Trans sexualization; Trans medicalization

Famed transsexual, Christine Jorgensen embraced the term transgender in an attempt to distance herself from the sexualization of her life. From Oct. 16, 1979 issue of the Winnipeg Free Press’ article Christine Recalls Life As Boy From The Bronx: “If you understand trans-genders,” she says, (the word she prefers to transsexuals), “then you understand that [...]

2012 GLAAD Media Awards and the trans community

I was wonderfully surprised at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles Saturday, April 20. I was working the red carpet with my still camera draped around my neck and a small YouTube quality camera in my purse, and one of the actors I was introduced to by who I assume was her publicist was [...]

Defining criteria for gender markers on federal identity documents

If you live in the U.S. and you’re not of trans history, chances are extremely high that the federal government considers you either male or female. By that I mean that every federal agency – every executive branch department – you have dealings with will gender you as male or female, and that gender identification [...]

No longer serving isolated and alone

Monday, March 5, 2012, I went to the Veterans Affairs (VA) San Diego Medical Center to change my gender marker from male to female. The previous Friday, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) informed trans veterans that the VA had clarified their policy, and were now using the U.S. State Department’s standard, developed for [...]

Trans women as ‘super-gays’

A few years ago, I came to the realization that trans people are considered ‘super-gays’ by the religious right. For example, Dr. Sander Breiner, in his National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) article entitled TranssexualityExplained stated the following: “There are a significant number of male homosexuals who would like to be a [...]

One of our jobs as LGBT community members

Feb.16, one-time Republican candidate for president, Pat Buchanan had an article posted to The American Conservative’s Web site, entitled Blacklisted, But Not Beaten. In the article, Buchanan’s first line in the piece was, “My days as a political analyst at MSNBC have come to an end.” Buchanan highlighted in his piece how the Human Rights [...]

Come out, come out, wherever you are

“The Mayor of Castro Street,” gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk, said this in his 1978 speech, That’s What America Is: “Gay brothers and sisters … You must come out. Come out … to your parents. I know that it is hard and will hurt them but think about how they will hurt you in [...]

Documenting the courage of trans servicemembers

I served in the U.S. Navy between 1980 and 2000, and am now a military retiree. At fourteen I figured out I was a transsexual, but I talked myself into believing I was just a crossdresser – so even though I knew I was trans when I entered the service, I didn’t identify myself then [...]

The LGBT-friendly regulations presidency

Saturday, Jan. 28 Shaun Donovan, secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced a significant new anti-discrimination policy. From his prepared speech to the recent Creating Change Conference: “Today, I am proud to announce a new Equal Access to Housing Rule that says clearly and unequivocally that LGBT individuals and couples have the right to [...]

Civil rights, bathrooms and the ‘Bathroom Bill’ meme

Civil rights movements – ones formed to address the oppression of minority populations – have often had significant pushback by societal oppressors that have included bathroom and/or significant shower components. Jim Crow states passed statutes severely regulating social interactions between the races and included “separate but equal” public bathrooms. An argument against the Equal Rights [...]

Subscribe to our e-news!

Email  

twitter: LGBT

© 2012 LGBT Weekly. All Rights Reserved. Log in - Website by BluSkye Group