Category Archives: Transgender News and Issues

The latest transgender news and information. Find out what is going on in the world that affects the transgender community.

Dick Cheney Admits to Crossdressing, Plans to Transition

By Vanessa Law | Published April 1, 2010 | 9 Comments |

Dear readers, I must admit that I was shocked when I heard this story. While her actions in public have left me conflicted, I feel as though it would be wrong of me not to welcome a new sister into the community. I can only imagine the burden she has had to bear by keeping this hidden for so long, and the risk she took crossdressing in secret all those years.

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Dick Cheney Crossdresses - Plans to Transition

At 8am EST this morning, April 1st 2010 Dick Cheney admitted in a press conference that he has been crossdressing in secret for more than 60 years, and plans to live full time as a woman starting next month. Dick, who prefers to go by the name Annette, describes her early experiences:

I still remember the first time I tried on a pair of my mother’s nylons. I had just turned nine, and mom – Marjorie had left for the afternoon to go shopping. I was at home, finishing my homework when I felt this overwhelming desire to try them on. Ever since then I’ve been crossdressing in secret. It’s been hard living such a public life and hiding who I really am inside. I feel so free sharing this with all of you today. Before I go further, I’d like to thank my daughter Mary for her encouragement to share this, and my wife Lynne for her love and support. I know how difficult this must be for you.

Annette hopes to undergo gender reassignment surgery on her birthday next year, January 30th 2011. Doctor’s are worried that her heart condition could cause complications, and they will be monitoring her over the next few months to determine her suitability for surgery. Dr Corey Brent was on hand to say a few words at the announcement:

Annette is a brave woman. As many in the transgender community know, it can be an overwhelming burden to go through life knowing that your physical gender does not match who you are inside. While it’s unusual to recommend gender reassignment surgery without living as a woman full time for at least a year, I’ve been seeing Annette for many months and am confident in her sincerity and conviction. In less than ten months time we’ll correct the accident of birth which has lead to a lifetime of pain and heartache. Finally Annette will be free to live the life God meant for her.

Senior Republican officials declined to comment for this news story. It’s not clear at this time whether Annette briefed them beforehand, though rumors have been swirling that at least one influential member of the Republican party has known for some time. We believe that Sarah Palin has been helping Annette dress in private for the last few years, and that Annette used her influence to get Sarah the Vice Presidential nomination.

Annette hasn’t shared any detail plans for her political life after she transitions. However she has said that she will still continue to provide the Republican party with her hard won wisdom and guidance, and play an active role in politics. It’s been rumored that Annette has been meeting with Barney Frank and other officials from both parties to pass ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which contains protections for those in the transgender community.

Whatever your opinion of Dick Cheney was, I hope that as member of the transgender community you will rally around Annette and offer your love and support. Let this day, April 1st be the day the transgender community extends our well manicured hand and forgives past grievances. I know that I stand with you Annette.

With love and blessings,
Vanessa

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The Thin Pink Line

By Vanessa Law | Published August 27, 2009 | 15 Comments |

You may have heard the news a few weeks ago that the first openly transgender mayor, Stu Rasmussen had a complaint filed against him (his chosen pronoun) for inappropriate attire.

I won’t repeat the whole story, the Statesmen Journal, and Feministing (with a counter point) do a good job describing it all. The short, short version is that Stu attended a youth event in high heels, a very short skirt and a revealing halter top. The director of the youth event filed a formal complaint about Stu’s outfit with the city council president. News ensues.

Oregon’s Transgender Mayor

I’ve been stewing on this (pardon the pun), for a while now, quite unsure how to comment on this. On one hand Stu has tremendous courage running for public office as a transgender person. His self expression doesn’t fit within the ‘norms’ of the transgender community. He has breast implants, presents as a woman, and chooses to be referred to as “he”. More genderqueer, and less “crossdresser” or “transsexual”. I’m tremendously proud of the self assurance he has shown to overcome not just the biases of society, but even the labels the transgender community tends to use.

There is not doubt that certain news organizations will jump on any opportunity to reinforce biases. It’s not fair, but it’s the world we live in. Stu showed a lack of judgment when he wore a skimpy outfit to a youth event. Worse, his lack of judgment reflects poorly on all those in the transgender community.

Do We Thwart Self Expression?

Yet for all I’ve said about, it’s a thin line that divides “self expression” from “responsibility to a group”. Society tells us we cannot wear dresses and makeup. Are we just as wrong to deny Stu his right to self expression? Perhaps in fighting so hard for our rights we treat the rights of other’s as expendable.

Tell me what you think. Where is the balance between self expression and group responsibility. Was Stu wrong to wear that outfit? Or are we wrong to get down on our first transgender mayor for his choice of clothes?

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Let The Transgendered Child Inside You See The Light

By Vanessa Law | Published May 23, 2009 | 3 Comments |

The other day I was reading the touching story of a young transgendered girl in Omaha. Her parents had made the courageous decision to allow their child, born male, to dress and present as a girl. Naturally, the headline in the story reads ‘Transgender Boy Barred From Catholic School’, because ‘Transgender Boy Receives Support From Loving Parents’ doesn’t have quite the same ring.

Unfortunately the Catholic school has decided to come down on the side of intolerance. I would normally make some ill humored remark about love and acceptance of the church, but I’ll forgo that for this post. Since the young girl-to-be has a bright future ahead of her. A short quote from the article struck me:

Omaha mental health therapist Ellie Hites said she’s worked with more than 200 transgendered clients in Omaha over the past 35 years.

Hites said she does psychological evaluations on all of her clients.

“One hundred percent of the time, I’ve never had anybody show up anything other than healthiest in the chosen gender role, as opposed to biological,” Hites said.

She said her adult transgender clients have lived through nervous breakdowns, suicide attempts and deep depression because they could never truly be themselves. She has four transgendered clients right now.

“The story that I get is that ‘I’ve known since I was real little, but everybody laughed or nobody paid any attention,’” Hites said.

The therapist said transgendered children insist they are the opposite sex, consistently.

“It’s like they arrive here with one biology but the mental set is counter to that,” Hites said.

Her adult transgender clients have lived through nervous breakdowns, suicide attempts and deep depression because they could never truly be themselves. How beautiful it is, that the young girl in the article gets a chance to grow up as a happy, normal child. One who doesn’t need to hide the person inside.

I think this is the true blessing that her parents have given her. Their selfless love will reap rewards through her entire life, and for generations to come. I think the urging of her mother is something all of us should take to heart:

“Just take the time to listen. It is different. It’s something most people have never heard of, but it doesn’t make it scary or pathological,” she said.

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End Transgender Discrimination – Take This Transgender Survey

By Vanessa Law | Published October 11, 2008 | 7 Comments |

This is important enough that I’ll make do without literary decorations – Take this transgender survey [update, survey has now been taken down] to help end transgender discrimination before you continue reading.

….
Right, now you’re back from the transgender survey [update, survey has now been taken down] you took. You did take the survey, right?
….

When we are divided we are powerless. A lone transgendered voice is soon silenced, her bruised and beaten body left untended on the side of the road. For years we have experienced transgender discrimination – whether we are part time crossdressers or post-op transsexuals we have all felt the burden when our gender identity does not meet societies expectations.

This treatment is reserved for the lucky ones who are brave enough to live their life with freedom from their own judgement. Yet it is as we take the first steps to self acceptance that we collide with the intolerance and hate in society. For many of you the intolerance is not just a drunk heckling at the bar, it’s your employer firing you. It’s not just nasty comments from a teenager in the mall, it’s your landlord evicting you.

This is unacceptable in a free society.

And for some about to begin their journey of self discovery, the threat of being left desolate keeps you from finding who you really are. Your life is lead in a half-chorus. Singing stoically along, but never rising to the hallelujah’s. Clapping out of tune, and too ashamed to dance.

This is unacceptable in a free society.

There is a historic survey of the transgendered community, sponsored by NCTE and NGLTF. By understanding your experience they can work to end transgender discrimination. Please, if you have a few minutes take this survey and stand up for transgender rights [update, survey has now been taken down].

Should crossdressers care about transgender rights?

I recently wrote about crossdressing action that encourages crossdressers to stand strong with their transsexual and transgendered brothers and sisters. If you are a crossdresser who has never thought about transgendered rights please read this.You may not be willing to risk being outed, or have the financial means to support a transgender organization, but surely you can spare five minutes to make your voice heard online?

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What did you think about Isis getting voted off America’s Next Top Model?

By Vanessa Law | Published September 27, 2008 | Leave a comment |

As you may know, Isis was voted off America’s Next Top Model. What do you think about this? Was it a tragedy of intolerance, or was Isis just not good enough to be America’s Next Top Model, transgendered or not?


What did you think about Isis, the first transgender contestant, being voted off America's Next Top Model?

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