tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29448181260059649672024-03-12T20:00:33.575-07:00Candiussell cornerA blog for the trans* community. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-90675080404093676242016-11-06T10:40:00.000-08:002016-11-06T10:40:05.155-08:00Cultivation Corner Starting SeedsSo you want to sprout those ganja seeds you found in your stash?<br />
First off I want you to be sure that your grow space will be warm enough for seed germination.<br />
Most indoor grow rooms will not have an issue, but many will be too hot due to poor choices in air flow control.<br />
You will want your soil between 60-80 with 65-70 being ideal. More heat or cold than that range and the plants may grow, but they will not thrive.<br />
<br /><br />
When you start your seeds many folks are tempted to use the expandable peat cups sold in garden centers across the land. I do not advise these cups at all. They have given me more trouble than they are worth.<br />
Instead I recommend that you plant in a 6-10 inch pot. Get the soil properly moist before placing it in the pot to avoid dry spaces in the soil. Put the pot on a small tray to catch the water and to water into. <br />
You will need a spray bottle filled with water to keep the top of the soil moist. Watering the plant as a seed or a sproutling directly is a bad plan. Your plant can be buried by floating soil, or if it is still a seed, washed out from the planters center to the edge of the pot and buried too deep to survive sprouting.<br />
<br /><br />
So after you have your pot filled with moist soil and on a catch tray, put a single seed in the center of the pot and push it into the soil with your finger about 1 knuckle deep. Cover the seed with just enough soil to level the top soil.<br />
Next day you will spray the top of the soil of the planter down with your spray bottle making sure to get enough water on the soil that it should last the day or longer. Now I want you to check the soil 2 times daily, just in case you need to re-water on dry days. You really need to keep on top of things the first few weeks of the plants life. I have ruined some pretty great seeds by not paying attention to this detail on hot days. Learn from my mistake.<br />
Be sure to water from the bottom every other day or so to maintain the soils moisture. <br />
Once the plant is about 6 inches or taller, you can directly water the plant and not worry too much about flooding out your plant and washing it out of its space or burying it.<br />
Once this sprout is about 8-12 inches it is ready to transplant to a larger pot. These small sprouting pots are not going to work for the plant beyond this point. If kept in this small pot much longer, your plant will be artificially dwarfed and have issues.<br />
<br /><br />
How wet is too wet?<br />
When you grab a handful of the soil and squeeze it, it shouldn't drip unless you squeeze as hard as you can. With a modest squeeze the soil will not drip, with a heavy squeeze a few drops come out. This is ideal seed sprouting wetness. When you are growing established plants the soil should be just a hair dryer and not drip but maybe one drop when squeezed as hard as possible. It should leave the hand moist but not wet. This is a general rule, it is ok to give your plants a good soaking when you water them. Just be sure that you have good drainage so that excess water leaves the soil. <br />
<br /><br />
contact <a href="mailto:candiussell@yahoo.com">candiussell@yahoo.com</a><br />
for seeds that are affordable<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-38024789539881021482016-10-28T11:29:00.002-07:002016-10-28T11:29:37.526-07:00Cultivation Corner, Tips for Marijuana Cultivation Cloning...Many folks have problems with cloning. You follow the best practices on choosing which branch to cut from, leave ample stem length, cut proper and used this or that rooting medium and it still fails...<br />
My best bet?<br />
Temps are your problem. The rooting medium is getting to chilly. <br />
<br /><br />
I want you to go out and buy some things...a bag of washed sand from the pet supply store, a seed tray, a seed tray heating matt and a mechanical electric timer with 15 minute intervals.<br />
You are going to put your cuttings into the washed sand. Cut the same as you always do, use the same rooting hormones.<br />
<br /><br />
The sand should be wet but when you squeeze it, no water should drip out and our hand should be moist when you drop the sand. Then you place the cutting tray on the heat matt. The heat matt is set to the timer and will only run for 15 minutes an hour during daylight, and when it is lights out the timer should be set to 15 minutes on and 30 minutes off until the light turns back on. This will keep the washed sand warm enough to encourage cell activity, but not so hot that it cooks the clones.<br />
Be sure to check water level in the sand a couple times a day. The near constant heat source can dry out the sand and that would spell disaster. Covering the tray may seem like a good idea, but it isn't in the long run. Often it will encourage rot on lower leaves that may touch the soil and set the cuttings up for shock when the fresh rooted cutting are transferred to pots.<br />
<br /><br />
Now if you live in an area that cold isn't the issue I suggest that you root clones in a place in the home under a T-5 light. Home temperatures are typically held at comfortable rooting temperature. <br />
<br /><br />
Again as always, if you need affordable dank seeds contact:<br />
<a href="mailto:candiussell@yahoo.com">candiussell</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><a href="mailto:candiussell@yahoo.com">@yahoo.com</a></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-5550894122177292302016-10-27T11:45:00.001-07:002016-10-27T11:45:09.244-07:00The cultivation corner...Marijuana master cultivation tip #1So you want to grow good marijuana? Don't we all!<br />
First thing you need is some clones or some seeds. (I sell seeds. Shameless self promotion.)<br />
Now before you get your hands on those seeds or clones, you really should familiarize yourself with the plants life cycle. Just good farming.<br />
Now to that end I would highly recommend the book "Marijuana Horticulture, by Jorge Cervantes".<br />
That book and numerous other tomes written on the topic will get you solidly on the way to growing good plants.<br />
<br /><br />
For those who do know about marijuana cultivation I would like to discuss the practice of re-vegetation. <br />
Re-vegetation happens when we introduce a plant that has already flowered back under 18 hour vegetation light cycle. Preferably you would do this with a plant that is harvested, why waste the nuggets. Eventually the plant will start to g back into vegetative mode and prepare itself for another harvest.<br />
To do this successfully the harvester must leave the bottom 1/3 of the plant intact. Now some may balk at such a 'waste of nuggets' but it really isn't a sacrifice in the grand scheme. Most plants have just tiny nuggets on those bottom branches that do not amount to a hill of beans. Now the more you leave on the plant, the better the plants chances...to a certain point. You want to expose the undeveloped under nuggets that still have white healthy hairs to plenty of light. So removing some amount of bud is needed to get a good re-vegetation. <br />
Once a plant has shown definitive proof of re-vegetation it will be safe to transfer the plant to a new pot. In fact it is advisable. The plant will become a huge bush the second time around if you leave ample buds after initial harvest and you get it into a larger pot for the second go around.<br />
<br /><br />
Why do we re-vegetate when growing from seed or procured clones will make a faster crop?<br />
Easy, you re-vegetate the best plants of your crop, those real winners that blew your mind. After the plant gets properly re-established and in solid vegetative state you can clone this plant and have a nice private strain. I use the re-vegetation to keep some plants around until the next male growing cycle. Pretty hard to pollinate plants that are not still alive. Now if you are willing to sacrifice some of todays nuggets to make more nuggets later many plants will make more nuggets the second go around if you optimize the plant.<br />
<br /><br />
Re-vegetation typically adds 3-5 weeks to a grow cycle, but good things come to those who can wait.<br />
<br /><br />
Have a great garden,<br />
Cynthia Lee<br />
<br /><br />
To procure seeds contact <a href="mailto:candiussell@yahoo.com">candiussell@yahoo.com</a><br />
put SEEDS in the subject line.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-45194079423212599372016-10-24T12:58:00.002-07:002016-10-24T12:58:49.726-07:00Cannabis Sativa SeedsIf you are in one of the medical marijuana states (or any Oregon State Resident) and are looking for marijuana seeds I can put you in contact with a seed provider.<br />
Their seeds are very affordable and proven producers.<br />
<br />
<br />
Shoot me an email:<br />
<a href="mailto:candiussell@yahoo.com">candiussell@yahoo.com</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-36525424560636796672016-10-18T17:56:00.000-07:002016-10-18T17:56:58.941-07:00Cannabis Seeds in Washington StateIf you are looking for cannabis seeds in the state of Washington and can provide verifiable bona fides that you are a medical marijuana patient, contact me as I can put you in contact with a reasonable priced provider of seeds.<br />
<a href="mailto:candiussell@yahoo.com">candiussell@yahoo.com</a><br />
<br /><br />
Do not respond to this Blog Post. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-71724657338276669772015-08-31T14:25:00.001-07:002015-08-31T14:25:19.526-07:00Buddy Dog Report<br />
<br />
Buddy went and tore his other ACL last night. This time we are fortunately able to afford his surgery and the surgeon was available to do the surgery today. We haven't got him back from the vet yet, but the prognosis is good. He has been down this road before with his other leg and this time we were able to get to the surgery immediately. <br />
I wanted to once again thank everyone who helped Buddy pay for his surgery three years ago. I figured all of y'all wonderful folks would appreciate the update and knowing that he will be ok this time around.<br />
<br />
<br />
So how did the goof-ball do it this time?<br />
He was running around the yard, at warp speed acting the fool and having a blast. It is such a shame just being a dog and doing what dogs do has such a taxing effect on his legs. Poor guy. But the veterinarian surgeon that fixed the leg the last time expected to see this happen in the other leg. And the surgeon doing the surgery today is the same guy who did the wonderful job on Buddy's other leg. So we are confident that the big guy is in good hands.<br />
<br />
So PSA time:<br />
.<br />
Spay or neuter your pets.<br />
Adopt a rescue. (Buddy was a street rescue and he has been the best dog ever.)<br />
If you can donate time at your local pet rescue or veterinarians clinic.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-57778256186141472002015-08-10T12:52:00.000-07:002015-08-10T12:52:54.188-07:00Power Gamers and the Mini-Max Character
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">To
the Mini-Max Player</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You can take a character with half the points
everyone else has available and you can build a mini-maxed, twinked out
character that is a combat god. You are impossible to kill by normal means due
to your diligence in knowing every bonus and trick in the book. When the
Loremaster scrutinizes your hero before play they must try and figure out your
angle every game. If the Loremaster tries to deny the Hero for play you are
diligent in pointing out how your character fits into every rule and
regulation. Your Hero is completely legit in all ways. And you are right,
technically these heroes are most often the best written up heroes when it
comes to point allocation. Never will you find a mistake in calculation, they
never take an extra point, but they never miss one either. Then the Loremaster
must argue rules or just put their foot down. This is not fun at all. <br />
Or the Loremaster misses the super smart twink job the player is pulling off
with this hero’s character sheet. They have figured out an exploit if you will
and they can’t wait to get into game and try it out. Then mid game the
Loremaster and Players realize that your Hero out classes the rest of their
heroes substantially. The Loremaster has to stop and think hard, and the
players are now worried they will have to face challenges out of their league
due to the new dynamic you have introduced into play. <br />
Ok, we get it you are the smartest and best ever. Now can we get back to
playing a proper Role Playing Game?<br />
I am not aiming this at the player of the Hero that is really good at a couple
of things, or even has a reputation as a force to be reckoned with. Nor is it
the Hero who through game play develops into a powerful hero with End Game
powers; it is the player of the hero that is designed to rule the game in
combat or a spell caster that was built around a single spell who gets the
collective ire of the game table. The combat god who is unhittable, who also
lays down killing blows every hit and knows every weapon type knowable is an
End Game hero Skippy. Yet the only thing End Game about your Hero is your
combat skills. You have no skills beyond combat and you don’t have the end game
magic items to back your play.<br />
When you write up such characters you put the Loremaster at a calculated
disadvantage. The only thing that matters to you is the survival of your hero
regardless of anyone else’s need. To deal with your Twink I have to up the
power level of the dungeon. But when I do this the other players are placed at
a serious unfair disadvantage. Also I am faced with a player who wrote up a
vastly over powered character compared to the rest of the group, who will at
the drop of the hat get upset and argue the rules or call cheese when the big
guns are pulled out and their hero was killed off or defeated. ‘You singled me
out’ is the cry of the player. Yes, you were singled out, your overly powerful;
pain in the ass character was hashing my storyline and putting the other heroes
at an unfair risk. <br />
If the only way I can harm one of the heroes is with an End Game monster, then
I have to put said monsters in the game. Yet here we are supposed to play a
Starting Saga and you already are rolling 19+ True Grips to hit and dodging out
of every blow with your ungodly 19 Hit Goal. Sure these are fine power levels
for an End Game Saga, and I have no problem with these power levels when
everyone is playing at that power level. The essence of a great game is game balance.
End Game powers at Starting Game are inappropriate. <br />
The other players don’t like your characters. You put the focus on you and your
hero. There is little glory for them when you are the only one who can harm the
End Game monster. <br />
<br />
Also there is this issue with your Hero; you have no skills beyond combat. The
other heroes have to pull your weight in all Role Playing scenes. They can’t send
you to do shit but kill something. Your hero can’t haggle for better prices,
rally troupes, lie to the constable, ride a horse, and socialize with the
elite, swim, read, or anything else that may come in handy when actual role
playing is going on. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And it isn’t just warrior players who are guilty,
Wizard Twink players, you are just as guilty. When you do things like make a single
spell so powerful that it rivals Rune Powers you also limit your hero in so
many ways. Now I am not talking about a Hero with a high Enchantment taking a favored
spell. Sure no problem, but when you write up the Hero so that you can walk
into the Spell Crafting dice roll with 18+ dice and you have max proficiency you
are twinking. Rolling a grip of 12-15 dice wouldn’t kill you. Not having +15
due to Proficiency and Enchantment won’t kill you. Sure your Hero can at least
read and write, it is a must for the spell caster hero, but you only have one
real thing the others rely on from you. But here you are with an End Game Power
and the rest of the players are at actual Basic, Hero or Legend play. But you
only have that one end game level power. No one else in the group has a hero
with an end game power. To be able to deal with this wizard the Loremaster has
to put more powerful adversaries in the Saga, which puts the other players
Heroes at a disadvantage. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When you introduce Heroes that are over powered
compared to the rest of the heroes or Saga, you force a power skip in the Saga.
There are wide swaths of low level monsters and villains the Loremaster could
use, but this Hero makes it so these bad-guys cannot be put into play. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For the Saga to be an actual game, there to be that
excitement of chance for all parties, the game must be balanced. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why do we even allow these players at our tables one
may wonder? But it is a matter of friendship or social politics in most cases.
We don’t often play a Role Playing Game with people we don’t care for. We most
often game with our friends, family and associates. It is hard to say no to
friends and family. You like these people and value their friendship. What is a
hero between friends? So we let it ride and suck it up. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Strive for game balance. Don’t look for every angle
and advantage. Part and parcel of the game is being challenged. Also consider
those times when your Hero may get stuck in a Role Playing intense game session
and how much of an anchor your character might be if you combat twink your
hero. How are you supposed to smuggle goods past the city guards if you can’t
be sneaky, wear a disguise or bribe them? How are you going to get an audience with
the Mayor if you have no social skills? How will you be able to haggle for
bargain prices at the bizarre? Ever notice that your twink hero has to do
everything the hard way? It is not a wonder when you roll only on your
attributes. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-58320637557570994942015-06-23T17:23:00.003-07:002015-06-23T17:23:34.629-07:00Targeted by TERFsThis morning when I tried to log into Facebook I found that I was banned from posting or liking Facebook posts for 24 hours. I am only able to like comments people make on posts.<br />
<br /><br />
So what did I do that warranted being put in 'Facebook Jail' for 24 hours?<br />
<br /><br />
Well it turns out that a certain TERF did not like what I had said in a comment I made to a thread about 6 months ago.<br />
What was it I said? Something to the effect that the TERF in question is in my opinion unstable and dangerous. I also said something to the effect that I worry that someday I will read in the news that she has killed a trans* woman.<br />
<br /><br />
I stand by that. TERFs scare the hell out of me. They are so blindly focused on their rage fetish (transsexual and transgender women) that they seem willing to go to any lengths to harm us. When one of us stands up to them we get doxxed, dead-named and often cyber stalked and bullied. If these activities send a trans* woman into a suicidal spin, and the girl checks out, then those TERFs have killed a person. You do not need to be wielding a gun or a knife to murder. TERFs know that trans* women are particularly vulnerable to suicidal ideation, yet they continue to be a thorn in our collective sides. <br />Would I be surprised to hear a TERF had killed a trans* woman first hand via murder? Unfortunately no. They have shown they are capable of hatred of trans* women. Why should I doubt they are capable of violence against trans* women?<br />
<br /><br />
I will not hold my tongue when the topic turns to Radfem TERFs. They are dangerous for trans* women. They have shown repeatedly how much they hate us, so if they come up in casual conversation I will warn my trans* sisters about them every time.<br />
<br /><br />
Cathy Brennan, you got me put in Facebook jail for a whooping 24 hours, over a comment that was about 6 months old. You are a petty bitch.<br />
<br /><br />
Well I certainly will take this opportunity to tell it like it is about you one more time. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-83304046781576175292015-05-11T14:49:00.000-07:002015-05-11T14:49:15.138-07:00Burn out is real, and it's not a sign of weakness ~Sevan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Social media is a powerful tool for the social justice advocate. Trans people can connect with one another, share issues, band together and get things done. For some of us, maybe even all of us (whether we recognize it or not) it becomes a horrible space where the work never ends, and friends, fun, family and social justice work all blend together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kPeu6jJyCkCsCxWa1DbnAfcgJRi8OT-hF4ro8B5jVrBaAwWvSTpyPqS2_Cd2-dzJS4CXKUld9VhxruqUs0ito9sQ8oRQXM2QvLO4s9AvC8sLEIaSFzjCTlgh_jBJKmwhxu12cLso_f9G/s1600/heart+sick-200x221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kPeu6jJyCkCsCxWa1DbnAfcgJRi8OT-hF4ro8B5jVrBaAwWvSTpyPqS2_Cd2-dzJS4CXKUld9VhxruqUs0ito9sQ8oRQXM2QvLO4s9AvC8sLEIaSFzjCTlgh_jBJKmwhxu12cLso_f9G/s1600/heart+sick-200x221.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
It sends the message that you should never stop working. This is a dangerous message. People need to be able to have safe places to relax and recharge. Often wonderful wise people face burn out and the movement loses those people, all their skills, knowledge and cooperation. We have to rebuild, train, connect and build new relationships. We constantly start over, but push and push for people work, attend events, research, read every article that gets shared by every single friend who shares all your same beliefs and advocates along side you.<br />
<br />
An example. I created a Twitter account to follow musicians that I liked. The whole purpose was fun and relaxation. Twitter told all my Facebook friends that I had created a Twitter. Of course they wanted to add me, they *are* my friends, so I wanted to add them too! Quickly my twitter feed was so covered in angry trans issues, fights and encouragement to help remove trolls from Twitter to the point that I no longer go to Twitter at all. That is not to say that this issues that I was presented with on Twitter weren't important, but one only has so much time and so much energy.<br />
<br />
We need to protect ourselves but also support others in our community. If we encourage one another to take care of themselves, our community becomes stronger and healthier. My request to those trans advocates is to consider who you're going to reach. Who reads you? Do they likely follow the same pages you follow? If so, they've probably already seen the article you're considering sharing. Not only can this be frustrating but depending on what the information is, it can be triggering and painful.<br />
<br />
I know for myself, seeing article after article about trans people who have committed suicide hurts me deeply. I am experiencing <a href="http://www.nctsn.org/resources/topics/secondary-traumatic-stress" target="_blank">secondary trauma</a>, and I am not alone.<br />
<br />
Here are some things that you can do to help build up the community, but still participate in sharing important information.<br />
<br />
#1 Use trigger warnings, and consider not including the preview image. Pictures are bigger than words, so often a trigger image of a person who's passed away, or a person who appears grief stricken can be the first thing someone sees even if you use trigger warnings.<br />
<br />
#2 Share your thoughts about the article, and then link the article in a comment, rather than in the body of your status or post.<br />
<br />
#3 Pay attention when someone says they're down or struggling. Ask how you can help. Share things with them that helps you cope. Often times, people don't realize the level of stress they're under. We've gotten very good at ignoring our internal signals. Good friends can remind us to check in with that internal signal.<br />
<br />
#4 Learn more about self care and what makes you tick. Share articles and images that lift your community up, in equal part to negative articles that are intended as a call to action.<br />
<br />
#5 If you've seen an article more than two times, chances are, your friends have seen it too. Consider not sharing it.Sevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09604138864893003363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-5267406302584740282015-04-07T23:00:00.003-07:002015-04-07T23:00:27.402-07:00Spokane TALL is on the sceneFirst, I'm sorry for abandoning this blog. (again....) So many people rage, or write, or express themselves in some fashion when they're hurt or angry. I find that when the world gets nasty, I shut down. It's not particularly helpful, but it is what happens. The heightened publicity of trans murders and suicides just hurts me so deeply. Not so say that it DOESN'T hurt others, I have no doubt that it does. I just don't know what to do with that, I suppose.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/candiussell/TALL%20graphic_zpskpbkjwwv.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/candiussell/TALL%20graphic_zpskpbkjwwv.png" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
Anyway, that's not what I'm here to talk about today. There's a project I've been part of since May. Spokane TALL. Tall stands for Transgender Advocacy, Learning and Leadership. In my view, it's a much needed project locally. For the last year we've been working slowly on by-laws, organization and getting our ducks in a row. Thinking about "who are we" and making sure we have our feet firmly under us. The project is made up (so far) of people who are very involved in other things, so progress is slow, but that's been ok.<br />
<br />
We burst on the scene this Transgender Day of Visibility. We ended up with three events during the week! Monday we received a proclamation from the Mayor, proclaiming Spokane's first TDOV. Then Tuesday we showed <a href="http://kumuhina.com/" target="_blank">Kumu Hina</a> followed by a panel discussion. We had sixty four people in attendance!! I can't tell you how big that is. Just believe me, it is. Events are rarely that large in this city.<br />
<br />
Saturday we wrapped things up with a transgender health care forum, presented by Danni of <a href="http://www.genderjusticeleague.org/" target="_blank">Gender Justice League</a>. I wasn't sure what the turn out would be, but I hoped it would be positive and that there would be a large enough crowd to make it worth Danni's trip over from Seattle (a six hour drive!) I set a goal for 20 people, and would have been blown away and so excited with 30 people. Twenty showed up which was fantastic.<br />
<br />
We've got more coming up too. This project is just getting started, and I'm so excited!Sevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09604138864893003363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-48750959444600774422015-01-01T11:03:00.000-08:002015-01-01T11:03:14.380-08:00Leelah's Law <br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leelah Alcorn passed away recently. She was a tormented soul
who had lived through religious shame and coercion. She was denied her right to
exist by her family and then cut off from her support networks.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Leelah saw no way out, which is so unfortunate. I wish she
could have seen what I see in her selfie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was young and beautiful with so
much potential. But Leelah couldn’t see that it seems. A couple years on HRT
and she would have been just another girl in the crowd. But the messages of
hatred and shame were far too much. Instead of hearing that she was loved, she
was shamed for being different. <br />
Her parents and the church have Leelah Alcorn’s blood on their hands. <br />
The worst part is that there is no scriptural basis for the shame they heaped
on their daughter. There is nothing in the scriptures that justify the trauma
they put Leelah through.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to change society. We need to pass Leelah’s law.
Leelah’s law would outlaw the practice of reparative therapy. <br />
Not one more!<br />
Please go to the following website and sign the petition to enact Leelah’s Law.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enact-leelahs-law-ban-transgender-conversion-therapy-children-and-teens/7FfNrkdS"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enact-leelahs-law-ban-transgender-conversion-therapy-children-and-teens/7FfNrkdS</span></a></div>
<br />
“<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Leelah Alcorn, born Joshua Alcorn, was a 17
year old transgender teenager who killed herself on December 27, 2014. In her
suicide note, she explains how her parents pulled her out of school, put her in
Transgender Conversion Therapy and isolated her in an attempt to change her
gender identity, and that this is what lead her to suicide.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Many mental health institutions such as
American Association of Pediatrics, have talked about the dangers and
ineffectiveness of conversion therapy for gender identity, and others have
called upon therapists to stop using the practice all together. We ask that
Transgender Conversion be banned at least for minors, as it is unnecessary,
dangerous, and not the proper treatment for gender dysphoria.”</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-63321147578628338012014-12-23T21:01:00.000-08:002014-12-23T21:01:11.033-08:00Body, Social and Mind dysphoria ~Sevan<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWXcva-LoRbmD9EFA2tYqp8x-_UVC4opG5x6SKU2G0b5lUYF_TN4CzghUgSYRzMSR8zHRGyilLQp3DNAOnIcA9U3goEEHjZxfNAv79SjWvHweQM1rQC24PLouid2HZykw6ORUnyXResUC/s1600/dysphoria+pain+scale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWXcva-LoRbmD9EFA2tYqp8x-_UVC4opG5x6SKU2G0b5lUYF_TN4CzghUgSYRzMSR8zHRGyilLQp3DNAOnIcA9U3goEEHjZxfNAv79SjWvHweQM1rQC24PLouid2HZykw6ORUnyXResUC/s1600/dysphoria+pain+scale.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chart by @Cassiebebop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Have you ever looked in the mirror, or at a picture and instantly felt sad or dysphoric about how you perceive yourself? If you're trans*, of course you have!<br />
<br />
I recently discovered this graphic online, and it makes SO MUCH SENSE! However, I believe that some things can't be so easily categorized, and that makes those things so much more powerful because of the potential for it to have an effect on the physical, social and mental self. For example, if you look in the mirror and are hit with negative feelings about yourself. You're seeing how you look physically, which may not line up with what you'd like to see. You may feel social pressure to present or appear differently and mentally because our minds can warp what we see in the mirror and focus on aspects of ourselves that don't give us the full picture.<br />
<br />
To illustrate this point, I think back to early in Cyndi's transition. She would come out of the bedroom in the morning and look forlorn. I would ask her what was wrong and she would express feeling as though she looked very masculine, or as if "she was never going to pass". This very rarely lined up with what I saw in my wife, and it left me unsure which of us wasn't seeing the full truth. I suspect both of us honestly. She was seeing all her traits that she didn't like, and I generally focus on far more positive traits because I love her. My responses rarely helped her to feel less dysphoric though, as her feelings were reflecting her inner beliefs.<br />
<br />
I know that I can get this way too. Though for me it's more about pictures than mirrors. (likely because I tend to avoid mirrors, mostly because of their dysphoria risk.) I try very hard to look at a picture of myself without judgement. Depending on the day and my mood at the time, I have varying success at being non-judgmental with myself.<br />
<br />
So what can be done about this? How does one deal with this issue? I believe that everyone has their own way, and their own coping mechanisms that work for them. One thing that's worked for me is taking the focus off visual cues and focusing more on other senses. I like the way I smell, so I focus on that. I feel validated when I run my fingers across my facial hair stubble, or through my hair. When I am faced with a picture or myself in the mirror, I try to focus on things I do like so that I'm not focusing on negatives. For me that's my ears, shoulders, smile/lips and freckles.<br />
<br />
What do you do when you're faced with dysphoria from the mirror or pictures?Sevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09604138864893003363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-35046687995028668692014-11-20T11:10:00.000-08:002014-11-20T11:10:12.290-08:00TDOR 2014<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today , November 20th is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have no lengthy post or depressing statistics. Those are
available in plenty of other places.<br />
<br />
Light a candle and say a prayer for our lost brothers and sisters.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-20467001194305675492014-11-17T13:10:00.000-08:002014-11-17T13:10:49.775-08:00Queer Youth Spaces Need Our Support <br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you were a young person how would you have felt if you
knew there was a place that spoke directly to your identity and the issues
surrounding them? A place where adults mentored youth just like you and there
was no cost for you would have been a god send wouldn’t it?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is such a place in Spokane, Washington for LGBT youth
and their allies. It is the Odyssey Youth Center which from here on will be referred
to as OYC. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I used to volunteer at the center for a short time. When I
was there and got to see the daily operations of OYC I saw a place of refuge. I
saw a place of safety. I saw a place where youth are sure to have access to a
good meal. I saw a place where youth had access to free clothing. I saw a place
that was teaching leadership skills to young adults. I saw a place teaching
life skills to young adults. At OYC I saw a place where young adult LGBT individuals
were becoming better people. I saw that OYC is a refuge in a world that is all
too often cruel to those who are different than the hetronormative society. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me tell you the story of one young adult who I met while
I was there in the capacity of youth mentor. I will call her Mambles for this
story. As Mambles is not a real name for anyone, I am pretty sure you know now
that I am not outing her. Also I will alter a portion or two of this story for expediency
and confidentiality. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
When Mambles came into the center she was there because she had heard that kids
like her were safe at OYC and there was free food. She actually looked like a
fabulous young gay man when I first met her as she is a transgender girl who
was pretransition. Well she noticed me right off the bat. I am a late in life
transsexual woman and it is pretty obvious that I am TS with an educated
glance. <br />
Well shortly into her being there she revealed that she was not really a
fabulous gay boy. Rather she was a transsexual woman and she needed to
transition but due to living situation, she could not let that information out
yet.<br /><br />
Well my first thought was this girl needs a shave, make up and some new clothes.
She needs a support group and online resources, and a gender therapist…. Yes,
my mind was already whirling with what I could do to help her.<br /><br />
But I also know not to overwhelm a person in the early stages of a transition.<br />
The first thing I said to her was “Well you know we have a clothing closet full
of cute girls clothes. I am sure we have something that will fit you.”<br /><br />
Mambles eyes lit up and I could tell that she wanted to dress up and she
confirmed it immediately. “I can wear girl clothes here?”<br /><br />
“Yes you can. At OYC we respect all people of all gender identities. If you
want to change clothes here we will all be cool with that.”<br /><br />
So we went to the closet and on the way I introduced her to one of the other
youth. The two of them started talking and after I pointed out the closet I walked
away to let the youth chat while Mambles found new wardrobe choices.<br /><br />
Well soon enough Mambles came and found me and she was beaming and a hot mess.
Of course she was, you should have seen some of my early wardrobe choices…<br /><br />
Anyway:<br /><br />
Mambles was happy. We started chit chatting a bit and I eventually worked
around to the topic of her beard…(Now I have no issues with a beard on a man or
a genderqueer, but on a TS woman it just does not look right.)<br /><br />
“If you want I can go get some of the razors for you.” OYC really didn’t have
any razors at the time, but I keep a box of brand new quality disposable razors
in the car, because well you know…I am TS and self conscious like that.<br /><br />
Immediately without hesitation “YES I would like to shave.”<br /><br />
I told her to wait there and I would be right back. As I came back and handed
her some razors one of the youth was telling her about the makeup available.
Nothing expensive as OYC has limited funds and the eye makeup she used became hers
as we do not share eye makeup. Soon enough Mambles was shaved, made up and cute,
with a stash of some make up items set aside. <br /><br />
Well during this time period food was being prepared by someone, I cannot
remember who. The point being that a meal was and is served every evening that
OYC is open. <br /><br />
After a meal there was a program of some sort. Maybe it was on safer sex, or
maybe it was a leadership exercise, or perhaps it was LGBT movie night. I
really cannot remember, but the point being is that every night OYC has some
form of programming for the youth.<br /><br />
After program time, Mambles had to change back to male clothes and wash the
makeup off. I felt for her, I have been in that place myself and it sucks. But
it is part of the crucible TS women go through and Mambles was not going to be
able to avoid it.<br /><br />
I saw Mambles a few times over a period of a month. She seemed to become a bit
less war worn and a little more like a normal teen. The safe environment seemed
to take some of the harder edges off of her. By the end of the month it was
decided that it was not proper for me to work at OYC as my spouse is the person
at OYC who is in charge of the volunteers and youth mentors. <br /><br />
I miss doing volunteer work as a youth mentor at OYC; but I do understand the
reasons my spouses supervisor put forward as to why I cannot volunteer at OYC.<br />
<br />
I did get to see Mambles after my OYC stint one day though. I was in the city
park just walking through and Mambles had spotted me in the crowd. She came
running up to me to chat for a minute. She was dressed as a boy as she does not
have the safe home environment to go full time yet. She had a smile on her face
but not the best of stories to tell. Life is not easy on LGBT youth. But she
was upbeat and looked healthier than last time I saw her. <br /><br />
I cannot say what has become of Mambles as I have not seen her in long time and
it is not appropriate for me to ask Sevan as Sevan must maintain
confidentiality with the youth’s information. I like to think that the
opportunities provided at OYC have in some way enriched her life.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine if you could have had that type of experience as a
young TS woman. A place to safely and openly express yourself as a woman, even
if for a short afternoon would have been wonderful wouldn’t it? I know that it would
have been a god send for me in my youth had I had the chance. There was a bit
of a vicarious moment or two as I watched this young woman basically start her
transition in OYC.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All year long LGBT youth have empowering experiences at OYC.
<br />
Young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth of Spokane have a place of
refuge and kinship. That place of refuge has been running in some capacity for
over 20 years. I have heard in the early days there was no sign out front. You
could only get in if you knew the password and you went in the back door, and
that was after you had called the phone number only vetted people could have. <br />
Those days being an LGBT youth in Spokane was much more dangerous and such
measures were a result of the times.<br /><br />
Now OYC sits on Perry Street with a proud and loud sign out front. Youth enter
through the front door and are not as stigmatized for being queer. They have a
safe place to socialize with other LGBT youth. It is a place where our youth
can learn leadership skills, cultural competency, safer sex and a place to get
a hot meal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
I think that the safety these youth experience today is because there was an
OYC for the generation before them. Imagine what the OYC is going to be like in
the future?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now to the pitch:<br />
Please take the chance to invest in the future of the youth of Spokane and
donate to OYC. You will notice that the side of the page has a ‘donate now’
button. The money goes directly to the bank account of OYC. Not a penny of that
money goes through my hands. I am just being nice and putting their donation
button on my blog page. OYC is funded through grants and generous donations by people like you.<br />
OYC is a 501c3 organization. <br /><br />
Now if you are not flush with cash, please do not feel the need to donate. It
can be difficult on the wallet being an LGBT citizen; I am asking the well off
of us who do give money to these types of causes to consider giving some of
your philanthropy money to OYC. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And if you didn’t catch it in the above wall of text: <br />
Full Disclosure: My Spouse is an Employee of OYC.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">TLDR:<br />
A sappy emotional plea for the reader to donate money to the Odyssey Youth
Center.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post" target="_top">
<input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" />
<input name="hosted_button_id" type="hidden" value="DMRZVBZV7SAML" />
<input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" />
</form>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-47285663890463607362014-10-30T15:17:00.002-07:002014-10-30T15:17:12.941-07:00The Public Scrutiny of Bruce Jenner’s Gender Identity
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce Jenner is changing. Yep we all know that. It does in fact even
look like he might be in transition. Now as he is a ‘public figure’ people feel
entitled to know more about him than he has released. He is mercilessly hounded
by paparazzi and rumors are posited on TV shows about his changes. I hear this
snooping into his business as justified as he is on TV. No. People are not
entitled to all the information they can squeeze about their celebrity obsession.
People are only entitled to watch the TV shows the Kardashians put on the tube,
and only if they have paid for the cable or satellite, or they are viewing from
a set that a friend has paid for the privilege of viewing said shows. That is
it. He has a contract of some form with a production company to be part of a TV
show. What they show you on the show is all you are entitled to know about this
family. If Bruce is going through a private transition that he is not comfortable
speaking on publicly, then it is a violation of his humanity to pry and speculate
publicly about his private life. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope Wendy Williams and all the other gum flappers who
have the audacity to speak on this personal private issue, feel like scum for
how they are treating Bruce. He does not owe any of us any explanations. We are
not entitled to gossip maliciously about him just because he is on our TV sets.
It is not healthy and it is hurtful when we pry into people’s private lives. I
know humans are prone to gossip but we need to strive to be better. <br />
Sure go ahead and discuss all the stuff you see on the shows that Bruce is part
of and have fun. But whatever is being kept private should not be violated.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Bruce is in transition I feel for them with all my heart.
I cannot imagine the personal hell it must be to go through something so
personal and intrinsically private as transition, and then to have the gossip
sharks circling all around the issue. Transition is not a public mater.
Transition is a personal issue and it is not your business to pry into another person’s
privacy. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
My advice to Bruce Jenner if they are in transition: Just jump in and get it over
fast. Come out with a statement from your publicist and move away for awhile; transition
in a country where you will not be hounded by the paparazzi and gossips. When
you are ready for public life again, come out with a fabulous splash and a new
reality show. {Hey you gotta pay bills like the rest of us right? And a reality
show is easy money for you and your family.} </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-73409943760146138772014-10-23T15:29:00.000-07:002014-10-23T15:33:53.434-07:00TVTP, Transgender Violence Tracking ProjectThe TVTP:<br />
<a href="http://www.transviolencetracker.org/">http://www.transviolencetracker.org/</a><br />
Allison Woolbert over at the TVTP is dealing with some issues with TERFS trying to mess with her.<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is Allison Woolberts recent post on Facebook:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_54497fa1555564959426989">
<span style="background-color: yellow;">OK friends and allies of Allison Woolbert. I need some help. Can you write about 3 paragraphs with about 3 sentences in each? I know this sounds absurd, but I need your help in displacing the TERFs from taking over my name once again. <br /> This seems to be an ongoing situation and is problematic on a number of levels. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> So here is what to do- We need as many writers as possible to write a few paragraphs with my name in the title, several times in the text, and then put in as <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">a keyword in the meta tags. I know most wont' know what to do with the metatag info- but we can fix that here. </span></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> If you are willing to write a three paragraph post on Allison and give us permission to reprint, we'll get them on the web and start displacing the TERF hate group Gender Identity Watch... </span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"> Subject matter might include the </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=216237968552769" href="https://www.facebook.com/TransMSVTracker"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Transgender Violence Tracking Project</span></a><span style="background-color: yellow;">, the ongoing work with your groups that I'm involved with, the calling out of the hate group GIW, the formation of TERF Tracker, or frankly anything else POSITIVE you might like to say that others could read. So- please consider giving me a hand to reclaim my name from the haters.</span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
So here you go Allison. :)<br />
<br /><br />
If anyone else wants to help her, give her a heads up when you do. <br />
<br /><br />
Have a good day Alison Woolbert and Lizzy over at TVTP.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-29768001465588537432014-10-15T11:56:00.000-07:002014-10-15T11:59:37.172-07:00Choosing testosterone ~Sevan<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBqJFxtubp07q0RJ7sf8rJJ7PPFC2_ISHB1ES7pMkW8G3QtDjbn9yyZYVD2OmxA8_03lN7GBmocJiP3uNI11zMXsF6Bk663G_PlxELd9twPWdMWtqXEZX2PWacpcmJk-xKPbEbvkWKLA7/s1600/Genderqueer__The_Bigender_Girl_by_anibunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBqJFxtubp07q0RJ7sf8rJJ7PPFC2_ISHB1ES7pMkW8G3QtDjbn9yyZYVD2OmxA8_03lN7GBmocJiP3uNI11zMXsF6Bk663G_PlxELd9twPWdMWtqXEZX2PWacpcmJk-xKPbEbvkWKLA7/s1600/Genderqueer__The_Bigender_Girl_by_anibunny.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://my-god-issa-girl.deviantart.com/art/Genderqueer-The-Bigender-Girl-97246588" target="_blank">The bigender girl by Anibunny</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This post comes with all the normal warnings about this
being my experience and only my experience and of course, I don't speak for
anyone but myself. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In today's episode, I attempt to explain what motivated me
to start HRT testosterone. We'll see if I can explain this in a way that makes
sense to anyone but me. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around October of 2009 I discovered the language surrounding
non-binary identities. Before that, I didn't even know that anything outside of
male/female binary existed at all. Cyndi had come out just a month before as
trans feminine and I was looking for spouse support online. What I found
instead was a section for "androgynes". That was such a HUGE
"ah-ha moment" for me. Then came the few months of trying to figure
out what to do with that information. I struggled with concerns about being
accepted, being seen as a "freak" should I choose any transition
action. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was (and still am) adamant that I am not male and had huge
concerns about being perceived male. Due to that, I was quite sure that testosterone
wasn't going to be for me. I looked for transitional paths to follow, what
worked for other genderqueer/non-binary people but struggled to find much
information at all. I didn't know what I needed, but I was pretty sure that
what I was doing wasn't working. I had a very hour glass shape and large
breasts and ass. These features made it near impossible to dress androgynously.
I also didn't like many of the styles that were considered androgynous. It just
wasn't me. I like skirts and tshirts, and I'm still genderqueer when dressing
that way. I tried to bind but found it extremely uncomfortable and
unsuccessful. Binding seemed to make me more aware of my chest, not less. As a
result, I rarely if ever wore a binder. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I planned to have a breast reduction and knew that it was
gender based for me. I thought I'd be able to bind more once I had a smaller
chest, which may well have been true but I found I just didn't need to bind. I
was ok with my breasts after surgery. (That was a whole process, it wasn't just
waking up from anesthesia and being ok. But I don't want to get into that
tangent.) <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My main support network was a group of transsexual women
online. There was a great deal of talk about hormones and how people felt on
them. The great sense of peace they experienced sounded wonderful. I started to
think that maybe testosterone might be what I needed in order to find that
mental peace. My mental state was unraveling from dysphoria. Knowing what was
wrong, but not being able to do anything about it was a pain that was terrible.
I looked everywhere for information about what testosterone might do. I found a
few genderqueer people who had gone on T for short time and had success with it
to get a more masculine appearance, but that wasn't what I wanted or needed. My
search was wholly mental. I didn't hear anyone talk about that aspect of their
transition with T. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prior to Cyndi starting to transition medically she was
prescribed T. The doctors said she had low T (go figure...) and could do well
and have more energy on testosterone. She had some left over when she went off
T and started estrogen therapy. It was so tempting, just sitting there on the
shelf. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, one day in early February I'd had enough. I was
forming suicide plans and they made too much sense. Testosterone, with
potential side effects were far better than suicide. I went and got the gel and
started T. I thought perhaps it would prove silly, and not be worth it. All
that hype, surly for nothing. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked through my journal and found this quote from when I
first started T:<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>"Finally got dress and out the door headed for work. In the car I felt....almost hyper.
Actually rather happy. I'm rarely happy on my way to work. Time to think means
time to be depressed. But today I just bounced down the road singing along with
my Ipod....having a very peppy drive. Huh.<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Does this mean I'm a confirmed FtM now? I don't think so. Still me. Same person I was yesterday.
Though it does seem that my body responds well to testosterone. So far. And
that's all that means."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had convinced myself that with a low dose of T I wouldn't
see any physical changes, but would only experience the mental peace that I
needed. That, was not true at all! I absolutely experienced physical changes.
My voice lowered quickly, my emotions shifted, my dysphoria lessened
significantly. My face structure shifted in ways I can't really express. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a link to an article that does a wonderful job of
talking about low dose T in more general ways: Click <a href="http://neutrois.me/2012/08/27/low-dose-testosterone/" target="_blank">here to see Neutrois Nonsense</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09604138864893003363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-38117607760546318402014-10-09T20:11:00.001-07:002014-10-09T20:11:32.954-07:00Please post comments.When I write and no one responds, I feel no further need to write. Why bother, if it isn't noticed.<br />
I imagine other writers feel similarly when their writing fails to elicit a response. <br />
<br /><br />
I see from the traffic monitoring programs in this blog software that I am getting views. But rarely do I get any response. <br />
<br /><br />
I try to write and make people think, not me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-7230349045329612062014-09-28T14:42:00.002-07:002014-09-28T14:43:13.493-07:00Harm reduction modeling ~Sevan<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
TW for (casual, not in depth) mention of drug use/abuse, self harm, sexual activity, abortion.</div>
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Hey blog world! Long time no see. (My bad...) I've been very very busy with entering school, crafting and working. So I haven't been writing much. I'm sorry about that. <br />
Something that I've become passionate about recently is harm reduction. So I wanted to talk to you, the reader, about what it is and where it can be applied. <br />
First, just what is Harm reduction? According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harm_reduction" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> it can be classified as: <br />
<i>"Harm reduction (or harm minimization) is a range of public health policies designed to reduce the harmful consequences associated with various, sometimes illegal, human behaviors. Harm reduction policies are used to manage behaviors such as recreational drug use and sexual activity in numerous settings that range from services through to geographical regions."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
So this can have a broad scope and can be applied to work surround sexual activity risk, illegal drug use, alcohol use/abuse, self harm behavior, and many other public health concerns. <br />
<br />
As some of you may know, I work in a queer youth center. This week, my college class intersected with my passion for youth. The class is for social workers and the discussion was about abortion access for minors. I felt as though we started at the wrong end of the discussion really. There was no lead up, or talk of other public policies that effect youth prior to them getting pregnant. I was shocked that we were just going to start at the abortion side of the issue. <br />
<br />
I see safe, legal abortion as part of an overall harm reduction strategy. Though first we have to back WAY up and talk about access that youth have to research based, accurate information about their bodied and sex. As someone who works with youth, I hear what they learn about in class. I live in the liberal state of Washington (though not a particularly liberal side of the state...) and even still, the information youth have access to either has holes in it (no pun intended. Well, kinda intended.) is outright wrong, or was misheard. When I look at maps of the US that show what access youth have to medically accurate information about sex I'm appalled. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUGw0HfRRgy6CaOsLAaMHENwB1apdaMnTmST9wlC3WpNuuGhxtfv95IQcTqDo0y728YjDHS2GgS9jWDtLx79kfzpMTMto0S_9UZWGadMnXJ2ax1xBKzArMzi0hSUJLXqoS9mTfgDinHVg/s1600/SexEdMaps3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUGw0HfRRgy6CaOsLAaMHENwB1apdaMnTmST9wlC3WpNuuGhxtfv95IQcTqDo0y728YjDHS2GgS9jWDtLx79kfzpMTMto0S_9UZWGadMnXJ2ax1xBKzArMzi0hSUJLXqoS9mTfgDinHVg/s1600/SexEdMaps3.png" height="280" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
If information is incorrect or shame based are we really shocked that our next step in harm reduction, which is contraception and barrier (condoms, dams, etc.) access either isn't used, or isn't used correctly? If the only information you have about a condom is that it doesn't really work anyway, would you bother to use it? Research* shows that young people who have access to condoms and other barriers are NOT more likely to become sexually active, but those who are already sexually active are more likely to be safe about it. The logic that educating young people about sex will make them want to have sex also doesn't hold up. When people are treated with autonomy and respect to make decisions about their own bodies they are more likely to think through and make healthier choices. <br />
<br />
So most states don't have good information in their schools about safer sex, they don't provide access to barriers or birth control (or if they do, we know there is limited information about those choices) and then we're going to be really disappointed when they become pregnant, become infected with STIs (at very high rates right now^) and/or are considering or having abortions. <br />
<br />
If we want to lower pregnancies and abortion rates then we MUST provide lowest harm reduction strategies such as education. You can't provide NO harm reduction and expect no harm to come! It doesn't work that way. <br />
<br />
I could tackle any harm reduction policy but that would end up with a very very long blog post. It all follows the same structure. <br />
<br />
*Sources: Sally Guttmacher, et al., “Condom Availability in New York City Public High Schools: Relationships to Condom Use and Sexual Behavior,” American Journal of Public Health 87 (September 1997): 1427-1433; and Susan Blake, PhD et al., “Condom Availability Programs in Massachusetts High Schools: Relationships with Condom Use and Sexual Behavior,” American Journal of Public Health 93.6 (June 2003): 955-961. <br />
<br />
^The CDC estimates that half of new STD infections occur among young people. Americans ages 15 to 24 contract chlamydia and gonorrhea at four times the rate of the general population, and those in their early 20s have the highest reported cases of syphilis and HIV. Young men and women are more likely than older people to report having no sex in the past year, yet those who are having sex are more likely to have multiple partners, which increases the risk of STDs.Sevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09604138864893003363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-68422517335494844972014-09-23T14:52:00.000-07:002014-09-23T14:52:45.031-07:00The Acquaintance Relationship
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is an acquaintance? According to the dictionary it is
in most cases {and of which this is all about}: a person known to one, but
usually not a close friend.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There seem to be many types of acquaintances we encounter in
our lives. Let us divide them up in a few categories so we may delve into the
topic I am reaching for more clearly.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Situational Acquaintance: these are the people you meet and
have contact with due to life circumstances. Such as the various service and
goods providers one comes into contact with as a consumer. Ranging from the
butcher who is always at the counter the days you show up to the market to the
police officer who gives you a ticket. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Family Acquaintance: these are the people who you know due
to their proximity to a family member. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friendly Acquaintance: these are the people you are
connected in some fashion be it work, friends, family or indeed any other
social connection, but your relationship is not what one could classify as a
friends relationship. Let us divide them into two subcategories:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A}
People who you know but have no friendship feelings for<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>B} People who you are
almost friends with but due to many reasons you are not friends<br />
<br />
It is the Friendly Acquaintance {B} relationship I wish to discuss, so now that
we have that out of the way:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been thinking that perhaps this is the most vital of
our social relationships in some ways. You know who these people are. <br />They are
the people who you may have contact with on occasion, they are one of your
friends other friends or they are connected to you via work, or a social group.
You recognize each other and know each other by name. You will stop and
exchange pleasantries and then move on about your day. You do not often
initiate contact with these people and when you see them it is a pleasant surprise.
You like these folks but for some reason you are not friends. <br />
So what is the role of this social position in a healthy social circle? Support
of the social structure would be my guess. If it is your friends’ best friend,
or your study buddy in some class, the best role one can fulfill is the moral
and social support role. <br />
When you are in the role of friendly acquaintance you are part of the backdrop
of another’s life and they serve in this capacity for you in return. They are
your peers and they are in some ways part of the defining characteristics of your personal
social circle. You are in return the same for them. <br /><br />
The nice thing about these relationships is they tend to honesty. Now I am not
talking about those people who one may have rivalry with. Enemies and rivals is
a completely different social structure system than what I am talking about. A
friendly acquaintance is not a rival. <br />
A friendly acquaintance typically has no reason to bullshit you and often you
can count on them for a neutral point of view when you need to talk something
out but talking with friends or family is either not possible or would be
socially awkward. <br />
<br />
There seems to be an aversion to admitting that a person is not a friend but is
actually an acquaintance. Everyone must be friends, especially in the FaceBook era
with the social media site referring to all of one’s social contacts as
friends. This aversion to referring to people as an acquaintance is doing us
all a disservice. <br />
Enjoy your acquaintances and be the best acquaintance you can be for your
society. Approach these relationships with best of intentions. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-67283545200371052372014-09-10T15:18:00.000-07:002014-09-10T15:18:22.332-07:00An Analogy <br />
<span class="MsgBodyText">When one first starts their transition in some fashion it seems to be like being a shipwreck survivor. <br /> At first the story starts with a woman floating unseen on a tiny lifeboat at sea. {The life boat is the man suit, the sea is life in general.}<br /> She is unseen, drifting along however the currents take her. Eventually she sees a chance at life. Perhaps it is a civilized island, a pocket of humanity, or she sees a ship. <br /> For the TS person the island is the body of knowledge available to humanity regarding transsexuals. The ship is the visible transgender community. Some are on the ship as fellow castaway; others are on the boat looking for castaways. <br /> If she spots land and heads for it, or spots the ship and hails it, she can make her way out of the life raft and to a safer situation. <br /> The ship is headed to the island she needs to get to, so there is something of a bonus for our castaway.<br /><br /> Now the island is full of savages who mean well but have odd customs and rituals. {The savages are the doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, society at large and various other gatekeepers and lore keepers.}<br /> The only thing our castaway wants is to join the islands culture. But to join the culture and become a productive member of society she must follow the protocols and rituals of the gatekeepers. Once she becomes part of society she becomes much more functional as a person and is no longer drifting out to sea.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-68011013251373026252014-09-05T16:15:00.001-07:002014-09-05T16:15:38.886-07:00Why Trans* Women Should Reject HRC’s Apology
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Human Rights
Campaign president Chad Griffin gave a tepid, sort of apology at the Southern
Comfort Conference Atlanta today for HRC’s lack of working with TS women.<br />
Here is his speech as reported by The Advocate:</span></span></em></div>
<br />
<div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Hello! Thank you! I wouldn’t be half the
person I am today without strong Arkansas women like that. Love you, mom.</span></i></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">It’s an honor to be here with all of you at
Southern Comfort, where so many transgender people find strength and
fellowship, and where so many allies can come to listen and learn.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I want to thank the organizers for the months
and months of hard work that went into making this conference the success that
it is — the Southern Comfort board members Lexie, Stefanie, Blake, Phyllis, and
Christy, and special thanks JoAnn and Lisa for all your leadership as well.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I want to cut right to the chase here today.
There’s an elephant in this room, and, well, it’s me.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Some of you may be wondering what I am doing
here. Some of the more skeptical among you, particularly those I don’t yet
know, may think I’m lost. I promise you I’m not. I’m here for a pretty simple
reason. I’m here because I want to be here. And I’ll tell you why.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">A few months ago, I was at the Ohio State
University in Columbus for an HRC event — our Columbus annual gala, as a matter
of fact.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Anyone here from Columbus might know that the
Student Union at OSU is this big open building with this huge atrium that
stretches all the way to the top floor, with event space on each level.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Our dinner was on the second floor. And when
I arrived the HRC crowd had already turned out.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But when I looked up through the atrium to
the third floor, I saw that there was a conference going on. Some of the
attendees had noticed the activity below; they were clustered around the
balcony, looking down at us.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">It was a trans conference. The largest in
Ohio. The 6th Annual TransOhio Symposium, organized by the courageous Shane
Morgan. They were gathering after a string of trans women were murdered in Ohio
last year. Another murder took place shortly after that conference was over.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">And I’m going to tell you the honest truth: I
had no idea the conference was happening before that night. And here all these
committed transgender advocates and allies were—scholars, educators, everyday
folks and their families there to support them. And instead of all of us
working together, taking stock of all of our progress and the challenges ahead,
and finding comfort in each other’s company, “they” were upstairs, and “we”
were downstairs.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">And, in that moment, despite all the progress
the LGBT movement and HRC in particular have made on transgender issues in the
past couple of years…</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">No matter how many brilliant, new transgender
and allied board members, volunteer leaders and staff members are helping HRC
broaden our work…</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Despite every inclusive state
non-discrimination bill we’ve fought for…</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">No matter how many thousands of hours and
millions of dollars we put into the campaign for a fully inclusive ENDA…</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">There that divide was, for all to see. Plain
as day.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I knew in that moment in the Student Union
that something was deeply, profoundly wrong. I went up to that third floor.
Introduced myself to as many people as I could. I felt like the biggest jerk in
the world, because I knew that gesture wasn’t nearly enough. It wasn’t
anything, really. I promised next year we would work more closely, that we
would coordinate for the 7th Annual Symposium to ensure HRC had a deeper
presence and a real partnership.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But all throughout that evening I had a
sinking feeling in my stomach. We all know why that divide between the trans
community and HRC exists, and taking a big step toward closing it is my
responsibility.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">So I am here today, at Southern Comfort, to
deliver a message. I deliver it on behalf of HRC, and I say it here in the
hopes that it will eventually be heard by everyone who is willing to hear it.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">HRC has done wrong by the transgender
community in the past, and I am here to formally apologize.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I am sorry for the times when we stood apart
when we should have been standing together.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Even more than that, I am sorry for the times
you have been underrepresented or unrepresented by this organization. What
happens to trans people is absolutely central to the LGBT struggle. And as the
nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, HRC has a responsibility to do
that struggle justice, or else we are failing at our fundamental mission.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I came here today in the hopes that we can
begin a new chapter together. But I also came here to tell you the truth. We’re
an organization that is evolving. We may make mistakes. We may stumble. But
what we do promise is to work with you sincerely, diligently, with a grand
sense of urgency, listening and learning every step of the way.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">And I also want to be clear that I’m not
asking you to be the ones to take the first leap of faith. That’s our job. My
mom taught me that respect isn’t given, it’s earned.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Over the past two years HRC has dramatically
expanded the scope of all of our programs to reach more trans communities than
ever before, and I want to take just a few minutes to talk about that work.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">First things first: an inclusive ENDA. It’s
an absolutely essential piece of legislation. It will change millions of lives
for the better. And as an organization, HRC will continue to invest in and
fight for an inclusive ENDA.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But even a broad, inclusive ENDA isn’t
enough.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">If you’re trans, a fully inclusive ENDA doesn’t
do much good if you’re living on the street because you’ve been kicked out of
your apartment…if you haven’t been able to finish school…if even getting a job
interview in the first place seems light-years away.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">That’s why, in the next session Congress, HRC
will lead the campaign for a fully-inclusive, comprehensive, LGBT civil rights
bill. A bill with non-discrimination protections that don’t stop at employment,
but that finally touch every aspect of our lives—from housing, to public
accommodations, to credit, to federal funding, to the education we all need to
succeed and thrive.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">And I’m going to keep being honest with you,
this is not going to be an easy fight.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">We’re going to need everyone working
together, arm in arm, and even then it could take years. As we’ve seen in
non-discrimination fights from the city of Houston to, most recently,
Fayetteville, Arkansas, our opponents will stop at nothing to halt our progress
with their scare tactics and lies. Let me tell you what… The haters have got
bathroom fever, and they’ve got it bad.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But I want to say something here today.
Whenever the inevitable chant about “bathrooms” begins, they’re not just
attacking you, they’re attacking me, they’re attacking us. We can’t let them
win. We must hold the line. We will tell the truth. Because these are our
lives, and this is the moral thing to do.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But even that’s not enough, is it? After all,
it was less than two months after a Maryland coalition, including HRC, helped
enact a statewide non-discrimination law that two trans women, Kandy Hall and
Mia Henderson, were brutally murdered in Baltimore.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">That massive disconnect … the disconnect
between legal protection and lived experience … is what too many in this
country don’t understand or, quite frankly, even realize. We can’t afford to
just change laws.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">In rooms like this one, for years, you have
been making the case that we’ve got to change society at a fundamental level by
lifting up more trans people, your lives, and your stories.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">You’re right. And if there’s one thing we’ve
all learned in this movement, it’s that once Americans come to really know us,
it starts to become impossible to discriminate against us. And at our best, HRC
offers an unmatched communications and public affairs platform to amplify LGBT
stories across the country.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">In just the past few weeks we have demanded
stronger efforts from local and state authorities to protect transgender
people, particularly trans women of color ...</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">We’re proud to support Casa Ruby and Ruby
Corado’s courageous work to support trans youth on their path to employment …</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">We’ve lifted up the stories of transgender
Southerners like Andrea through our expanded work in the Deep South …</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">And yes, we joined a group of national LGBT
organizations in telling the Michigan Womyn’s Festival that transwomen are
women too.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But we’re committed to doing more than just
speaking out. It’s essential that HRC be meeting transgender people where they
are, listening, and acting to create positive change. And we have an incredibly
important foundation to build on.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Over 10 years, for instance, our Corporate
Equality Index has helped shift trans-inclusive healthcare plans from a rarity
in corporate America to a best practice that is the policy of more than 340
major companies.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Our Healthcare Equality Index has helped
bring transgender competency training and patient and employee
nondiscrimination policies to hospitals from the heart of the Deep South to
each and every Veterans hospital in the country.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Our Welcoming Schools program has brought
safer schools and well-trained teachers to thousands of transgender and
gender-nonconforming youth.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But we’ve got to do even more.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Over the past two years I have worked
directly with HRC’s staff to dramatically expand our work that distinctly
impacts transgender people. From the workplace, to the schoolhouse, and from
the hospital, to the church pew.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Think about it this way. Everywhere you’ve
ever seen an equal sign sticker on the back of a car and even pick-up trucks —
every small town in the heart of a red state—we can touch that place. We can
change lives there, for the better, for good.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Andrea mentioned HRC’s newly expanded work in
the Deep South, work that is reaching more people than ever before. Today, we
are also significantly expanding and modernizing our HIV/AIDS efforts, because
we know that so many communities — including communities of color, LGB people,
and especially trans women, battle silence and stigma because of this epidemic.
So many have done so much to change that, and we want to lift up that work and
expand upon it however and wherever we can.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">But we can’t stop there, either.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I talked a bit earlier about antitrans
violence. Horrific and senseless murders that stain every state in this country
and too often go unnoticed and unsolved. It’s time to call it what it is:
Antitrans violence is a national crisis.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Look, this is a complicated issue that brings
in race, employment, poverty and so many other factors, and none of us in this
room have the solution today. But what we do know is we can never, ever accept
this violence as a given. And together we have got to turn the tide.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I’m here today to declare that a core aspect
of our work moving forward will be to work with you to develop a national
response to the epidemic of antitrans violence in this country.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Some of our senior team members, folks like
our director of foundation strategy Jay Brown, our senior legislative counsel
Alison Gill, and our new deputy chief of staff Hayden Mora are central to this
work. And of course, our Board of Directors, including the tireless Meghan
Stabler, who spoke to you here last year, and Mollie Simmons, who is here with
us today, is working with us every step of the way. All of us are undertaking
conversations with movement leaders, community organizers and individuals who are
already at the forefront of tackling this issue.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">We need all hands on deck.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">They are supporting our trailblazing State
and Municipal Equality team in undertaking conversations with movement leaders,
community organizers and individuals who are already at the forefront of
tackling this issue.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">None of this work would be possible without
trans advocates. I am so grateful for those who have been fighting for trans
equality, literally, for decades and decades. From Shannon Minter, Mara
Keisling and Ruby Corado, Lourdes Hunter, to Diego Sanchez, Monica Roberts and
Masen Davis, and every single one of you in this room. You are not simply
movement leaders, you’re an inspiration. You’re an inspiration to me
personally.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Look, by now it should be clear that I didn’t
come here today to tell you that HRC is perfect and that you’re wrong for not
seeing it. Because we’re NOT perfect, and you’re NOT wrong.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">What I am here to say is what a young trans
man told me in the heart of Mississippi. It was a meeting with a bunch of local
LGBT people in a church community center outside Jackson. There must have been
20 folks in that room, everyone telling their stories, sharing their struggle.
But his story sticks out most of all.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">You see, Bryson’s a city worker. Transitioned
on the job. And almost overnight, he began to face unprecedented harassment.
They made him shave his dreadlocks, even though his other male colleagues wore
their hair long. They even went after his wife at her place of work, so much so
that she was forced off the job. He was just completely run-down, with only his
family standing beside him.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">I couldn’t believe it. Why did he come to
that meeting in the church that day? Why risk so much to tell me his story,
despite all he’d been through and was still going through? He looked me in the
eye and said, “there’s always going to be hope for a change.”</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">On that night in Columbus, Ohio, standing on
that third floor balcony, I thought about Bryson. I thought about that young
man in Mississippi. How can we, all of us, ever make that change happen if this
divide between us persists?</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">My friends, please continue to hold HRC
accountable. Hold me accountable.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Please be in conversation with us as we do
more than we’ve ever done before.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">We have come too far together not to share
our progress.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">We have come too far not to share the fight
against the obstacles ahead.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">There are a lot of people like Bryson out
there hoping for a change.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">And I promise you here, with my sweet
Southern mom and all of you as my witness, that we won’t stop fighting until
everyone in this room and everyone across this country has the equal
protection, equal opportunity, and equal dignity that we all deserve as human
beings.</span></span></i><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: cyan;">Thank you very much.</span></blockquote>
</i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></em></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My main
issues with his speech is that he gave no indication that he saw HRC as
anything other than the only logical leader in the LGBT to spearhead and advance
the causes of trans* people. There are a number of National level TS/TG
organizations that HRC should be working with in a secondary role. HRC has
messed up too many times in the past for TS women to ever feel we can let HRC
lead. If HRC wants to truly work with TS women then they should partner without
trying to assume the leader position. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></span></em></div>
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My second issue is that he never apologized for specific slights and
insults. He generalizes and glosses over some real issues. The structure of his
speech reads like an executive telling his subordinates that ‘yes I messed up,
but WE are going to move on and I am the boss’. That just doesn’t work for this
activist.<br />
How about we just take one example of recent behavior by HRC that demonstrates
the hubris and self importance of the HRC… the issue where HRC held a
fundraiser in Seattle but none of that money went to the local activists:<br />
</span></span></em><em><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></em><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;">An
Open Letter to HRC on the eve of their HRC Seattle Dinner</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greetings Dean, Christine, and Scott,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was recently asked by a prominent LGBT
community leader if I was planning on attending the HRC Seattle dinner next
weekend- I told her there was no possible way. You probably haven't heard my
name before, I wouldn't be surprised - but a quick rundown of who I am. I work
as the Policy Director at Basic Rights Oregon, I also was the founder of Gender
Justice League in Seattle, a Seattle Pride Grand Marshall this year, and the
founder of the Coalition for Inclusive Healthcare with Marsha Botzer at
ERW/Ingersoll. My work has lead to the repeal of Transgender Healthcare
exclusions in all private and public insurance (including Medicaid, all major
insurance carriers, and for state employees) in both Washington and Oregon in
the last 3 years, New prison in jail policies for the housing of Transgender
people both states, both trends that I have helped to spread nationally. I'm
not tooting my own horn - I just want to contextualize my email and where I am
coming from as a largely unfunded activist. I also designed and taught the
second Transgender Medicine class in the country at University of Washington -
that is to say, I am no slouch.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an activist over the last 4 years before
joining BRO - I worked on a shoe string budget. GJL's annual budget is $44,000
- not even enough to pay a minimum wage salary. I worked 2 part time jobs - as
program manager for Q-Law (the LGBT Bar Association) and as the ED at Gender
Justice League in our first 3 years of forming. I took a position in Oregon
because it was the only LGBT activist job in the northwest that paid a living wage
- I continue to live and work in Seattle 3 days a week, a far from ideal
situation. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this is to say - while I know HRC was
substantively involved in the Ref 74 campaign. I was feeling mightily resentful
and "what have you done for us lately" in Seattle when asked if I
would attend. Particularly given the fact that ERW has all but fallen apart
with no staff and no agenda to speak of, our efforts to remove exclusionary
health insurance policies have gone completely unfunded (we have not received a
single grant) -- and our donor base - the Transgender community is largely
living in poverty, unemployed, and thus unable to contribute significantly to
local organizations stunting our growth for work that if it were around
marriage would have been far more well funded given how effective we have been.
It landed hard to see HRC hosting a large-ticket fundraiser in our back yard;
all while not sending a penny back to our state or community.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel a bit disappointed that you have chosen
to highlight Joe Manganiello - great a True Blood celebrity, plaintiff couples
in a Prop 8 case (nothing to do with Washington), A couple from Georgia
(finally you are trying to work in the south, but where were you for the last
decade - I was working with folks there in 2005 onward) .... but not a single
relevant regional activist in recognition of the actual work that is happening
in Seattle. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels a bit like HRC are a vampire who has
swooped in to suck the blood from the largely untapped major donors of Seattle
(without ERW around)-- while giving essentially nothing back to our community,
and while highlighting NOT A SINGLE piece of actual work happening in our
state. I realize you all are local Seattle folks - that's awesome, but where is
the recognition of the work happening on the ground here? </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;">HRC has a huge stage. A
megaphone compared to organizations like Gender Justice League or LGBT
Allyship, or Gender Odyssey. Queer Youth Space - the only LGBT youth led
organization in our state just shut their doors for good. Only 11 shelter beds
are available on any given night for LGBTQ youth.... and yet - none of this
will be discussed on your stage to donors in our state. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish you all had taken this opportunity to
elevate local work - not done by HRC. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then again, that might not empty the
pockets of your donors; hell it might even benefit local activists who do not
have a well oiled development machine, and we can't have that!</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met Fred recently in April in Denver at the
Equality Federation Communications Bootcamp. He seems nice enough. I wonder
though - how will HRC ever move past it's troublesome community reputation as a
rapacious insidious national organization that shoves aside Transgender people,
Queer and Trans people of color, and local activists to suck the blood, life,
and in particular MONEY out of our communities to fund a rather luke-warm Trans
exclusionary national agenda? </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I could attend - but on an activist
salary actually doing the work, I cannot afford luxuries like a $225.00 a plate
dinner to hear about work completely irrelevant to my community. </span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: cyan;">
</span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: cyan;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish you the best of luck with your event --
I apologize if my words sting or seem harsh. It is disappointing to see HRC
making the same mistakes perennially and to have failed to learn from the past.
I wonder - with the $200,000 you all raise next weekend - how much of it will
come back to Seattle to fund the seriously important work happening here? Not a
penny I suspect, and that is deeply disappointing and only builds ill will
among influential community leaders such as myself -- it does nothing to mend
the fences with the Trans community. A disappointing choice, but then again -
you all have the cash to continue to make so many disappointing choices these
days. <br />
With warm regard & best of luck on your event next weekend, <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Danielle Askini</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
TS people have a long and rather bitter history with HRC. I have not even scratched the surface of the list of grievances TS folks have with HRC. So long as HRC insists
that it is the leader in the fight for trans* rights, and it refuses to not ‘just’
apologize for mistakes and insults but correct past issues, I cannot in good
faith encourage my trans* brothers and sisters to support them.<br />
Now how do they fix things? Well ‘sorry’ is a start, but opening up their
coffers and giving some of the money they have to local organizations working
on queer causes is a good start. And I am not even talking Grants…I mean direct
donations to the general funds of Trans* organizations without stipulations, riders
or expected reports. </span></span></em></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Basically I am saying “HRC,
put your money where your mouth is.”</span></span></em></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 9pt 0.25in; mso-line-height-alt: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<em><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sorry HRC, but this TS
activist and advocate politely declines your apology. I think we deserve more
as a class from you guys at this point. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></span></em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-75877266425128820822014-08-29T15:31:00.000-07:002014-08-29T15:31:05.624-07:00What I have been working on today...It isn't all news feeds, advocacy and activism in my day.<br />
<br /><br />
Here is a chapter of a novel I am attempting to write for the young adult type reader of High Fantasy:<br />
<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Calandra had chased Thistle into a small copse of fruit
trees. The young man was nowhere to be found. <br />
She was about to start yelling for the elf when she spotted a small alder tree.<br />
She walked up to the tree and spoke “I know that is you Thistle, there are no
alders in this grove of fruit trees. Also, I have helped harvest these trees
the last 4 harvests and I have never seen this tree here before.”<br />
The tree started to shift and morph. Calandra could feel a powerful surge in
the veil. The power of the elf’s magic was extremely potent. Thistles ability
to shape shift was his ‘clatcha’; a clatcha being a type of magic that an elf
may have an especial affinity for. An elf who had a clatcha for a specific spell
type typically would master the magic at a young age and then as they grew into
their adulthood their level of control of said magic would rival the powers of greatest
Sorcerers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all elves had a clatcha,
and those who did were afforded a special status and desirability as a mate in
the tribe. A clatcha also altered an Elf. Instead of a simple red, brown or
green hair an elf with a clatcha would grow blond or rarely bluish green hair. Thistles
soft blond hair was a badge that he was ‘special’. </span> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This was part of Thistles problem. As a result of being well born and having a
clatcha ,every female in the tribe excepting his mother and sisters were
courting him. Even his cousin had made it apparent that she wanted to mate with
him. “For the tribe” was her reasoning. She also had a clatcha and she reasoned
they would make superior children. Thistle felt like a simple commodity to be
bought and sold on the open market. One woman had actually approached his
family and offered to pay thousands of Sovereign to form a political union. Thistles
other major problem was the fact that he was head over heels in love with
Calandra. Forbidden love. Love for a woman not an Elf. Forbidden. Gruentar.
Calandra was the only woman he knew who didn’t see him as an end to a means.
Granted she was the only human female he had ever had any dealings with. But
there was that magnetism that arises between destined lovers between him and
the human. It was palpable to him the affection he developed for him. The two
shared secrets, goals and aspirations. He had grown into a state of love for the
woman that was undeniable. He allowed himself to cross the line of taboo. It might
be tolerable if not for the fact that he had told Calandra he loved her two
nights ago in a drunken state. Then she responded back that she knew and she
also loved him. <br />
The two crossed that line of the forbidden that night. Thistle was torn between
what he had been taught all his life and what his heart was screaming. <br />
The alder tree had completely returned to Thistles normal form and the elf was
in tears and sobbing in fetal position. <br />
Calandra sat on the ground next to Thistle and put his head in her lap. She
held the elf and stroked his face gently. Wiping away tears of his only to
notice her tears were falling on his face and mingling with his tears. How
fitting and apt she thought. The two had met earlier in the year at the Mage
School in West Mailon. The small classroom and limited number of students at
her level provided just the proximity the two needed to form a close
friendship. Soon after meeting the young elf she found herself constantly
intrigued by him. He was a strong wizard, a wise man and rather attractive as
far as an elf male goes she mused. The two became lab partners and were
expected to spend allot of time together, so few eyebrows had been raised. Of
course she was spending allot of time with Thistle, they were working on creating
a spell for their final. The rigors of the research demanded the two spend many
hours together. But the time spent together soon devolved from discussions of
the arcane to discussions of their lives, their desires and passions. Then
there was a breakthrough in the research a full two months before the project
was due. The two had created a spell to speak with any animal that was unique
and not reliant on any of the known patterns of spell invocation. They kept
this to themselves and continued to spend time together. <br />
The two were celebrating their graduation. Their project had finally come due
and the two were spending an evening partying at a friend’s house; after most
of the people who had attended the party the two had confessed their love to
each other. One thing led to another and soon enough Calandra and Thistle were
ripping each others clothes off. It was literally magic. She could still
remember the dancing energy and lights that formed between them as they loved
each other. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
Calandra whispered into her lovers’ ear past her own sobs, “We can leave this
place. In a week I will be quested. As soon as I earn my status I will be
eligible to attend the Academe of Enchanting in Namdak. Mother has promised me
an attainable task. If, no…when I complete my task I will go to Namdak. You
have had a standing invitation for a year. In Namdak we can be ourselves, few
people care who loves who there. We can be safer in Namdak.” Thistle was lost
in a world of wretched sorrow and angst, Calandra’s voice was the only thing
that made sense in a world turned against him. He tried to croak out a response
but was incapable of getting anything but noise past his sobbing. He just
nodded in agreement with Calandra. He wanted to go and live in peace with his
lover; a place where a gang of Troggers didn’t gang up on him and his love, for
loving each other. It was wrong for society to make such rules. It wasn’t his
fault he fell in love with Calandra. It just happened. Life made no sense to
him. How could the world outlaw the feelings he had for Calandra. Calandra was
a bright light in a dim world. He was in that stunned state where numbness sets
in and the world seems grey. <br />
After a few minutes Thistle was able to stand and compose himself. <br />
As he stood up he spotted a small wild flower next to the pear tree they were
under. He picked it and handed it to Calandra. <br />
“We have to be careful. People are talking. If we get caught ….” His sentence
trailed off. <br />
“I know. They kill people like us.” Calandra responded. Her red raw cheeks were
wet from tears. Stress and worry covered her face. </span></blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-44311916369639561062014-08-29T10:43:00.002-07:002014-08-29T10:43:44.605-07:00A Call for Peace
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is an open letter to the trans* community members who
have become embroiled in the Parker and Kelsie situation.</span><br />
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is time for the hostilities to cease. We are turning a
learning moment into a battle that should not be fought. We are now into the
realm of lateral hostilities.<br />
Parker messed up. The trans* community of advocates, writers and activists reacted
and issued a reprimand. I signed it myself as I feel we must hold our own to
higher standards. <br />
Parker issued a mea culpa, admitted fault and imposed on herself a penalty of
refraining from advocacy writing for a time and that she will seek professional
help.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This should have been the end of it. But we all know how we
tend to form teams and entrench. Entrenching is part and parcel of how we as TS
women survived to transition. ;)</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every one of us who stay embroiled in this mess are
distracting ourselves from the work we need to be doing. We can not let this
sidetrack us from our higher calling. <br />
We have all said our piece and some us more than once. {insert eye roll here}
:P</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like Parker. I read what she writes and support her
desires to be a professional writer. In fact I envy the writing skills she has.<br />
I like Kelsie. I read what she writes and support her desire to be an advocate.
I also envy her skills as a writer. </span></div>
<br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every single person who reads this post has something in
their past they regret and have paid for in one way or another. Parker is in
that moment now and it is even worse for her. The shame is public.</span></div>
<br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please let peace reign in the social justice arena. We have
hearts and minds to win. We can not do that if we are busying ourselves with an
internal affair. <br />
<br />
For the readers who have no idea what this is all about:<br />
Sorry for the distraction. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2944818126005964967.post-31928260645837234212014-08-25T08:58:00.000-07:002014-08-25T09:03:42.114-07:00You can not have a perfect society if you walk away from it. <br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes hurt people lash out. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently we had a kerfuffle in the TS community. A prominent
TS woman and another semi prominent TS woman had a go at each other.<br />
This devolved into a camps forming matter. <br />
<br />
But this is not what I wanted to talk about. A comment I saw in one of the
posts about this fight prompted this post.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want to talk about the people who decide that because the
TS community is fractured and doesn’t get along that they will not help
anymore.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well excuse me!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a community that is in allot of pain, and has suffered
trauma after trauma. We are incapable of functioning as a cohesive unit. I saw
one TS person make the comment this morning “<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I too have left the trans community to wither and die on
its own ... the community is a creature that will surely consume itself, tail
first.</span>”<br />
<br />
This last sentiment was the most privileged and bullshit thing I have read in a
month of Sundays! <br />
If you want to fix a community you do not do it by blowing it off; the idea
that only functional people deserve respect and to be worked with is anathema
to the cause of equal rights. The idea that you are only willing to work with
people who get along perfectly is a self defeating idea that is more poisonous
than the evil the perpetrator of inequality gives out.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You take the community as is. If it is not up to your
personal standards you do not walk away shaking your head and decrying how they
will never get it. Of course they won’t! The people who could help walk away
out of some idea that life needs to be perfect. <br /><br />
You do not get a perfect world. You do not get perfect people. You get to work
with the same bag of dysfunction as the rest of us. I am sorry we are not
perfect and up to the standards some of you may hold as dear. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are a dysfunctional lot. There is no way in hell that yelling
at us how ‘screwed up we are’ is going to fix it. You fix it by rolling up your
sleeves and accepting that your work is cut out for you. If you truly want to
heal the community you accept that there are some seriously hurt and dysfunctional
people in the community and you trudge on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05893549348934337804noreply@blogger.com3