Sunday, September 28, 2008
Deconstructing difference
by Abby Terrell
September 29, 2008
When I first arrived in Bangkok for a study abroad program last spring, my university-assigned “buddy,” Yeepoon, sat down with me to show me the ropes. This meeting led to another, as I kept seeking her advice, and soon we enjoyed weekly lunch dates. All week I would save up questions about the cultural oddities I couldn’t explain.
What’s the deal with the entire country’s seeming lack of toilet paper, or the ubiquity of plastic bags? How many chillies are too spicy for a Thai? Patiently, she would explain everything to me.
It was during one of these lunches that Yeepoon told me her university had a “Most Beautiful” and “Most Handsome” election for each grade level. She pointed to a small, fair girl in the cafeteria’s lunch line, whom she said had been deemed the sophomore class’s “Most Beautiful.” Then, as an afterthought, she noted that the girl was actually transgender, or a “ladyboy.”
Though I had been in Thailand for a few months, her reaction surprised me. Ladyboys are very common in Thailand, and because most Thais are petite, the transition from one sex to another — at least in terms of appearance — can be relatively easy. But what surprised me was the way Yeepoon said it, as a form of light, harmless gossip. . . .Read More
September 29, 2008
When I first arrived in Bangkok for a study abroad program last spring, my university-assigned “buddy,” Yeepoon, sat down with me to show me the ropes. This meeting led to another, as I kept seeking her advice, and soon we enjoyed weekly lunch dates. All week I would save up questions about the cultural oddities I couldn’t explain.
What’s the deal with the entire country’s seeming lack of toilet paper, or the ubiquity of plastic bags? How many chillies are too spicy for a Thai? Patiently, she would explain everything to me.
It was during one of these lunches that Yeepoon told me her university had a “Most Beautiful” and “Most Handsome” election for each grade level. She pointed to a small, fair girl in the cafeteria’s lunch line, whom she said had been deemed the sophomore class’s “Most Beautiful.” Then, as an afterthought, she noted that the girl was actually transgender, or a “ladyboy.”
Though I had been in Thailand for a few months, her reaction surprised me. Ladyboys are very common in Thailand, and because most Thais are petite, the transition from one sex to another — at least in terms of appearance — can be relatively easy. But what surprised me was the way Yeepoon said it, as a form of light, harmless gossip. . . .Read More
Transgender girl's looks sparked school fight
"Every day, I was afraid for my sister. The world, the way it is, most people wouldn't accept who she was."
by Monte Whaley
9.28.2008
BRIGHTON — Angie Zapata's life was becoming more complicated and dangerous by the day.
As she neared her 19th birthday, she needed to shave daily to keep up appearances. Her Adam's apple was growing larger, an emerging tip-off that Angie was not exactly whom she claimed to be.
She was living in Greeley away from her protective older sister, Monica, and other family members for the first time. The striking, 6-foot-tall Latina began running with a bad crowd that sold drugs.
Angie was restless. She needed money for cosmetology school and for counseling to prepare her for hormone treatments so her breasts would develop.
"Every day, I was afraid for my sister," said Monica Zapata. "The world, the way it is, most people wouldn't accept who she was."
Born Justin Zapata, Angie wanted to live and love as a transgender female. . . .Read More
by Monte Whaley
9.28.2008
BRIGHTON — Angie Zapata's life was becoming more complicated and dangerous by the day.
As she neared her 19th birthday, she needed to shave daily to keep up appearances. Her Adam's apple was growing larger, an emerging tip-off that Angie was not exactly whom she claimed to be.
She was living in Greeley away from her protective older sister, Monica, and other family members for the first time. The striking, 6-foot-tall Latina began running with a bad crowd that sold drugs.
Angie was restless. She needed money for cosmetology school and for counseling to prepare her for hormone treatments so her breasts would develop.
"Every day, I was afraid for my sister," said Monica Zapata. "The world, the way it is, most people wouldn't accept who she was."
Born Justin Zapata, Angie wanted to live and love as a transgender female. . . .Read More
Turkish transsexual singer faces army accusations
24 Sep 2008
africa.reuters.com
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A popular Turkish transsexual singer who infuriated the country's powerful armed forces by questioning a military campaign against Kurdish separatists told a court on Wednesday she would rather die than be silent.
Bulent Ersoy is on trial on charges of "turning the people against military service" in a case that has raised concerns about free speech in the European Union candidate, where criticising the armed forces is taboo.
Ersoy, one of Turkey's most famous singers, caused a stir in February by saying that were she able to give birth to a son she would not allow him to fight in neighbouring Iraq, where the military had launched operations against Kurdish rebels. . . .Read More
africa.reuters.com
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A popular Turkish transsexual singer who infuriated the country's powerful armed forces by questioning a military campaign against Kurdish separatists told a court on Wednesday she would rather die than be silent.
Bulent Ersoy is on trial on charges of "turning the people against military service" in a case that has raised concerns about free speech in the European Union candidate, where criticising the armed forces is taboo.
Ersoy, one of Turkey's most famous singers, caused a stir in February by saying that were she able to give birth to a son she would not allow him to fight in neighbouring Iraq, where the military had launched operations against Kurdish rebels. . . .Read More
EDITORIAL: Cloud hangs over Taiwan Pride Parade
Sep 26, 2008
The Taipei Times
Tomorrow the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and their supporters will take to the streets for the Sixth Taiwan Pride Parade. Last year’s LGBT parade was reportedly the largest in Asia, attracting more than 15,000 people, which demonstrates a growing awareness of the marginalization of these groups.
However, although Taiwan’s homosexual community has made great strides, the transgender, and specifically transsexual, community still has a long way to go in gaining acceptance.
Last October, the Ministry of the Interior issued an executive order that female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals cannot change their national ID cards until they have fully transitioned from one gender to another, in other words, completed genital reconstruction.
The revision was a huge step backwards because the old rule stated that transsexuals were only required to go through the first two stages: removal of the inner reproductive organs and breasts. The decision would be hilarious — there are “ordinary” men without penises — if it didn’t have such far-reaching implications for transsexuals. . . .Read More
The Taipei Times
Tomorrow the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and their supporters will take to the streets for the Sixth Taiwan Pride Parade. Last year’s LGBT parade was reportedly the largest in Asia, attracting more than 15,000 people, which demonstrates a growing awareness of the marginalization of these groups.
However, although Taiwan’s homosexual community has made great strides, the transgender, and specifically transsexual, community still has a long way to go in gaining acceptance.
Last October, the Ministry of the Interior issued an executive order that female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals cannot change their national ID cards until they have fully transitioned from one gender to another, in other words, completed genital reconstruction.
The revision was a huge step backwards because the old rule stated that transsexuals were only required to go through the first two stages: removal of the inner reproductive organs and breasts. The decision would be hilarious — there are “ordinary” men without penises — if it didn’t have such far-reaching implications for transsexuals. . . .Read More
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ad makers urged to remove LGBT stereotypes
September 24, 2008
ADAIR
utalkmarketing.com
Some of the world’s biggest advertising agencies are being encouraged to call an end to any lingering lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender stereotypes, homophobia and transphobia in their ad campaigns.
The Commercial Closet Association has sent a letter to the New York branches of leading advertising agencies with the support of leading government officials and advertising industry executives.
Penned by Mike Wilke, executive director of Commercial Closet Association, it reads, “All too often, commercials use stereotypes of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people for humour, with stock homophobic and transphobic responses.
“It’s time to remove any remaining potentially harmful stereotypes that only encourage narrow-minded and discriminatory behavior, and damage business opportunities.” . . .Read More
ADAIR
utalkmarketing.com
Some of the world’s biggest advertising agencies are being encouraged to call an end to any lingering lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender stereotypes, homophobia and transphobia in their ad campaigns.
The Commercial Closet Association has sent a letter to the New York branches of leading advertising agencies with the support of leading government officials and advertising industry executives.
Penned by Mike Wilke, executive director of Commercial Closet Association, it reads, “All too often, commercials use stereotypes of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people for humour, with stock homophobic and transphobic responses.
“It’s time to remove any remaining potentially harmful stereotypes that only encourage narrow-minded and discriminatory behavior, and damage business opportunities.” . . .Read More
A Crossdressing Lesson from Isis – America’s Next Top Transgender Model
September 23, 2008
Vanessa
As many of you know Isis is a transgender model competing in America’s next top model. She has already done incredibly well, passing through the first two rounds of the competition, despite being perilously close to being eliminated last week. (For those counting, I may be a week behind thanks to the wonders of Tivo – I’ll try and keep up with the episodes in the future).
Isis has two valuable crossdressing lessons for us from last week’s episode. The first has to do with handling yourself in the face of intolerance. One of the other girls in America’s next top model was clearly uncomfortable with Isis being transgendered. Even pushing her away during an evening when the girl’s where partying and hanging out. I was very impressed with how Isis responded – she didn’t get angry or upset, and pretty much just ignored it. . . .Read More
Vanessa
As many of you know Isis is a transgender model competing in America’s next top model. She has already done incredibly well, passing through the first two rounds of the competition, despite being perilously close to being eliminated last week. (For those counting, I may be a week behind thanks to the wonders of Tivo – I’ll try and keep up with the episodes in the future).
Isis has two valuable crossdressing lessons for us from last week’s episode. The first has to do with handling yourself in the face of intolerance. One of the other girls in America’s next top model was clearly uncomfortable with Isis being transgendered. Even pushing her away during an evening when the girl’s where partying and hanging out. I was very impressed with how Isis responded – she didn’t get angry or upset, and pretty much just ignored it. . . .Read More
University of Pittsburgh Lets 'Transgender' Students Choose Their Dorm
9-24-2008
Devon Williams
The University of Pittsburgh is revising its policies to include special protection based on "gender identity." That means "transgender" students can live in the dormitory of their choice — male or female.
So, a biological man who "identifies" as a woman will be allowed to room with a woman and use the women's showers and restrooms. The same would apply to biological women who believe themselves to be men. . . .Read More
Devon Williams
The University of Pittsburgh is revising its policies to include special protection based on "gender identity." That means "transgender" students can live in the dormitory of their choice — male or female.
So, a biological man who "identifies" as a woman will be allowed to room with a woman and use the women's showers and restrooms. The same would apply to biological women who believe themselves to be men. . . .Read More
Transsexual Turkish singer defends self in court
By Selcan Hacaoglu
September 24, 2008
ANKARA, Turkey – A transsexual singer charged with illegally criticizing mandatory military service in Turkey said in court Wednesday she would say the same thing again.
Singer Bulent Ersoy has acknowledged saying on television that if she had children she would not want them to join the army to battle Kurdish rebels who are fighting for self-rule.
“I spoke in the name of humanity. Even if I were to face execution, I would say the same thing,” the state-run Anatolia news agency quoted Ersoy as telling the court in Istanbul. . . .Read More
September 24, 2008
ANKARA, Turkey – A transsexual singer charged with illegally criticizing mandatory military service in Turkey said in court Wednesday she would say the same thing again.
Singer Bulent Ersoy has acknowledged saying on television that if she had children she would not want them to join the army to battle Kurdish rebels who are fighting for self-rule.
“I spoke in the name of humanity. Even if I were to face execution, I would say the same thing,” the state-run Anatolia news agency quoted Ersoy as telling the court in Istanbul. . . .Read More
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela (2008) Movie Trailer
"The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela is a 2008 drama film directed by Olaf de Fleur Johannesson.
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela Plot
Raquela, a Filipino transsexual prostitute dreams of making a new life in Paris. She becomes an internet porn star and meets Valerie, an Icelandic transsexual, and Michael, the owner of the website she works for.
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela Cast
Raquela Rios as Herself
Stefan C. Schaefer as Ardilo, Michael
Olivia Galudo as Olivia
Brax Villa as Aubrey
Valerie Grand Einarsson as Valerie Einarsson
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela Distribution and reception
The film showed at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Teddy Award for Best Feature Film. It will be screened in the Emerging Visions section of the 2008 South by Southwest festival in the United States.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Truth_ About_Queen_Raquela" MovieTrailerNetwork
A new twist for 'America's Next Top Model'
By GILLIAN GAYNAIR
23 September 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — As a little boy in the Washington suburbs, Darrell Walls liked to pretend to be Lil' Kim or a Pink Power Ranger.
He felt different — like a girl mistakenly born a boy.
But Walls eventually embraced that difference and today is living true, as Isis King. Now 22, King is the first transgender contestant on "America's Next Top Model," the CW Television Network reality show hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks.
"I'm just trying to be myself," King said during a telephone interview last week. "If I inspire people, that's a wonderful thing — whether you're trans or not."
While the number of transgender representations on television remains small, activists say in recent years they have seen a movement away from stereotypical roles such as transgender sex workers or villains. Now, the roles are not as marginalized — and some are even portrayed by transgender actors. . . .Read More
Study shows prime-time television showing more gay, lesbian characters
NEW YORK - Broadcast television will have 16 gay and bisexual regular characters in prime-time series this fall, more than double the seven of a year ago, a new study has found.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said it was a positive sign of networks making their shows more representative, although more work needed to be done. These characters accounted for 2.6 percent of all the regular characters in TV series, up from 1.1 percent last year and 1.3 percent in 2006, according to the study, released Monday. . . .Read More
Slowly, Companies Embracing Transgender Employees
Workplace attitudes and policies have eased over time.
By LISA BELKIN
THE NEW YORK TIMES
THE NEW YORK TIMES
September 21, 2008
Breanna L. Speed waited four years before announcing to her co-workers that she would not be Wendell anymore.
KOREN SHADMI | THE NEW YORK TIMES
She was concerned that the revelation that she felt more comfortable living life as a woman than in the male body she was born with would jeopardize her job at Hewitt Associates, an outsourcing company in Lincolnshire, Ill., where she had worked as a database administrator for seven years.
But since Feb. 26, 2007, when she walked into the office as Breanna (with a company ID and a workplace paper trail that carried her new name), Speed said she has received nothing but support.
The workplace piece of her transgender puzzle, the part she had worried about most, "turned out to be the simplest," she said. "That was a surprise." . . .Read More
Monday, September 22, 2008
GENDER ANSWERS
'The Transgender Child' New handbook has tips for parents whose children don't fit the societal mold, and probably never will
Talia Kennedy
September 18, 2008
A child may be born with female anatomy, but what if her first words are "I'm a boy," and she wants to live as a boy as she gets older?
Or a boy enjoys playing with girly toys and sometimes expresses himself in traditionally feminine ways?
Two Bay Area women who have worked with transgender and gender-fluid children have written a handbook for parents whose kids aren't typical boys or girls.
"A parent can't change a child's gender identity but can change how they respond to it. It requires a lot of respect, kindness and support," says Stephanie Brill, who, along with Rachel Pepper, wrote "The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals" (Cleis Press; 200 pages; $16.95).
Some parents have a hard time accepting their transgender and gender-variant children's identities, but Brill stresses that children's genders are usually a permanent part of who they are. . . .Read More
The Real World Brooklyn Cast Gets Transgendered
The cast of The Real World Brooklyn looks to differentiate itself from the previous twenty seasons on MTV by having the first transgender cast member.
The cast’s head shot compilation was posted on Vevmo and combined with my sources indicate the naming of the cast is as follows - starting clockwise from the top left.
- Kate
- Sarah
- Beya
- Devyn
- Chet
- JD
- Ryan
- Scott
- . . .Read More
Unfinished Business
22 September 2008
by SUSAN MARINE . . .I love football.
Many who know me, or who know my politics, are surprised by this fact. After all, as the director of a women’s center, and a committed feminist, shouldn’t I feel ambivalent about—if not downright opposed to—the degree to which American culture celebrates such a brutal, macho sport, and glorifies those who play it? Shouldn’t I want a kinder, gentler game—like synchronized swimming, or equestrianism—to rule the day?
Not really. I am in awe of the both graceful and guttural physicality of the game, the full-contact, heady delirium of the pileup, and the breathless climax of a perfectly executed 60-yard Hail Mary pass. Just about the only thing I don’t like about football is the knowledge that women will likely never get to play it side by side with men.
Since 1982, when the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus was founded, the movement for gay rights has come a long way. For most of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) at Harvard, we can live openly and without fear in our jobs and as students. We can pursue both our degrees and employment with the protection of the law behind us, we can hold high positions of leadership and esteem, and we can even legally marry our sweethearts in Memorial Church. Although I wasn’t at Harvard in 1982, I understand that it was a very different place then, and that silence and social sanction were de rigueur for virtually all queer folks. . . .Read More
Many who know me, or who know my politics, are surprised by this fact. After all, as the director of a women’s center, and a committed feminist, shouldn’t I feel ambivalent about—if not downright opposed to—the degree to which American culture celebrates such a brutal, macho sport, and glorifies those who play it? Shouldn’t I want a kinder, gentler game—like synchronized swimming, or equestrianism—to rule the day?
Not really. I am in awe of the both graceful and guttural physicality of the game, the full-contact, heady delirium of the pileup, and the breathless climax of a perfectly executed 60-yard Hail Mary pass. Just about the only thing I don’t like about football is the knowledge that women will likely never get to play it side by side with men.
Since 1982, when the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus was founded, the movement for gay rights has come a long way. For most of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) at Harvard, we can live openly and without fear in our jobs and as students. We can pursue both our degrees and employment with the protection of the law behind us, we can hold high positions of leadership and esteem, and we can even legally marry our sweethearts in Memorial Church. Although I wasn’t at Harvard in 1982, I understand that it was a very different place then, and that silence and social sanction were de rigueur for virtually all queer folks. . . .Read More
Sunday, September 21, 2008
My transition so far - University and Residence Part 1
"READ FIRST!
By this time I'd left home and the farm and moved to the big city to live with my brother because my parents didn't want me with them, and they moved to Torquay anyway. So yeah, everything was new to a naive farmgirl like me.
UNIVERSITY IS LIKE COLLEGE FOR YOU NON-AUSTRALIANS, BUT I GUESS YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT!" EtherealKingdom
By this time I'd left home and the farm and moved to the big city to live with my brother because my parents didn't want me with them, and they moved to Torquay anyway. So yeah, everything was new to a naive farmgirl like me.
UNIVERSITY IS LIKE COLLEGE FOR YOU NON-AUSTRALIANS, BUT I GUESS YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT!" EtherealKingdom
Trans U comes to CU
Groups discusses transgender issues on campus
The presentation was sponsored by the Vice Chancellor's Office of Student Affairs, the GLBT resource center and The Community Health resource center.
"I want people to understand what transgender is, what are the barriers that transgender people face and how everybody is responsible for improving how it feels for people who are different," said trainer and lead speaker Samuel Lurie.
During Lurie's presentation, he said transgender is an "umbrella term for (a) wide range of people who challenge or don't fit social norms of gender expression."
The term transsexual refers to a person who "specifically desires to live full-time in the chosen gender that matches their internal gender identity," Lurie said. Individuals in this group must often make use of medical interventions, social and legal changes. . . .Read More
Sam Dieter
September 20, 2008
An audience of about 40 people gathered in the Dennis Small Cultural Center in the UMC Friday for "Trans U: an Introduction to Transgender Issues on Campus."
The presentation was sponsored by the Vice Chancellor's Office of Student Affairs, the GLBT resource center and The Community Health resource center.
"I want people to understand what transgender is, what are the barriers that transgender people face and how everybody is responsible for improving how it feels for people who are different," said trainer and lead speaker Samuel Lurie.
During Lurie's presentation, he said transgender is an "umbrella term for (a) wide range of people who challenge or don't fit social norms of gender expression."
The term transsexual refers to a person who "specifically desires to live full-time in the chosen gender that matches their internal gender identity," Lurie said. Individuals in this group must often make use of medical interventions, social and legal changes. . . .Read More
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