Saturday, March 28, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Crunch Time In Gainesville
Tomorrow, the people of Gainesville Florida will decide whether or not to keep protections for gender identity and sexual orientation in the Human Rights Ordinance. I posted a comment on another site, praying that good and upstanding people will see through the misformation, lies, and fear tactics used by the opposition. I replied to an article that stated that transgender people are predators and perverts. I was NOT going to let that comment go unanswered.
This vote will affect all Floridians regardless of sexual orientation or gender. There's a saying that if one group of people are denied their rights it won't be long before someone else will be denied theirs. This is such a crucial year for transgender people. Fear and intimidation cannot stop us from working for equality. Our lives are at stake.
This vote will affect all Floridians regardless of sexual orientation or gender. There's a saying that if one group of people are denied their rights it won't be long before someone else will be denied theirs. This is such a crucial year for transgender people. Fear and intimidation cannot stop us from working for equality. Our lives are at stake.
Friday, March 20, 2009
GENEVIEVE'S GEMS
I get angry about things, then go on and work.
~Toni Morrison, African American Novelist (b.1931)
This quote can adequately sum up what we as transgender people feel. It also encourages us to go out and do something about it. There are many people who are out on the front lines fighting for transgender equality. Granted, not all of us can picket or become lobbyists but we all can do something. You can write letters to public officials. we can speak to our friends, schools and places of worship. Young people have created grass roots organizations in the wake of the Proposition 8 fiasco in California.
Anger can be channeled in a positive way to change our situation. It's our time now. We have a great opportunity to effect change where we can be treated as first class citizens.
Genevieve
~Toni Morrison, African American Novelist (b.1931)
This quote can adequately sum up what we as transgender people feel. It also encourages us to go out and do something about it. There are many people who are out on the front lines fighting for transgender equality. Granted, not all of us can picket or become lobbyists but we all can do something. You can write letters to public officials. we can speak to our friends, schools and places of worship. Young people have created grass roots organizations in the wake of the Proposition 8 fiasco in California.
Anger can be channeled in a positive way to change our situation. It's our time now. We have a great opportunity to effect change where we can be treated as first class citizens.
Genevieve
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Much is happening
The more transgender people assert their right to equality, the angrier the enemies get.
Some dirty tactics are being used by those who wish to oppress us. Over the next few days I will post a few articles and discuss them in relevance to what is happening in our nation.
One of the tactics being used is blaming glbt people for much of the ills in the country at the present time. It's nothing new. Black people were routinely blamed for the economic downturns during the nineteenth and early twentieth They were lynched, run off their properties, burned, and humiliated. Transgender people are still denied housing, jobs, and access to medical care.
I am looking over some articles, so I will make my comments when I post them. It's getting to the point where I have to speak up more than ever.
Some dirty tactics are being used by those who wish to oppress us. Over the next few days I will post a few articles and discuss them in relevance to what is happening in our nation.
One of the tactics being used is blaming glbt people for much of the ills in the country at the present time. It's nothing new. Black people were routinely blamed for the economic downturns during the nineteenth and early twentieth They were lynched, run off their properties, burned, and humiliated. Transgender people are still denied housing, jobs, and access to medical care.
I am looking over some articles, so I will make my comments when I post them. It's getting to the point where I have to speak up more than ever.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Monday, March 09, 2009
Kindred Spirits Who Are True to Themselves
This morning I read a story about a speech delivered at Fordham University (Lincoln Center campus) by E. Patrick Johnson, the author of Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men in the South. Gay and from the south himself, Johnson interviewed seventy men between the ages of 19 and 93.
One of the subjects he interviewed was a transgender woman named Chaz/Chastity. She dressed as a woman six days a week. Chaz considered gender reassignment surgery but embraced her gender confusion and indifference as God's will for her. What grabbed Johnson was the idea that Chaz was true to herself. It convinced the author that he needed to be true to himself as a gay man.
My heart leaped when I read Chaz' story because it has similarities to mine. I'm not going to have surgery but I wear women's clothing practically everyday. I have chosen to embrace my identity and see this as a blessing. Chaz stated that on Sunday he dresses as a man so he can sing tenor in his church choir. I dress as a man when I attend church (I'm a terrible singer).
I pondered over this, I believe that Chaz and I are kindred spirits. We have chosen to be true to ourselves. We are transgender women. It's refreshing to know that there are millions of transgender women like us. It's a reason to celebrate and be proud.
One of the subjects he interviewed was a transgender woman named Chaz/Chastity. She dressed as a woman six days a week. Chaz considered gender reassignment surgery but embraced her gender confusion and indifference as God's will for her. What grabbed Johnson was the idea that Chaz was true to herself. It convinced the author that he needed to be true to himself as a gay man.
My heart leaped when I read Chaz' story because it has similarities to mine. I'm not going to have surgery but I wear women's clothing practically everyday. I have chosen to embrace my identity and see this as a blessing. Chaz stated that on Sunday he dresses as a man so he can sing tenor in his church choir. I dress as a man when I attend church (I'm a terrible singer).
I pondered over this, I believe that Chaz and I are kindred spirits. We have chosen to be true to ourselves. We are transgender women. It's refreshing to know that there are millions of transgender women like us. It's a reason to celebrate and be proud.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
They Are Our Children
I read an article today by Suzan titled Not My Child. The article discusses about how many LGBT/T children are disowned by their families. These children are abused by the medical profession and institutions which wants to make them into something they are not.
Many of these children come to large metropolises and survive anyway they know how.
The author of this article (www.womenborntranssexual.com) lived as a sex worker, was addicted to drugs. She has seen friends die by OD's or violence. I ask myself how can any parent throw their flesh and blood to the wolves of debauchery and death because of their sexuality or gender identity? Sad to say that the trans community hasn't always stepped up on their behalf.
I see many youth at the community center in my city. Many stay there all day because it's a place where they feel safe. It's where they can be themselves. It's so sad that this one of the few places where they don't have to feel they are ostracized. I am applying for an internship to be a peer educator. Transgender communities of color are where there are great needs. My heart was touched when I found this oportunity on the website.
When I was working towards by bachelor's degree, oe reason I wanted to become an educator is to make a difference. Suzan's article brought it home to me that LGBT/T youth need for places where they can be safe. Some will need medical, psychiatric, and spiritual care. Many will need to learn marketable job skills and education. To me the greatest need is for these precious soul is be loved and accepted for who they are.
Many of these children come to large metropolises and survive anyway they know how.
The author of this article (www.womenborntranssexual.com) lived as a sex worker, was addicted to drugs. She has seen friends die by OD's or violence. I ask myself how can any parent throw their flesh and blood to the wolves of debauchery and death because of their sexuality or gender identity? Sad to say that the trans community hasn't always stepped up on their behalf.
I see many youth at the community center in my city. Many stay there all day because it's a place where they feel safe. It's where they can be themselves. It's so sad that this one of the few places where they don't have to feel they are ostracized. I am applying for an internship to be a peer educator. Transgender communities of color are where there are great needs. My heart was touched when I found this oportunity on the website.
When I was working towards by bachelor's degree, oe reason I wanted to become an educator is to make a difference. Suzan's article brought it home to me that LGBT/T youth need for places where they can be safe. Some will need medical, psychiatric, and spiritual care. Many will need to learn marketable job skills and education. To me the greatest need is for these precious soul is be loved and accepted for who they are.
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