That Salon Piece

Since what I’ve written here has now been commented on elsewhere, I will write more about the experience of loss when you’re the loved one of a trans person.

Y’all are going to force me to write another book, you know?

Honestly, you’d think being an ally for umpteen years would enable someone to come up with something a little better than “she blames the dad too.” I don’t. I blame the un-critical use of trans narratives that don’t account for the actual loss experienced by the loved ones of trans people – the loss especially experienced by those of us who stick by you through transition.

So I’ll say more, since I am also actually in mourning, and goddamn do I know the difference between the loss that comes with transition & the loss that comes with an actual death.

Salon Piece on Dad’s Transition

The caption was what got me: “After Dad had gender reassignment surgery, he promised he’d be the same person.”

Please, lovely trans folks, STOP saying this to your loved ones. It’s not true. The whole point of transition is to become a different person.

That doesn’t mean you won’t carry plenty of your personality over with you – you will & you should. But you will not be the same person.

If gender matters, gender matters. You wouldn’t need to transition if it didn’t, so be surprised when your loved ones miss your 1.0 self.

No, Really: Sexy Droogie

Honestly, someone is actually marketing a Sexy Droogie Costume for women who want to be Alex of A Clockwork Orange fame.  You know the movie – the one with one of the most horrifying rape scenes ever filmed? But sure! Just add thigh highs and cleavage!Of course they don’t call it that, since I’m guessing anyone selling or buying this costume hasn’t actually read the fucking book.

So while I’m thinking, who the hell is going to buy that, my google-fu turns up this exchange in Yahoo! Answers:

Sexy clockwork orange costume. any ideas?

so me and my boyfriend are trying to think up halloween costume ideas and i thought of being droogs from clockwork orange. so i was thinking get the white button up shirt, the white suspenders, derby hat, but with thigh high fishnets, stilletos and lots of clevage. oh and of course the one fake eyelash and cane. not so sure what to use for pants/skirt. maybe highwasted shorts.

any ideas on how to improve this costume?

& Yay, someone has an idea! Boots and tight shorts to go with the cleavage! That does it!

Best Answer – Chosen by Voters

I am also going to be Alex for halloween this year. I am a female and will be wearing short white shorts and knee high black boots to make the outfit a little sexier. There are lots of different versions of this theme. If you google it you can see lots of pics. Im also going to do the bloody eyeballs. Good luck with your costume!

Some days I just want to stay in bed until the planet gets less stupid.

 

Girls Scouts Trans Friendly

The Girl Scouts have recently issued a statement about inclusion of young (trans) girls:

“Girl Scouts is an inclusive organization and we accept all girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade as members. If a child identifies as a girl and the child’s family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout. Our requests for support of transgender kids have grown, and Girl Scouts of Colorado is working to best support these children, their families and the volunteers who serve them. In this case, an associate delivering our program was not aware of our approach. She contacted her supervisor, who immediately began working with the family to get the child involved and supported in Girl Scouts. We are accelerating our support systems and training so that we’re better able to serve all girls, families and volunteers.”

This in response to a report that one child was denied membership because one child was denied membership because “he has boy parts.”  Even the article reporting it headlined the piece Boy wanting to join Girl Scouts told ‘no‘ even if it was otherwise sympathetic.

I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised, which is not something that happens often to a trans advocate.

Badass Barbie

= This is kinda what I made my Barbies look like, as well as I could, but apparently, some parents are not happy with Barbie’s alt makeover. She is a limited edition, however, and not the type of Barbie to be found in children’s toy stores. Too bad.

 

Trans in the Workplace

A magazine called Insight Into Diversity recently did an article on transgender issues in the workplace. I was interviewed for it, as were Jillian Weiss, author of Transgender Workplace Diversity and Vanessa Sheridan, author of The Complete Guide to Transgender in the Workplace, amongst others.

Dr. Weiss indicates that the issue of being transgender is increasingly coming to the fore. More people are in an environment where they feel more comfortable coming out, so more employers will be experiencing transitioning employees. “The time to prepare,” she says, “is now. If you have a decent size workforce, it’s likely that you will deal with a transitioning employee. It’s a question of when, not if.”

Sheridan agrees that the acceptance factor is growing. “It’s a reality of business life now,” she says. “The general public needs to be aware that transgender individuals are coming out in record numbers and that they are more visible in the community than ever before. It’s a social phenomenon gaining
increasing visibility.”

The article starts on p. 22 of the .pdf.