Progressive Transgender Movement

For all its chants of being the greatest country on the planet, America has really lagged behind Asian and South American countries when it comes to transgender rights, which is really just equal rights. Argentina recognized same-sex marriages a few years back, while South Korea and others have recognized post transition females as women, and many of them have married. Colombia has also been showing signs of a new respect for trans-people there; demonstrated by the recent appointment by the mayor of Bogota, who appointed Tatiana (shown above) to head up the Social Integration Department. The more we come out and hold jobs of responsibility, and do them well, the sooner we can get the mainstream past their ignorance and bigotry. Well done Colombia!!

Lady Bunny

I've had the pleasure of meeting Bunny at several events, and although she is not for the faint of heart, she is still funny as can be.

Transsexual Returns to Original Gender After Relationship With Christ

Walt Heyer says that no one can really change their gender. He should know, too, because he's tried. When he was only about five years old, Heyer's grandmother began to dress him as if he were a girl and even made a dress just for him. The result was a very confused little boy.

"I look at it today as being pretty abusive. While it seemed very benign at the time, and maybe even playful, I can see today...that it was really abusive to my psyche,” he told The Christian Post on Wednesday.

He is the author of the books Trading My Sorrows and, most recently, Paper Genders,

While I respect Walt's story, hear his regret, and I am happy that he has found his own happiness, his statement that "You're not born transgender, something happens in your childhood that causes you to not want to be who you are...And today the only thing that is...socially acceptable is calling yourself a transgender,” should be noted as opinion; especially because science everyday is finding more evidence to refute such a statement. Which doesn’t mean it’s untrue in his case, or some others. but it shouldn't be stated as fact for everyone.

Walt, in my opinion, suffers from the same problem that many trans-people do:  reciting Myth and Misinformation as fact; they falsely believe that having a trans-experience somehow makes them an expert on the topic.   Yet, because someone has a transgender experience doesn't make them an expert in anything except HOW IT AFFECTS THEM, no more, no less.

Clever or Offensive?

Football King Transitions and Runs as Woman

Gina Duncan was a former football homecoming king and now running for office as the woman she evolved into in 2006.  Every time a transperson steps into the spotlight and carries themselves well, they advance equal rights just by dispelling the myths of imagination that the mainstream has had of trans-people for so long.

Gina is comfortable in who she is, and well spoken, and with a little luck will prevail.  Watch her interview.

 

Get Creative and Daring

As was reported on TgReporter.com (read article) last week, the soon-to-be-aired series WORK IT (watch trailer)  has been getting slammed by trans and women's groups alike; for its lack of sensitivity in making a joke about two alpha-males donning dresses and heels to get a job in a lack luster economy; as if getting a job as a woman is somehow easier than as a man.  

Moreover, the lack of creativity awes me.  I mean come on, Bosom Buddies played out that theme almost thirty years ago!

If ABC wanted to do a trans-themed show, they should be creative, be daring, and make a difference.  I'm not suggesting that they need to put transpeople on the soapbox to get the world to cry about their plight. On the contrary, a well-written well-thought-out and researched script could provide wealth of funny, poignant, informative and endearing commentary.

Beyond the difficulties, the life of a transgirl does have its funny moments.  Just ordering pizza can be an adventure. 

The schlock that TV turns out -- and that people consume it -- is amazing.  

ABC could have easily geared the show towards:

(a) a group of trans-characters; either within their own demographic with the straight characters being in the minority,or fish-out-of-water so to speak with the trans-characters in the minority dealing with mainstream majority,

2) their existing theme, but with the alpha-males going to a trans party [to try and learn how to pass better] and actually befriending a group of transgirls, or,

3) a few friends in the big city; some genetic girls and one or two transgirls,
 
ABC gets a half of credit for even thinking about a trans-topic, but its a shame that they use the real-life condition of so many as a throw away for a laugh. 

Andrej Pejic

He is the 19-year model that has turned the fashion industry upside down.  I've posted several articles about him on TGREPORTER.com.  There a complete photo gallery posted here, and I've just now added two video interviews HERE. 

In an about-face when many ad campaigns dropped Lauren Foster  when she was outed, they industry seems to be embracing Andrej BECAUSE he is transgender; more so because he is androgynous and can model both male and female fashions. 

Andrej doesn't feel the need to define himself, and that unto itself is one of the main reasons he is a role model.  I've often said in many of my older articles that the words of others do not define me; they only define them.

There is no doubt that transphobia is still high, the fact that Andrej exists and is flourishing gives us hope:  the more transpeople are in the public eye the sooner  that those afraid of tans will come to understand it and thereby be less afraid, less transphobic.