out on transgender issues

By Shaun Hittle

July 5, 2009


A lot has changed for Jay Pryor between the time he moved from Lawrence in 1999 until moving back in 2007.

For starters, in 1999 Jay Pryor was a woman named Janet Pryor finishing up her bachelor’s degree in communications studies at Kansas University.

In his eight years away from Lawrence, Jay was living in Washington, D.C., making the transition from a woman to a man. It’s a process that included spending a year living and presenting himself as a man, beginning hormone treatments, and eventually leading to body-altering surgery.

And while his gender has changed, what has remained constant has been his desire to speak out and educate those in the community about issues involving sexual orientation and gender identity.

When Pryor was a student at KU, he was a lesbian featured in the documentary “Shades of Gray,” which chronicled the successful fight in Lawrence to add sexual orientation to the city’s anti-discrimination policy. . . .Read More

Transsexual Rebecca finds joy with end to family feud

By NIAMH HORAN

July 05 2009


Iceland's most high-profile transsexual has revealed that she has reunited with her family whom she once claimed had disowned her.

Rebecca Tallon Martinez, formerly known as Ross Tallon, was speaking in the run-up to the opening of the Wright Venue in Swords, the luxury four-floor venue where she will be hostess.

Rebecca, or Madam WV, as she is now known, described how she has finally found happiness in her life after a rollercoaster 20 years of drugs, abuse and false claims of HIV.

Crediting the social networking site Facebook for reuniting her with her family she said: "It's only happened quite recently. I learned how to use a computer and I came across my sister and I emailed her and she said she'd love to talk to me.

"So I kept in touch with them a lot through Facebook and I have built up a relationship with them again."

Speaking about her time apart from her loved ones, she explained: "I would have disowned me at that stage too. . . .Read More

Schoolboy to Showgirl: The Alexandra Billings Story (Part 1)

A profile of transgendered actress-singer Alexandra Billings, who grew up in Chicago and has performed in many local stage productions. Billings has also played transsexual characters on "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy."

Ms. Billings is (IMO) noteworthy as a woman. Please note that I didn't choose to use the adjective, 'transgendered' - even though she is a *fantastic* role model for the community of transgendered folks.

When I view her story, it just doesn't seem appropriate to place the 'lesser' adjective before the 'more appropriate' noun. To my mind, "transgendered" is a reflection of only *one* part of many processes that a very strong woman had to undergo to fulfill her complete potential in the world.

You Go, GIRL.

JohnAdamsDC

The gender gap: one more bridge that Michael built

July 1, 2009

By Robin Cooper

Since last week, the United States has lost four celebrities who have impacted lives (in some cases, the way we live) and televisions across not only our own country, but the world. Farrah Fawcett took Marilyn Monroe's blonde bombshell and reinvented it for a whole new generation of boys who needed a fantasy and girls who needed a beauty standard. Ed McMahon was a legend before there were more than two tvs in every American home, entertaining people on late night shows and integrating himself into American traditions, such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Billy Mays taught America that Oxi-Clean was the cure-all for stains and continued to "wow" us with the newest products.

And then there was Michael Jackson. It almost seems as though there is nothing more that needs to be said after that sentence. Perhaps the question should be what didn't he do? After processing the past week's events, it became abundantly clear that he, in fact, had a huge impact on not only the music industry (which, by no means should be diminished--without him, today's music industry would be completely different) and in racial issues (even the procedures to lighten his skin echoed his message that skin color simply doesn't matter), but in gender issues, as well.

The world watched Michael Jackson progress from the charming boy with an inexplicable stage presence, to an adolescent who made teenage girls' hearts flutter every time they heard his newest hit and eventually, into the world's biggest star with the release of "Thriller."

Soon after his big success, Michael Jackson began to get obvious plastic surgeries, transforming him from an attractive African American young man into a more Caucasian and effeminate "boy-man." His critics would start claiming that he was trying not to be black. Perhaps it was more than that. Perhaps Michael Jackson wanted to prove to his audience that race, gender and other superficial categorizations are not the things that make a person who he or she is. . . .Read More

One of the great performance artists of our time. R.I.P, Michael. (RA)

Colorado beats feds on employment non-discrimination

June 26, 2009

by Matt Kailey

Members of Congress have announced the introduction of a trans-inclusive federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), but Colorado is already there.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), along with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), announced this week that a trans-inclusive ENDA was being introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill would add both sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal employment non-discrimination laws.

This bill is important to transgendered and transsexual people because an earlier bill, introduced in 2007, did not include gender identity protections. Polis reports that it is still legal for employers to discriminate on the basis of gender identity in 38 states. . . .Read More

6th Annual March for Transgender Pride

June 30, 2009

Indybay.org


Transgender March Winds its Way through San Francisco's Mission District

The 6th annual Trans March took a different route than in years past, starting at Dolores Park where several thousand people gathered, and forming a march that traveled through the Mission district. The excitement was still high as the group neared the announced ending point at 26th and Valencia, where one contingent took Cesar Chavez Street continuing to an after-party at El Rio while a smaller subgroup kept on marching through the city. . . .Read More and View Photos

State rules in favor of young transgender

July 2, 2009

by Abigail Curtis
BDN Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Human Rights Commission ruled Monday that the Orono School Department discriminated against a transgender child by denying her access to the girls bathroom.

While the school department’s lawyer warned that schools around the state may not be ready to manage the practical fallout from the decision, civil liberties advocates hailed the ruling as an advancement of human rights.

“This ruling is a huge step forward for a vulnerable population that is entitled to the full protection of the law,” said Zachary Heiden, legal director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union. “There will always be voices who claim we’re not ready, we’re not there yet, the time to end discrimination is next year, or next session. But victims of discrimination should not have to wait.”

The attorney for the child and her parents said his clients are very happy with the outcome of their complaint.

“At the very heart of it is the issue of basic human dignity and fundamental civil liberties,” said Eric Mehnert. “It was a good decision.” . . .Read More

No Dumb Questions - 5 Years Later (Trailer)

The Sundance award-winning documentary film No Dumb Questions is being updated. We've gone back to re-interview the family 5 years later and find out how Uncle Bill's transition to Aunt Barbara went and has affected everyone.

Watch this trailer and consider helping us finish the film.

nodumbquestions

First photo of Chaz Bono (and BFF Jennifer Elia) since sex change news

The Dish Rag by Elizabeth Snead

June 16, 2009


. . . There has still been no comment from Cher's camp regarding her child’s announcement about his sex change.

But GLAAD has released a statement "both for him personally and for all who are committed to advancing discussions about fairness and equality for transgender people."

Keep reading to see a photo of Chaz, as he wants to be called, from RadarOnline.com, reputed to be the most recent photo taken of the transitioning celebrity. . . .Read More

Kerry Washington Comes Out on Top in 'Cracktown'

by Ross von Metzke, Advocate.com | 06/29/2009

In an industry that loves to pigeonhole talent, good luck putting Kerry Washington into a box. Since making her motion picture debut in Save the Last Dance and rising to fame with her critically acclaimed performance in Ray, the actress, now 32, has gone gay on film twice, dabbled in comedy with the Wayans brothers, played the tortured wife of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, and faced off with the Fantastic Four.

Now, always one for a challenge, she tackles her heaviest role to date -- Marybeth, the male-to-female transsexual, heroin-addicted prostitute she plays to perfection in Life Is Hot in Cracktown. From her walk to her talk, Washington nails the part -- and it’s a sure sign her best roles have yet to come.

Washington sat down with Advocate.com to talk about the film, her time on the road stumping for Obama and how she found her femininity in paying trans. . . .Read More

Bill Siksay: Sex reassignment surgery deserves full coverage across Canada

June 29, 2009

By Bill Siksay


What are the limits of medicare coverage? Does prejudice against an identifiable minority affect decisions about who gets covered? Does “medically necessity” not apply to minority communities?

These questions are raised when members of the transsexual and transgender community are denied medical coverage for sex reassignment surgery (SRS) and related therapies, including hormone therapy, hair removal, and breast augmentation.

Transsexual and transgender folks have a different experience of gender than many Canadians. Some trans folks experience their gender opposite to their physical sexual characteristics, a feeling of being in the wrong body. To correct this, they look to SRS. Others experience their gender in ways that are different to the accepted binary theory of gender that says you are either male or female. These folks find their gender on a continuum between or beyond male and female. Some trans folks feel no need to change their physical sex, and may live out their lives as neither traditionally male or female. . . .Read More

Jahna Steele Remembrance

This video is a memorial to the beautiful and talented transsexual woman Jahna Steele, who passed suddenly on January 24th, 2008 from an accidental prescription overdose. Her loss is keenly felt in the transgender community. This clip was taken from a 1993 talk show where I'd been a guest in another broadcast that year, and it ends with her singing a song that ironically fits this sad occasion.

For more information please visit Jahna's website at: http://www.thejahnasteele.com

ChristineOutspoken

Trans-cending time

By Renee Baker, Contributing Writer

Jun 18, 2009


Tracing the modern transgender rights movement from its beginnings in the dress code reform of the 1800s up through Stonewall to today, when Texas A&M has honored trans advocate Phyllis Frye.

The transgender movement since the Stonewall Riots, especially in the last 30 years, has gained an almost surprising strength and a proud sense of validation. Its rich history is closely tied to both gay and feminist liberation movements, which seek various forms of gender freedom.

Those desired freedoms have come in many forms such as in regard to the right of equal opportunity employment and the right to control and change one’s own body.
Feminists in the U.S. started initially fighting for gender freedom and equality for women in the mid-1800s, when city populations began to accumulate and gatherings could take place. Dress code reform was an important part of this first wave of feminism, and Amelia Bloomer argued that the long skirts and heavy undergarments of the day were a hindrance and form of bondage.

This firestorm of dress rebellion set off an anti-feminist backlash leading to the passage of laws throughout the country prohibiting the wearing of clothing of the opposite sex. The clear goal of these laws — one of which was passed in Dallas in 1880 — was to maintain distinct categories of men and women. Cross-dressing would not be tolerated. . . .Read More