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Tags: Gender Identity

Counselors should be advocates for the transgendered

Tags: counselors advocate for transgendered, crossdressers, Gender Identity, transgender, transgendered

Published on: March 24, 2008

This is the conclusion of research done by two PhD students at the university of Oregon, who spent years studying transgender issues. They explored the issues of discrimination in the workplace and transphobia that many in the transgendered community experience. They also lament the lack of qualified counselors available for the transgendered.

I think it’s wonderful that more and more researchers are devoting time to transgendered studies. When more people examine and question pre-conceived notions they advance the state of the art in our understanding. I think this can only be a win for the transgender community, as the medical profession gains a better understanding of who we are, why we are transgendered and how best to ensure we live healthy fulfilled lives.

I poked around the Internet some, and found a few valuable resources. Naturally wikipedia has a great article, I even found an article by our local Seattle and King County health department addressing transgender health as well as this great site which covers many issues transsexuals face. If you’re confused about where on the gender spectrum you fall, this gender test is a good place to start. It will give you some thoughts, and hopefully encourage you to seek counseling if you struggle with your gender identity.

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P.S. Don’t let your lack of self-confidence stop you from going out dressed. Hypnotize yourself into the confident woman you are!

Sometimes the 'men of God' make me ashamed to be a Christian

by Vanessa Law

Categories: Christianity and Crossdressing

Tags: Christian Crossdresser, crossdressed, Crossdressing Cure, Gender Identity, t-girl, tg faith, transgender faith

Comments: 18 Comments

Published on: March 3, 2008

In his quest to make ‘real men’ out of his parishioners Ken Hutcherson, pastor at the Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, WA was quoted in a recent sermon saying:

“God hates soft men” and “God hates effeminate men.” He went on to say, “If I was in a drugstore and some guy opened the door for me, I’d rip his arm off and beat him with the wet end.”

Is that his answer to the question ‘What would Jesus Do?’

Perhaps king David was delusional when he said:

‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.’ – Psalms 139:13-14

Maybe the apostle John was misquoted in his old age when he said:

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 7-8

It seems ‘God is love’ only holds as long as you’re not a soft man. And by soft, could Hutcherson perhaps mean: ‘sensitive, caring, kind and gentle’? Yes, that’s what I picture when I think of a soft man. It also sounds suspiciously like the fruits of the Holy spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22. I guess that makes me worthy to be ‘beaten with the wet end’ of my own arm.

Now, pastor Ken tries to pass this off as a joke. If we believe him, it’s one made in extremely poor taste. Joke or no, I think it points to something deeper – to the doctrine of hate being preached in so many churches across the country.

It is unfortunate that senior leadership among many Christian denominations has allowed themselves to be defined by what they hate. Anti-abortion and anti-gay. Against pre-marital sex and against gay marriage. Somewhere in all the rhetoric, the message of hope, faith and love Jesus Christ came to preach is lost. Along with that, we Christians are losing the ability to influence others for the kingdom of God. We are no longer seen as a refuge from the world, but rather a group of people who will heap on judgement and guilt until the fragile, broken person has been molded into our own version of Christian virtue and purity. We no longer love people as they are, but rather as we believe they should be. Those who don’t conform are quickly tossed aside. Demonized and alone.

In the word’s of Dr Seuss, the Christian church is quickly becoming those who ‘don’t matter’.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” - Dr Seuss

P.S. I was looking at the Antioch Bible Church’s website, and my wife commented ‘uhoh, who designed that web page, that’s soft.’ Well, at least they’re ‘manly’ on the pulpit…

Wherever you are, you are still you

by Vanessa Law

Categories: Transgender News and Issues

Tags: crossdressing self-expression, Gender Identity, lgbt issues, tg news, transgender issues, transsexual, transvestite news

Comments: No Comments

Published on: February 23, 2008

Angry Transgender Shopper

This last week I was reading about Brigitte Fell, a transsexual in Australia who is suing the police because they reveled her past to her boyfriend. This was followed shortly by an article about her violent outburst in a store.

Each time the headlines broadcasting in 20 point font that she is a transsexual, as if that explains her actions, as well grouping all transsexuals into violent woman who are insecure and constantly worry that others may ‘know’ they’re a man. In the case of the violent outburst in a store, Brigitte heard the owner and a customer laughing, and assumed they were laughing at her.

Girls, we have enough negative press from shows like Jerry Springer. The only exposure some of the world has to us is as violent, unstable, angry weirdos, who are at best sexually perverse dregs of society who make for entertaining television. As we know, this describes only a very small percentage of us (I’m going to guess about the same percentage as the general population). We need to work hard to overcome the stereotypes people have. And it doesn’t help when we reinforce them, like Brigitte recently did.

A few days ago I wrote about an Indian transsexual who is starting a talk show. She will be a positive role model for those in India.

Wherever you are, remember to be the loving, kind, gentle, caring person, who shines through the positive attributes of a woman. The world needs to see more of us like this.

Iowa offers fair opportunity in the face of Largo, Florida's discrimination

by Vanessa Law

Categories: Transgender News and Issues

Tags: crossdressing, Gender Identity, transgender discrimination, transgender news, transvestite city council

Comments: 1 Comment

Published on: February 18, 2008

Susan Stanton - Transgender Woman

Susan Stanton (formerly Steve Stanton) is a finalist to become city manager of Iowa city. She used to work as the city manager of Largo, Florida before she was fired for having a sex change. It was heart wrenching to read her story of transition, of how friends, coworkers and her employer abandoned her, but heartening to hear of those who rallied around her. While the media attention on Susan dwarfs her experience being a woman (as some have noted), I think it’s wonderful that she is finding doors open for her. Even though she may not be the “perfect” representative for the transgender community, her success, as high profile as it is, will help many people realize that there is more to us than the clothes we wear and the pills we take.

I applaud Iowa for looking at Susan’s “skills, knowledge, ability, education and work history”, and are basing their decision “souly on her resume and qualifications”. I’m especially impressed that some in Iowa have noted Susan’s sex change as a positive, that gives her the ability to empathize with people from many walks of life. I know that in my own experience being transgender, I have become more tolerant and understanding of others who are different from me. I’ve also learned that there are more compassionate, loving people in the world than obnoxious assholes. It’s an unfortunate fact that obnoxious assholes are usually loud, and drown out the kind caring words of others unless we listen.

What do you think? Have you experienced any kind of discrimination for being transgendered? How did you get through it?

Transgender 101

by Vanessa Law

Categories: Transgender Info, Transgender News and Issues

Tags: crossdressed, crossdressing t-girl, Gender Identity, transgender 101, transvestite

Comments: 8 Comments

Published on: February 16, 2008

Gender identity can be difficult to understand, even for those of us who have struggled with our own. The video below gives a good overview of gender. Sex (which is the anatomical representation of our sex), Gender role (our expression of gender – masculine, feminine) and Gender identity (our self-identified gender). Thanks to Allyson for first introducing me to this video on her website.

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