Study Finds Transmen Aspergers Syndrome Traits Second only to Those Diagnosed with AS

Disclaimer: I am a not endorsing or discrediting this study, only reporting on it hoping to enable a discussion.

The recent Time article titled "Study: Why Some Transgendered People Have Higher Levels of Autistic Traits" incorrectly frames this study as conclusive. It is not, nor is its methodology empirically sound. All of the subjects responded online to a questionnaire that is based on the "extreme male brain" theory. But the conclussions bear examination. Co-author, Emma Martin, herself a transwoman, said in a statement “This new research reminds us that gender incongruence is incredibly complex. Every possibility should be discussed with new clients, but should not delay what can be a painfully slow process for those affected.”

It's in that vein I will continue.

Abstract:

"The ‘extreme male brain’ theory suggests females with Autism Spectrum Conditions are hyper-masculinized in certain aspects of behavior. We predicted that females with Gender Identity Disorder (who are masculinized) would have elevated Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores. AQ scores from five groups were compared: (1) n = 61 transmen (female-to-male transsexual people); (2) n = 198 transwomen (male-to-female transsexual people); (3) n = 76 typical males; (4) n = 98 typical females; and (5) n = 125 individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Transmen had a higher mean AQ than typical females, typical males and transwomen, but lower than individuals with AS. Transmen have more autistic traits and may have had difficulty socializing with female peers and thus found it easier to identify with male peer groups."

"Baron-Cohen has long theorized that people with autism may have what he calls an “extreme male” brain — dominated by a style of thinking called “systemizing,” which focuses on predictable patterns like those found in mathematics or mechanical devices. He contrasts this with a cognitive style called “empathizing,” which allows for better understanding of the minds and emotions of others."

"Typically, women do better at empathizing and men at systemizing, but there is, of course, wide variability: some women outperform men at systemizing, and some men are better empathizers than women."

"Why the difference? Baron-Cohen and his colleagues recently found that giving testosterone to women decreases their ability to empathize, particularly among women whose bodies show evidence that they were exposed to higher levels of testosterone in utero. And previous research has linked high levels of testosterone in the womb to autistic traits. (Interestingly, in-utero exposure to testosterone can be estimated by looking at the ratio between the length of the ring finger and index finger.)"

It may seem that it's a no brainer stereotypically trans men trade a sense of heightened empathic sensitivity for masculinity while transitioning with testosterone. At first glance it would make sense to me because the opposite is true for me as I have realized increased empathic and cognitive skills since transitioning with estrogen.

But I have lived with a trans man who would contradict that theory. Quite the opposite, he delighted in the enlightenment his natal birth gave him and was empowered by his masculinity to merge the two traits together to become the highly successful therapist I knew him as.

Aspergers. It's a discussion trans people must not to be afraid to have.

Ontario Transman Sexually Assaulted. Police Seek Help.

ST. CATHARINES, ON (WKBW) - The Niagara Regional Police Service is investigating a sexual assault that occurred along the Twelve Mile Creek at Glendale Avenue, in the city of St. Catharines early Monday morning.

Police say around 2 a.m. a transgender male was walking along the east side of the creek when he was grabbed from behind by an unknown male.

According to police, the suspect put a knife to the victim’s neck and threatened to kill him if he did not comply. The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and left the scene on foot.

The suspect is described as male, white, 5’8” tall, thin build with short dark hair.

Anyone with any information is requested to contact the Sexual Assault Unit at 905-688-4111 ext 5131.

Please Sign Transman Issak Wolfe's Graduation Card

We could all but drown out Red Lion High School Principal Mr. Shue as he calls Issak by his birth name at graduation. Despite everything that was done to help him understand transgender people Mr. Shue refused to listen. Instead Mr. Shue attempted to keep Isaak from attending prom trying to bully him and his girl into silence.

Mr. Shue will be summoning him in front of all of his classmates to retrieve his diploma with the wrong name and will hand Issak a diploma, one with a females name inscribed upon it. Oh course Issak will still hear Shue call him but hopefully that won't be his lasting impression of the day. He will remember us for our support and caring.

Sign Issak's graduation card

From the card....

Imagine a graduation ceremony where your principal purposely reads the wrong name. Add your voice in support of trans equality activist and high school senior Isaak Wolfe.

Issak Wolfe is a senior at Red Lion Area Senior High School and will be graduating with the rest of the senior class on June 7th. Issak, who is a female to male transgender student, started his transition the summer before his Junior year and has been going by the name Issak for the past two years. Now, as graduation approaches, his school is refusing to read the name Issak Wolfe when he receives his diploma because it is not the name on his birth certificate. School administration reported that they would only read the name Issak if he got it legally changed but the process takes far longer than the one month before graduation day.

This is not the first time that Issak has run into conflicts of discrimination at his school. Earlier this year, Issak intended to run for Prom King of Red Lion High but school administration refused to put him on the list, instead telling him that he could only run for Prom Queen because they did not identify him as a male.

Despite these conflicts, Issak has been a stellar member of the Red Lion High community. He leads the Gay Straight Alliance group at school and loves taking art and ceramic classes. He also had his prom outfit (seen above) custom made for him and wants to pursue a career in business and fashion after graduation!

Please show your support for Issak by signing this card in celebration of his graduation!

Will Cemia Dove's Murder Be The First Time The Mathew Shepard Act Is Used To Prosecute A Hate Crime Against A Transgender Person?

Will the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes law be used to prosecute Andrey Bridges? And if not, why not? No confession is needed that he committed this heinous act of violence because of transphobia. Cemia's body was found wearing a red Betty Boop belly tank top, three black bras on top of one another, and a light black-hooded jacket. She was naked from the waist down. The rope was tied from the back and also attached to a steel pipe and the concrete. It's more than obvious transphobia was the motivating factor that drove Bridges to murder her.

Andrey Bridges, the man accused of murdering Cemia Dove, a 20 year old transgender woman, appeared in court Friday. Bridges's is charged with aggravated murder, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. His bond was set at 5 million dollars and his case is to have it's first hearing by a grand jury on May 16th.

But no mention of this being a hate crime has been made yet. Can Bridges be charged for a hate crime?
 
From the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act' text:

(A) IN GENERAL- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B) or paragraph (3), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person--

`(i) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

`(ii) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--

`(I) death results from the offense; or

`(II) the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

The transgender community should be afraid the Bridges a repeat offender might walk free. Most recently he beat a woman so badly she after he was released from prison on June 25, 2010 that she had to be admitted to the hospital with a collapsed lung, broken ribs and other injuries.

Bridges pleaded guilty in 2012 to aggravated assault in connection with the June 2010 incident and was sentenced to probation by Judge Hollie Gallagher.

Hildebrand, the Attorney that represented Bridges told the Plain Dealer "he believes the prosecuting attorney agreed to probation for Bridges because so much time had passed and because of concerns about whether his right to a speedy trial had been violated."

Requirement D, that a minority feels that justice will not be served is met. If Bridges had been held accountable under the law for the 2010 beating  he wouldn't have been free to murder our transgender sister.

1) IN GENERAL- No prosecution of any offense described in this subsection may be undertaken by the United States, except under the certification in writing of the Attorney General, or his designee, that--

`(A) the State does not have jurisdiction;

`(B) the State has requested that the Federal Government assume jurisdiction;

`(C) the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in eradicating bias-motivated violence; or

`(D) a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.

There are a number of other conditions before charging Andrey Bridges with a hate crime but one that is painfully obvious to the transgender community. This act of violence was reported in such a way in the media that it will result in an increased bias against transgender people.

In Fact the last main stream article by Newsnet5 reporting the bond was the first article that was done in such a way as not to further bias against transgender people.

How would that be used by the prosecutor to convince a jury this was a hate crime? One of the reasons the Mathew Shepard Act was passed by the Senate was because...

"Members of targeted groups are prevented from purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining employment, or participating in other commercial activity"

Nothing could be truer in this instance. The atrocious reporting by local media was amplified time and time again nationally and internationally as editors jumped at the chance to sensationalize and dehumanize Dove parroting the original reporting by the Plain Dealer resulting in the demoralization of our minority internationally.

This devalued sense of worth compounded with the knowledge people obsessed with harming us have been given a added boast to their prejudice makes us more fearful for our individual well being. This of course interferes with our ability to be hired, job performance and participation in the free market.

The transgender community has heard time and again that prosecutors refuse to persecute our murders as hate crimes for fear the jury will reject that charge and ruin there case against the accused.

It's time our transgender minority is protected under law as intended by the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Act. It's time transgender people are protected under law. It is time.

Blue Cross Anthem Now Covers Sexual Reassignment Surgery

Not sure if I'm the last to know about this but it's news to me. Since my company switched to a new unaffordable insurance plan that does not cover HRT all options are on the table. Why not try and upgrade if we can? Judging by the phrase "one option for extreme cases" it would appear Blue Cross has preempted the generally accepted diagnosis and will put the onus on the patient to prove their gender dysphoria is 'extreme' enough to warrant SRS. (jumping through cisnormative binary hoops)

Reading the Clinical UM Guideline it becomes apparent the devil is in the details so read it carefully and be fully aware of your options. But most importantly, since you are dealing with a commercial enterprise intent on giving you the least for your money, be beware.

Virtual Criminal Flash Mob Stole 45 Million From ATM's Worldwide in a Few Hours

In what may be the crime of the century cells of people called 'cashiers' used prepaid cards with limits removed to empty ATMs around the world in just hours of more than 45 million dollars.

The good news is that the stolen money did not belong to individual accounts so no one who has a prepaid card has to worry. It was stolen from two middle Eastern banks, Rakbank and Muscat Bank, both banks racked in millions in net profit in 2012. The demographic that uses prepaid bank cards, poor people,  includes trans folk who suffer incredible job discrimination.

Here's how it worked according to the associated press:

"Hackers got into bank databases, eliminated withdrawal limits on pre-paid debit cards and created access codes. Others loaded that data onto any plastic card with a magnetic stripe — an old hotel key card or an expired credit card worked fine as long as it carried the account data and correct access codes."

Source USA Today "After penetrating the processor's computer network, the hackers fraudulently manipulated the balances and withdrawal limits on Rakbank prepaid debit card accounts. Then, teams of so-called cashers allegedly launched carefully timed attacks that caused more than $5 million in criminal losses from more than 4,500 ATMs in about 20 countries."

"In just two hours and 25 minutes, the thieves allegedly conducted 750 fraudulent transactions that withdrew nearly $400,000 from approximately 140 New York City ATM locations, according to prosecutors and the indictment."

"The alleged second unlimited operation unfolded between the afternoon of Feb. 19 and the pre-dawn hours of the following day. This time, the gang's hackers allegedly compromised computers of the processor of prepaid debit cards for the Bank of Muscat, located in Oman."

"In approximately 10 hours, casher cells in 24 countries conducted approximately 36,000 ATM transactions worldwide, withdrawing an estimated $40 million, the indictment charged. The haul included $2.4 million withdrawn by the alleged New York crew."


Modern day Robin Hoods? Not. But at least they didn't steal from the poor. They stole from the filthy rich.