Oct
02
My post yesterday dealt with an ad (from the so-called Institute for Canadian Values – don’t you just love the way certain people decide that their values are the ones for all of us?) beseeching government to stop confusing young children with questions about their gender and sexual orientation – especially regarding transgender issues.
Interestingly, just today, the newspaper in which the ad ran issued an apology for publishing it.
The paper is of a right-of-center political bent, so the apology may raise eyebrows further.
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Oct
01
I am bringing this up with precious little in the way of insight. Hopefully, some of you will have something to offer on the subject.
The ad below (please click on it to enlarge it to readable size) comes from a local paper and expresses concern with efforts to teach young children about sexual and gender diversity. (The title of this post comes from the name of the website responsible for this ad.)
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Sep
17
As you all know, I am a gender-traveler – not only from one gender to the other, but from one place to another.
My “home and native land” of Canada has disappointed me with its restrictive laws, which are unnecessary to any constructive purpose. I recounted my dismay with Canadian air travel laws in a recent post (click here).
By contrast, I read today that Australia has enacted new rules that allow their citizens to acquire a passport with gender designated as M, F or X (for indeterminate), with only a doctor’s letter of support. No surgery, no imminent surgery, no proof of medical condition required.
Read More»Sep
03
Having flown without incident as a girl on a number of occasions in the U.S., I was quite taken aback to read that in Canada – a country most people would regard as more progressive – the law requires airlines to deny boarding to anyone who “does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents.” (Aeronautics Act of Canada Section 5.2(1)(b).)
My experiences in America have been nothing but pleasant. I have sung the praises, on these very pages, of both border agents and security personnel, who have gone out of their way to be accommodating and pleasant.
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Aug
27
One of the reasons I sometimes doubt the authenticity of my feminine side is that I find myself almost with a feeling that I am observing myself.
I have many things to remember to do differently in order to be the woman I imagine myself to be, and there is a sort of internal dialogue going on sometimes as I evaluate myself.
That doesn’t seem natural and so I start to get a sinking feeling that if it takes so much effort, it may just be that I am putting the whole thing on. I start wondering whether it is simply an exercise in self-deception.
But, I probably should cut myself a little slack here.
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Jul
29
We have a little gay magazine here called “In” – as in “inclusive,” I presume.
It sure pretends to be.
Have a look at their cover picture. See if you can spot the realistic representative of our community…
Actually, there are two trans people in this photo; there’s also an FTM transsexual.
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Jul
13
So there I was, getting out of my car in my coolest and loveliest sundress. I locked the car and put my keys in my purse. Then, hoisting my purse onto my shoulder, I walked behind the car, preparing to cross the street.
I heard a metallic clank and looked down and back to see a sewer grate. What could have made the noise, I wondered. I knew my keys were in my purse. So was my cellphone. And, my sunglasses were on my head.
Oh well, could have been anything… I had to pee, so I went on my way.
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Jul
11
Has common sense gone out the window? Have people no sense of decorum, or consideration for others?
I could do no better than to shake my head in disappointment and shame after reading a story published by SF Weekly (their blogs section @ /thesnitch/2011/06/crossdressing_man_us_airways.php) late last month. It concerned the denial of boarding privileges to a black football player who was wearing sagging baggy pants that exposed his underwear, while, in a separate incident, allowing a white man in his 60s to board wearing only a bra and panties. (Click here for the original story. ed. note: link removed due to security concerns about originating site.)
This whole episode offends me on so many levels.
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Jun
20
I go through many ups and downs in trying to figure out my own personal truth, and I have chronicled some of that on this blog.
In the midst of one recent period of questioning whether the whole thing was/is a sham – thoughts like “C’mon, I’ve always been a guy, still am; why am I doing this to myself?” – I came across the touching and uplifting story of Janet Mock, the beautiful and articulate People Magazine editor who came out as trans in a wonderful interview with Marie Claire magazine.
She has written a book and posted a video of encouragement to transgender youth on youtube (which I have for you, natch!)
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Jan
28
A new Thai regional airline, PC Air, is recruiting transgender people for its cabin staff positions.
Nice as it is, this news would be more significant if it were being done by a successful and experienced airline.
The reality is that this is a new startup, founded by fortune-teller Piyo Chantraporn, 47, who said he had a “sixth-sense” insight which spurred him to launch the airline. He and realty businessman Chatrawiwat Klumkomol raised 200 million baht to set up the venture.
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