Joining The Rebels

When was the last time you can remember that transgender people were included, or more importantly recognized for their involvement, for their contributions to change? Times be changin'

Me, a model. Why not? she exclaimed.

I had met Fran over a decade ago in New York City during the days when I was out and quite active in the transgender nightlife scene.  The first time we met she actually scarred me a little, jumping out on the dance floor in front of me, shimmying not a foot in front of me, with  big smile across her face.  In those early days she was still wearing the often 'just out' crossdresser ensembles; 16 year old dresses and the like.  But in short time her bright internal light shown through and I told my friends, I really dig this chick: she's fearless, unaffected by the masses, and does her own thing: she reminded of ME!

The Words of Others

The words of others don't define me. How could they? In many instances those "others" don't even know me. They see me and then an idea of who they ‘think I am’ rushes to their lips, before their brain can even process it.

An Unexpected Turn - Part II

“Your niece” Ricky inquired? Stephanie fumed, “Should I have told them it was my SON they saw in a skirt, blouse and girl’s shoes?  We’d be the laughing stock of the neighborhood. I’d never live it down! And neither would you!”

“But if they see me now won’t they know it’s me for sure.”

“You’ve left us little choice.  Come with me.” She led him to his sister’s room, where she began pulling out the clothes he’d just had on. “Take that underwear off, and put these one.” He starred at them puzzled. “But these are girls’ underwear.” All it took was her look, as if telepathically saying really, you’re NOW worried about wearing girls clothes? Ricky quickly acquiesced and slid the panties on. 

“I can’t take the chance that you bend the wrong way and they see your boy briefs.”

Spying the T-Girls of India

After a year on the ground in India, I finally ran into some mainstream transgender girl in Bangalore as the Bangalore Fashion Week.

The Accidental Schoolgirl - Chapter One, A Novel

When Ricky heard his mother’s key hit the lock to the front door he froze – just for a second.  Everything then happened in a blur of panic; he dashed into the corner of the room and hid behind the club chair. He was crouched on the floor, his back pressed up against the inner wall that separated him from the foyer where he mother would soon be entering. He tried to remain motionless, but couldn't  His body shook and his heart raced.  It pounded so loud in his chest that he missed the chatter of voices.  He closed his eyes wishing it was a bad dream, knowing of course that it wasn't.  

VICTORY: California Transgender Student Guaranteed Equal Access To School Facilities

In an article in THINK PROGRESS, it noted that "A California school has settled a complaint filed with the federal government, agreeing to update its policies to be fully inclusive of transgender students. A trans student, whose identity has been kept private, filed a complaint after officials at Arcadia Unified School District prevented him from using the boys’ restroom or locker room, and also forced him to room in a cabin separate from the other boys on a field trip. Now, the school has worked out an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to implement nondiscrimination policies throughout the district to protect both the privacy and inclusion of transgender students."

The bathroom debate seems to loom large in the minds of both transgender and the mainstream alike. While I can understand the mainstream not wanting a part-time crossdresser in the ladies room, a full-time transgender person is in that gender presentation all the time, everyday. 

Come on people, wake up, it's just nature calling.  

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/07/25/2353421/transgender-school-inclusion/?mobile=nc