R.I.P Unknown Transgender Veterans

After serving 7 years in the regular Army I became lonesome for the companionship of fellow soldiers and enlisted in the National Guard.

But because I was a Buck Sargent (E-5)I could not get promoted until I changed my job. So much to my surprise I ended up in the Infantry, went to the next Non Commissioned Officer School and was subsequently promoted to Staff Sargent and went on active duty with the Guard.

"On behalf of the United States Goverment, the Department of Defense and the United States Army I wish to present this flag in gratitude of your love ones service to our country." This still brings tears to my eyes.

So in the the process I went from being a member,  to leading what we called "firing squads" and presenting the flags to the next of kin.
Yes, a transgender woman  represented the United States Government during the most critical seconds that will formulate how the public thinks of us. Represented. My fellow Soldiers, Sailors and Marines and was so proud during those seconds, our eyes mutually tearful, honestly conveying my respect and love, and condolences.

My respect was honest because even though DADT included me a trans woman my soldiers and superiors  had no issue with who I am. They knew as I showed over and over they could count on me during those critical seconds. They respected me and that meant more than anything.
I always wondered though, how many of those people in the coffins were closeted transsexuals as well, forced to endure a life of internal torture battling their gender incongruous for the love of our country?

To this day that question remains unanswered even after the repeal of DADT, for gay people. But why, you ask, were we left behind? Why?

Outserve answers that question. Because of The New DADT.

 Because we remain pathologized by the APA in the DSM. Gay people recognized they had to be removed from thee DSM in order to be removed fron DADT,and its time we did as well. Please take a stand for our transgender people in uniform who are dieing for us even as I type,  and sign the petition to remove transgender from the dsm

I hope on this day of memorial we stop and remember or hero's. Those who lived were granted the rights to their lives authentically, and those like us transgender Soldier, Sailor and Marines

who were not.

RadFem2012, AFA, KKK. It's All the Same.

You can dress it up anyway you like, feminist garb, white sheets or with biblical shrouds when its all said and done they have the same central purpose. To exclude to the point of eradication those who they deem unworthy to walk this earth with them.

I do not claim to be a authority on feminism having obtained my degree in homeless transsexual studies with a minor in gay and trans friend couch surfing from real life experiences. But here's my take on it. Radfems are bigots. They claim they are only asking to be left alone for RadFem2012, which they frame as a of "woman born woman living as woman" albeit trans exclusionary gathering. But they are featuring a vehemently anti trans speaker.

In the UK, one Feminist's point of view on Radfem2012::



The view of seven million students in the UK mirrors her opinion::

"NUS LGBT Campaign is saddened to learn that the RadFem 2012 conference has invited well-known transphobic, anti-sex work and anti-BDSM speakers -- notably Sheila Jeffreys -- to their event. NUS LGBT Campaign is proud to be a feminist campaign. We are inclusive of all genders; we support trans liberation, sex worker’s rights and the right to all consenting sexual practices."

"NUS LGBT Campaign is concerned that RadFem 2012 is explicitly restricting attendance to people they describe as “women born women living as women.” This discriminates directly against trans women in distinguishing them from other women. Many others - sex workers, trans folk of other genders and queers - will also be implicitly excluded by the presence of such hateful transphobic and anti-sex work speakers who do not recognise these identities as real identities, or this work as real work."

NUS LGBT Campaign is clear that gender is a matter of self-definition. The only person who can define their own gender identity is that person, regardless of what biological status they may have been awarded at birth. Trans people, sex workers and queers bring a great depth of understanding of many strands of oppression to feminism - not to mention many brilliant activists. Oppression based on gender identity is a feminist concern; our liberation is a feminist fight.

There is an ugly history of the exclusion of trans women and sex-worker feminists from feminist space and writing, but NUS LGBT Campaign believes that RadFem2012's active transphobia is not reflective of contemporary feminism within the UK. We are heartened by the support of many feminists who agree that there is no place for transphobia in feminism.

Its not just the students who are up in arms over the RadFem2012. The The "F" Word a feminist blog from the UK had this to say (and much more).....

So who is Sheila Jeffreys and why are her views at odds with the vast majority of feminists?

The "F" Word: "Then there's Sheila Jeffreys, who thinks that "transgenderism" is:

Condemnation of Jeffrey's anti trans view was not automatic. The "F" Word interviewed Sheila Jeffreys and conducted extensive conversations about it. You can hear those conversations and the highly charged responses at Facing Our Fear: Transgenderism versus Radical Feminism. The truth is mmainstream Radical Feminists as a whole wwould have rather not have become involved in this divisive topic especially since the people they condemned for there transphobia are admired for their other views and activism.

But they had to confront their fears out of a sense of moral obligation.

So what is the response from RadFem2012 participants to being so condemned by the world of feminism? Cathy Brennan, a out spoken RadFem singled out a transgender woman, a professor, to attack:

Wait! Brennan wasn't done yet! Brennan emailed her employer trying to get her fired! For having a different view on Feminism! That's, SICK! That's classic RadFem. Classic AFA. Classic KKK. That is the unacceptable and why transphobic feminism is discredited by the majority of the worlds feminists, be they cisgender or not!

When its all said and done hate is hate is hate.

This "T" Word activist agrees with The "F" Word.  Boycott RadFem2012

Rapper "Action Bronson" Posts Twitter Pic Of "Passed out Pissed On Tranny" Then Apologizes?

Bronx Rapper "GIMME DAT BUTT" posted this picture on his twitter account which has been since removed. He then defended his picture with these tweets courtesy of his fan  Zebra Food.com

This picture has been deleted from the rappers account in the moments prior to this posting and these two apologies were issued by the rapper apparently in response to the LGBT communities outrage.....

But then tweeted....if you notice the apologies were retweeted only 7 times and the offensive comments 50 times....

I would venture this last tweet was to save face, pandering to his fans misogynistic, hyper testosterone driven fans, but I will not contest the sincerity of Action Bronson's apology. It looked heartfelt to me but when you go partying in the Bronx.... I would strongly advise you not to do so with Action Bronson..or get inebriated to the point you wake up pissed on or worst....

We all know what happens if we do.

Chloë Sevigny New Role: Murdering Trans Mom With a Dick on "Hit & Miss"

At which episode with this murdering psycho trans hit mom get a contract on her newly discovered family, or will that just remain the come on?

Sevigny, 37, will play the central character of Mia in "Hit and Miss," which is written and produced by Paul Abbott, creator of "Shameless" and "State of Play." Sevigny is best known for her roles in the HBO series "Big Love" and the films "Kids," "Boys Don't Cry" and "Shattered Glass."

"Mia's life is sent into a tailspin when she receives a letter from an ex-girlfriend dying from cancer revealing that Mia fathered a son 11 years ago," a synopsis said.

"Faced with a difficult decision, Mia becomes the guardian to a new family, forcing her to mix her killer instincts with her newly developing maternal instincts. 'Hit and Miss' tells the story of a lethal killer at the heart of a troubled family and how all of their lives will be dramatically changed forever."



Nice clip. A awe gee moment, maybe she really cares and this movie's not just all about making money. Or more that likly its a attempt to put some space between it and UK's banned  Paddy Power's TransToxic "Lady's Day" advert.

Cock. Yeah so some transwoman still have a dick. People at my job are always staring rudely at my crotch as we pass. Not because they care about my happiness. They are staring because I am just a oddity, a it. And they treat me with hateful lies and attacks on my person ruining my chances as promotion and raises, very possibly ending my life.

All because I was stupid enough to believe management had my best interests at heart and asked them to consider changing the medical benefits to include SRS. That was the day everything began to fall apart. That was the day my crotch became public domain.

There's your education Chloë. And its not confusion, shit you make it sound like we are confused over who we are. And "newly developing maternal instincts" sounds like a transwoman is without those feelings normally, get a clue Chloë.

A friend was quick to respond to my posting on facebook critical of Hit or Miss, saying we need to grow up and "think outside of the box". Absolutely, I will think outside of this coffin.

My problem has nothing to do with her selfish pity party over having to wear a dick for the part. She knows that was a promotional spot for millions of potential "Tranny Chasing" viewers.

Its not so much about how there are so many talented transgender actors starving, literally, for work. I'm relieved no trans actresses accepted this role if they were even offered it.

My problem with this concept is that once again transgender and transsexual people will be preyed to feed cisgender people by portraying us as abnormal. I am angry this movie has dehumanizes our wonderful gender gift, lowering it the the most base level. I am upset that the UK media corporations are once again leading the way to transphobia with this murdering chick with a dick. Am I being overly critical actually discouraging new discourse by giving this concept a preemptive thumbs down?

Perhaps, but I wouldn't be critical if media was produced portraying trans people as quirky lovable "friends" or a member of a the "modern family". Just saying.

OuTing The Radfem Agenda: No Peace, Nowhere to Hide

*Update ::The anti trans screed appearing on "gendertrender" was authored by "Gullasmag" and not Cathy Brennan. A honest mistake since the hate from one "Radfem" is often indistinguishable from anothers.  As a example I posted the hatefull pictures that Cathy Brennan sent me in response to this article.
***.
I posted a article on my facebook profile authored by "GallusMag" RadFem 2012 : First Speakers Announced . The article's first few paragraphs appear to be a unattributed cut and past from the Radfem 2012 web page but it quickly descended to a screed easily confused with the recent rants made by another Radfem by the name of Cathy Brennan.

I got various reactions from my friends on my facebook page. Some, cisgender and trans alike, who have had met Brennan expressed there dislike of her tactics. Some uninitiated friends just commented that we should as trans people live and let live. As much as I embrace that philosophy its simply not in our best interest.

Brennan is a chameleon, often posting under various guises always disguising her virulent hatred of gender diversity beginning with her incredible misnamed blog "gendertrander". Brennan's one trademark is to start a conversation by making the other person think she has the best interest at heart, then she will start inserting seemingly innocuous innuendos all degrading and dehumanizing, leading to one point.

Brennan and her ilk believe that transgender people are fake, of no value. They believe all transgender people be they male of females identities, are just facades as all transphobic misogynistic people do. Yes, woman can be misogynists as it is nothing but a expression of hatred and bigotry. Dangerously divisive is there name "radfem' which would lead many to assume the majority of radical feminists have the same beliefs as what you find on the Radfem web page...

OK, so I have established that Brennan and her ilk are transphobic at heart but why shouldn't we just leave them be? I mean they are almost comicaly, endearing in a really creepy sort of way, so why bother? Why elevate Brennan's level of creditability?

This is why. Just when you least expect it they blindside our community with a unprecipitated attacks, like the letter to the UN which was a thinly disguised blitzkrieg  against our gender expression. That is why we can not allow them  peace to formulate there next action without at least making the effort to educate and OUT Brennan and her ilk for what they are!

The truth is Cathey Brennan believes that the expansion of trans rights in public accomidations undermines and threatens the rights of cisgender woman.

Where the hate of the Radfem's vehicle for the transmission of transphobia meets the pavement, a excerpt from their letter to the UN:

We anticipate that GLBT activists will push to enact similar legislation in additional states in upcoming years, including in Maryland and Massachusetts, the states in which the authors of this communication reside. In addition to compromising rational sex-based protections for females, “gender identity” legislation incorporates stereotypical ideas of “what is female” into law.

[…] As lesbians, we are concerned about the impact of this legislation on our community, and our community’s ability to meet free from male influence and involvement. More importantly, as females, we are concerned that in the attempt to provide protections for a few, we will compromise the protections of the many.[xx]

Specifically, the proliferation of legislation designed to protect “gender identity” and “gender expression” undermines legal protections for females vis-à-vis sex segregated spaces, such as female-only clubs, public restrooms, public showers, and other spaces designated as “female only.” Females require sex-segregated facilities for a number of reasons, chief among them the documented frequency of male sexual violence against females and the uniquely female consequence of unwanted impregnation resulting from this relatively common form of violence.[xxi] Public policy, therefore, rationally permits sex segregation in certain settings where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.

Update 9/21/2012 :: These pictures were sent by Cathey Brennan tweeting as "Bugbrennan" to me in response to this article....

Radfems ET all are simply the worst sort of enemy. They befriend you, gain your confidence and when you least expect it stick the knife in your back. They are chamilions assimilating whatever disguise suits them best at the moment to make the world believe transwoman are in fact nothing more then men. That Trans men are of no value being traitors to there gender.










Hopefully other Radfems attending this gathering in London will become educated and disavow Brennan and excommunicate her like the vast majority of the trans community already has.

Dan Rather on Bill Maher: Mainstream Media's Corruption

This is a not transgender centric post but in reality it has everything to do with what you read on planetransgender. Dan Rather was my idol growing up. My rock. He was the one person you could trust. You could count on his unbiased reports to be factual and honest uncorrupted by corporate influence and during the Vietnam war, a critically important distinction.



Now all of that has gone away, for mainstream media anyways. As Dan said the firewall between corporations and the news room no longer exists. And that very reason is why so many people are turning to social media for news, but its a duel edged sword. Like I said I am a liberal trans woman with queer tendencies and my blog and columns reflect that.

We believe what we read and are increasingly turning to sources that feed that desire for validation. That goes the same for everyone, liberal or right wing.

However I promise you that I will never knowingly mislead you or lie to you. Just saying.

Jenna Talackova Takes Center Stage At Miss Universe Canada With Style, Grace and one Stunning Body!

Jenna is just stunning. She is such a vibrantly alive gorgeous woman many of her co contestants are intimidated by her. They claim her being trans is a unfair advantage! Really? Being a member of the most persecuted unprotected minority is an advantage? I think its just sour grapes! But here's a few pictures so you can decide.

Check out the rest of her pictures at Jenna Talackova competes in Miss Universe Canada

May 17 IDAHO day Make a Facebook (or any other kind of) Statement

May 17 :: MAKE A STATEMENT

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia.

LETS MAKE A STATEMENT FOR MORE RESPECT AND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION!

Take (Online!) Action:

Change on May 17 your facebook-profile-picture and use the group-logo. Show all facebookers that you are against homophobia, transphobia & discrimination and for equality & respect!

1. Join this event.

2. Invite all your friends to this event.

3. On May 17 copy the logo from the foto section.

3. Paste the logo as your profile picture.

4. Show your soldarity for 1 day!

You can change also your status, mayby like that:

" ... is totaly IDAHO! :: May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia:: Join, participate, and make a statement!

It´s easy.
It´s cheap, cost you only 1 min.
And yes, we can, because we are IDAHO!

it´s time to act! Now!
es ist Zeit zu handeln! Jetzt!
il est grand temps de faire quelquechose! Maintenant!
es tiempo de actuar. ¡Ahora!
harekete geçme zamanı geldi! Şimdi!
είναι ώρα να δράσουμε! Τώρα!
حان الاوان للعمل. الان!
זה הזמן לפעול. עכשיו!
vrijeme je da djelujemo! Sada!
време је да делујемо! Сад!
vrijeme je za djelovanje! Sada!
време е да действаме! Сега!
ara és l'hora d'actuar! Fés-ho!
nastal čas konať! Teraz!
det är tid att agera! Nu!
Čas je, da ukrepamo! Zdaj!
行动起来吧！就现在！
yeh waqat hey kuch karney ka,,Abi asi waqat,,
è ora di agire! Adesso!
нужно только действовать! Прямо сейчас!

The Hard Life of Our "T" Truth: R.I.P. Sister Brandy Martell

Brandy and her coworkers at the health care office look of defiance is a signature of our hard life. It comes from always having to be defensive, never trusting and the hard lessons learned from those occasions when we did and were hurt. Sometimes the hardest lesson is the one that ends in our murders.

Source SfBlog "This part of Oakland is a cab stand. It is also a hangout for transgender people; Brandy was there in her car with three other transgender women. Around 3:30 a.m., a couple of gentlemen walked by them. Judging by their clothes, they'd been at a nightclub. They made catcalls and aggressively hit on the women; one was very interested in Brandy, repeating how fine she was. The men wanted the women to come with them, but the women realized that the men did not "know what their T is" -- "T," or truth, is slang for a woman who is trans."

"The ladies then asked, "You know we're trans, right?" When they gave them the information, the pick-up ended. The men went up around a bookstore toward 14th Street. Around 5:30 a.m., the men returned, and the women were still in the car. One man opened fire on Brandy Martell, killing her."

My life isn't that much different from Brandy's as today I am recovering from another occurrence of hate. Maybe tomorrow I will also have to pay the ultimate price for my "T", I don't know.

But in the meantime I have the honor of working with hundreds of cisgender people who value each person for their individuality. To them, this acceptance is the ultimate expression of the American dream so on Mothers Day they gave me this rose saying simply "everyone gets one".

Brandy the Rose has wilted but the love and unconditional acceptance that it expresses has not. I want you to have this rose because everyone Brandy, gets one.

DSM UPDATE: APA To Sugarcoat Pathologization of Transgender In DSM-5

Sick is Sick.

The APA has decided to keep transgender in the DSM-5. While acknowledging the controversy they continue to ignore the resulting detrimental affects it has on transgender people. You can use whatever words you like to pathologize transgender and transsexuals, but calling our naturally occurring socially beneficial gender diversity a mental illness is, well, sick.

Pandering to the undecided and those who have insurance and in a attempt to avoid becoming completely irrelevant in regards to gender diversity, they will use "dysphoria" instead of "disorder" but in the end it means the same thing. You are mentally ill or just plain "SICK".

Some highlights of the proposed changes as noted by Med page today:

Whats changed:

Gender identity disorder. Individuals who believe their biological gender doesn't match their gender identification will no longer be labeled with a disorder. Instead, if they seek psychiatric treatment, they can be labeled with "gender dysphoria."

The workgroup responsible for dealing with the hot-button issue considered a variety of other approaches, addressed later in this article. Ultimately they settled on a formal diagnosis -- potentially qualifying a patient for insurance-paid treatment if they want it -- but with a less pejorative name than "disorder."


What the APA refused to change:

Transgenderism as a V code. In seeking to destigmatize what was called gender identity disorder in DSM-IV, one proposal was to list it -- with or without a new name -- as a so-called V code. In DSM-IV, this was a chart code used to flag items of clinical interest that were not diagnosable or treatable conditions in their own right -- such as problems at school or noncompliance with treatment.

It was rejected, as were suggestions that the condition be dropped from DSM-5 altogether.

*************

Transition is much like childbirth. As we transition our true expressions emerge and this can be a wonderful experience or it can be so traumatic it kills the mother.

Why is the APA contributing to our distress? Many believe as I do the APA's main interest is job security and being a enabler for pharmaceutical profiteering.

DSM5.org proposed changes

5000 member Facebook event "petition the APA Remove Transgender from The DSM"

Jenna Talackova and 62 other HOT Canadian Woman In Bikinis!

A gratuitous over the top sexualization of womankind?

Perhaps, but Jenna, you have done wonders bringing trans people into the limelight in a positive way. She has come a long ways from being the bullied child, the daughter of an Aboriginal mother and Czechoslovakian father.


A long ways from being rejected from the Miss Universe pageant.

A long ways for her, a long ways for transgender and transsexuals everywhere and believe it or not, a long ways for all of womankind. Every step Jenna takes towards equality exponentially levels the playing field for the other 62 contestants and womankind everywhere.

Video Tom Gabel sings "Transgender Dysphoria Blues"

Live during The Revival Tour at House of Rock in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 19, 2012.



Here's the best guess at the lyrics:

Transgender Dysphoria Blues by

‎Your tells are so obvious.
Shoulders too broad for a girl
Keeps you reminded
Helps you remember where you come from

You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you like they see every other girl.
They just see a faggot. They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Washed up on the coast, I wish we could've spent the whole day alone
With you

You've got no cunt in your strut
You've got no hips to shake
You know it's obvious, but we can't choose how we're made

Be Cece's Family Letter Writing Campaign

Dallas Transgender Advocates Grass Roots Action in Support Of Our Sister Cece McDonald, Incarcerated to satisfy The Industrial Prison Complexes insatiable appetite For Minorities.

Now is when we show our true trans mettle and commit ourselves to a grass roots action showing our incarcerated sister we care.

We know we do care but she won't unless we tell her.

What we got to do....

Buy envelopes, stamps and a pad of paper..

In your own words tell Cece how you feel..doesn't have to be anything fancy, just be u...

This will be the only contact she may have over the long run as her case begins to fade from media attention and peoples minds. Its only human we do tend to procrastinate, until her imprisonment fades but its a sign of a true friend and a solid community that we won't.

Write CeCe

Please send a letter to CeCe while she is in jail. Let her know she has a huge amount of community support and that we are all here for her.

Public Safety Facility

Chrishaun Reed McDonald #2012000296

401 South 4th Avenue

Suite 100

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Dallas Transgender Advocate's Action Be Cece's Family

Support Cece Wordpress

Don't Let Pussy Riot Rot In Jail! Free Them With Bail$

The Russian Feminist Punk Band Pussy Riot hearing is scheduled for May 11th and they are in need of thousands of dollars to get bailed out. Why should trans people care? Because in the extremely misogynistic society that is Russia today they are standing up for gender variance!

The band also mentions American punk rock band Bikini Kill and the Riot Grrrl movement of the 1990s as an inspiration in an interview by The St. Petersburg Times. “What we have in common is impudence, politically loaded lyrics, the importance of feminist discourse and a non-standard female image,” Pussy Riot said.

BREAKING ABC VIDEO: OBAMA SUPPORTING SAME SEX MARRIAGE

"I think same sex couples should be able to get married" Obama April 9 2012

In an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, the president described his thought process as an “evolution” that led him to this place, based on conversations with his own staff members, openly gay and lesbian service members, and conversations with his wife and own daughters.



"I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” Obama told Roberts, in an interview to appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday. Excerpts of the interview will air tonight on ABC’s “World News with Diane Sawyer.”

ABC Blog President Obama Affirms His Support for Same Sex Marriage


Now what about transgender people Mr President? Can you say T-r-a-n-s-g-e-n-d-e-r? What about ENDA?

Fired Ohio Transgender Student Teacher Broke No Laws Or Code Of Ethics

This transgender student teacher was bullied out of his job by school district and made to believe the actions by the the district was appropriate. This is simply not true. The Student teacher broke no laws or code of conduct.

He was simply trying too educate his students about his gender expressions to address rumors and vocal misgendering occurring in his class room. There is no more wrong with that than if a Muslim or Jewish orthodox teacher educated there students about the difference in their attire.

A commenter identifying as a student at the school defended the teacher:

There is nothing more wrong with that than if a person of color was to instruct there students on the science of different skin pigmentation and why there is no reason to fear them because of there appearance.

And the Federal Government Agrees recently ruling that gender expression and identity are protected under tittle VII of the civil rights act.

The Hillsboro Ohio school district superintendent didn't agree and fired the teacher for alleged unspecified violation of the Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Ohio Educators but has refused to identify what code was violated despite repeated requests by the Willimington News Journal.

Despite my best efforts I can not identify what code was broken ether so I posted it so you can decide.

Licensure COPC for Ohio Educators Color[1]

Given there was no actual violations of codes, moral standards or laws by the transgender teachers response to bigotry the only reason left would be that voiced by another commenter Willimington News Journal:

Transgender Homesteading in Navajo County Dream Catching

Building this dream is Joshua DaddyBear Jordan, my brother, a transman living in Brisbee AZ. This vision Jousha is endevouring to share is about building lives and resurrecting souls all in the desert of Navajo County Arizona.

From Green T Homestead: (This) is a long-running endeavor to create a community of people who wish to live off the land and use as much of mother natures provisions as possible. It is geared towards the Transgendered and Gender Variant Community as well as their families. We give priority to homeless or endangered people and then will be branching out to those that simply wish for a better way of life off the ...grid.

Green T Homestead is welcoming to most anyone looking to work together to survive in this failing economy and declining world. Everyone on the human and not-so-human spectrum and all the social misfits of this world are most welcome as well. Again starting with those mentioned above and branching out as availability is there.

How can we change this?

Well right now what is happening is that my co-founder/companion and I are scouting land in Navajo County, AZ, and on that land, we are planning a self-sustained homestead or, what I call, The Ranch. We will be gardening both hydroponically and indoors to produce fruits, veggies, and herbs for both self-use, and to feed the community, as well as using it as an income source. Also we plan to have ranch animals such as cows, goats, pigs, and chickens to be used, again, for self-sufficiency as well as income generation.

This will be done in phases, starting with the main house and a small hydroponic system to grow fruit and vegetables. All the houses will be built with a grey water hydroponic/ aquaculture system, allowing each tenant to grow the foods they would like.

How will we the residents sustain themselves and where?

We want to build individual domains for the families so that everyone has their own living space. These would be environmentally-sound residences that run off the land and use solar energy and possibly windmills - both to be found in abundance in the area in which we are planning to build. Each of these residences would be operated financially with the income generated by the individuals living in them as well as the combined income that is the "community bank", which would be run by an outside resource so as to prevent misuse of appropriated funds. Each family would be required to work the land in some way and help provide for the community as well as become self-sufficient themselves. There, of course, is more, but most things will be discovered through practical application.

How are we gonna make money?

As previously mentioned we will be generating some income from The Ranch itself via the produce and meat farming. We are also working on several smaller enterprises, such as the Art Auction and other fundraising projects we have coming up. Also we are going to have Green T Homestead merchandise for sale, which will be sold for the land purchase and other expenses - as small as How-To books and as large as building materials and etc.

There will be, in the future, a small camp for kids two to three weeks in the summer which will give them experience with farm life and animal care and maintenance. We will also have weekend artist sales and we hope to encourage residents and others to have their arts and crafts be part of the community funding and individual income sources as. Again, there are many plans and many dreams, all of which will be tried and tested for what will work best.

What are the chances this will succeed?

I, for one, am quite optimistic that this can work well. It will depend, largely at first, on the outside support we can generate from the people at large, whether they desire to be living at Green T Homestead or just be a supporter. As things fall together and life starts to happen, I think the odds will grow increasingly; the more hands at work, the more monies generated; the more money generated, the more people can survive, and that also goes for the farm itself.

Other Goals:

We hope to be able to house some folks that are not looking to stay forever but just get a foot up, so to speak. My dad used to say, "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps," and we wanna give ya some bootstraps.

This housing would not require you to pay out enormous rents and expenses since this is how we all get in spots where we can't get ahead or get our OWN footing, but instead, your rent would consist of helping on the farm and contributing through labor or items to place in the weekend arts and crafts sales. Whatever your niche is, we can find a way to use it; This will be a no-one-rides-for-free project, so that is how we can work it.

What can YOU do?

What you can do is donate money, time, energy, experience, stories, helpful suggestions, materials, such as books and other information and insights, that we might need, post our links everywhere that is appropriate; word of mouth right now is everything. MONEY is not the only way to help us so please don't think that :)

Bottom lining all this, in order to make it, we will take and
appreciate all the help we can get in any form we receive it.

Here's to the future home of Green T Homestead.

JBear-Co-Founder/Vice President
Co-founder and companion Daniel Benham/Treasurer
Joshua-President
Belle Jordan -Secretary
Tristan-Media Manager/Secretarial Assistant
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Transgender Woman Ticketed For Using Parkland Ladies Room "I Did Nothing Wrong"

Paula Witherspoon, a transgender woman from Dallas Texas was ticketed for using the ladies room after another woman told hospital police she was made 'very afraid' by Paula. A day ago the Dallas Voice broke this story. I called friends in Dallas, not knowing Paula personally, before committing my reputation in her defense and what I was told made me hesitate in posting. I needed to wait, given how much had not been brought to light and the importance of this story.

What my friends told me turned out to be true. Paula is a convicted sex offender on parole and does wear a ankle braclet. Paula's legal name has not been changed to reflect her feminine expression, a fact some news outlets taut, while misgendering her with male pronouns like a additional damning piece of evidence of misdeeds.

That's enough to motivate me to post. I have been forced to endure a very similar transphobic bathroom attack just miles from Parkland hospital. Parkland says the ticket she received is 'under review' casting doubt on the validity of the charge and the Parkland police actions.
Is Paula a victim having been identified as a easy target by a hateful woman or did she actually commit a crime in that restroom? If justice prevails we will learn the truth, or what the is perceived by the the majority as truth in the form of a verdict.
KHOU 11 Houston's impartial and unbiased report

CeCe McDonald to be Sentenced For Not Being Murdered: INjustice Done

Cece a black transgender woman defended herself surviving the attack by three racist transphobic bigots. Her reward, 41 months in jail. A white man in Florida shoots dead an unarmed black teenager and isn't even arrested until after social media, like this blog, forces mainstream media to bring national attention to the crime.

From my perspective as a transgender advocate who mourns the murder of trans people ever DAY AND A HALF, I'm relieved. At least it wasn't our sisters dead body in that ambulance.

But a major injustice has been done non the less.

From the CeCe McDonald Support Committee:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2012

Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald Accepts Plea Agreement to Reduced Manslaughter Charge

Racism, Transphobia in Legal System Continued Assault McDonald Survived, Supporters Charge

Contact: Katie Burgess, Executive Director, Trans Youth Support Network, transyouthsupportnetwork@gmail.com, (612) 363-757 and Billy Navarro Jr, MN Transgender Health Coalition, mntranspr@gmail.com, (612) 823-1152

Minneapolis, MN - Earlier today, Ms. Chrishaun "CeCe" McDonald accepted a plea agreement to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the second degree in the criminal case resulting from the racist, transphobic assault she survived last June that left one of her attackers dead. The prosecution had originally charged her with felony murder in the second degree. However, after entering into plea negotiations this morning, the defense and the prosecution settled on the reduced charge. McDonald will be sentenced on June 4th at 1:30pm under Hennepin County Judge Daniel Moreno to 41 months in prison. The executed sentence will be reduced by one third, for "good time" and credit for the time McDonald has served pending this resolution.

The plea agreement comes nearly a year after McDonald was arrested, interrogated, denied adequate medical care for a laceration she suffered during the attack and held in solitary confinement for a month for being a transgender person. During the pre-trial proceedings, supporters raised world-wide support for the charges against McDonald to be dropped. Last month, supporters delivered to Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman a petition for dropping the charges with over 15,000 signatures and dozens of letters of support for McDonald from organizations and prominent individuals from around the globe.

Freeman consistently failed to exercise his professional discretion and take a stand against racism and transphobia by dropping the charges.

"Freeman's aggressive prosecution of CeCe was a continuation of the racist, transphobic assault that led to her being charged and resulted in the tragic death of one of the assailants," said Kris Gebhard of the CeCe McDonald Support Committee. "We've been proud to stand with CeCe as she fought this unjust prosecution and will continue to stand with her as she fights for justice as a trans woman of color within the prison system."

In a press conference after the plea agreement was accepted in court, Katie Burgess of the Trans Youth Support Network addressed the crowd of supporters filling the steps outside the Hennepin County Courthouse. Burgess said:

"Over the past 10 months I have witnessed the legal system isolating and attacking another young trans woman of color in our community, CeCe McDonald. And over the past 10 months, I have also witnessed our community say very clearly, 'You are not alone, CeCe! And we have had enough!'

"With the whole world watching, Freeman's office consistently chose not to take the opportunity to stand up against racism and transphobia. Freeman himself said, and I quote, 'The criminal justice system is not built for, nor is it necessarily good at, solving a lot of society's problems.'

"We know that this system is not designed to deliver justice to young trans women of color. We are going to continue to support CeCe as she goes through this process and continue to stand for justice for all trans people and people of color so that this is the last time a young trans woman of color has to go through this."

Supporters will pack the courtroom for the sentencing on June 4th and continue to rally support for McDonald and to demand justice for all trans people and people of color.

For further updates, visit supportcece.wordpress.com and follow @Free_CeCe on Twitter

Morris Home: First Ever US In Patient Facility For Trans By Trans

I learned of a project called "Morris Home" and approached it with more than a little skeptisim after so many times hearing how impotant we are as a community to empower ourselves. After all who could argue with the stark realities? There was a reason so many of our people find themselves enslaved by dependency on prostitution and drugs. Obviously we were helpless to make take concrete steps as a community to remidey this, untill now.




I stumbled upon this facebook status by Susan Collins that was so passionate that I became intoxicated with the prospect. Could it be true we are now taking care of our own, albiet for now, just in one city?

This opening is special becuse it is the only inpatient facility of its kind in the USA to operated by the transgender people to specifically focus on transgender people.

The Morris Home looks at the whole person taking into account all of the variables and needs associated with transition. Morris Home's substance addiction program will focus on the most common factor associated with transgender murders.

We have the privliage of hearing from Susan Collins a transgender woman and employee at the Morris Home.

Kelli (Q): Susan, how did your road less traveled come to intersect with Morris Home?

Susan (A): "First off, I want to thank you Kelli for this opportunity to explain what Morris Home is, and why it has such great meaning to me and the entire trans community. And I want to give you great honor for the invaluable work you have done as an activist and advocate for trans rights for so many years. Thank you for the difference you have made in the world."

"My first contact with the trans community was at the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference in 2004 when I formally began my own transition. The conference was very radical and street based then, and I learned from the organizers and attendees the needs of the trans community at the street level, the homeless and those who lived on the margins of society, forced there due to transphobia. I became involved with the conference and sat on their executive committee till 2007. I still have a great fondness for that conference, for it helped me restore my dignity, supported me in finding direction, helped me find family."

At that time I also became involved in two committees, the Mayor’s Committee on Gender Minority and Homeless Shelters and The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Sexual Assault and Abuse. I learned from these experiences the great discrimination experiences by those who are trans and gender variant , even in a city that has inclusive civil rights laws, when trying to access services in the city, and the hesitancy of the trans community to access services, turning rather to each other and street services for their needs."

"From 2005 to 2008 I coordinated the Trans Health Program at Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia. The thousands of stories I heard during my time there of the rejection and exclusion faced by the trans community from health and social service providers was appalling, and the struggle to develop affirming providers in the area was slow and arduous."

"From 2008 till 2011 I did extended lecturing at conferences and colleges and medical schools on cultural competency and trans specific issues. I found doing these lectures an extreme lack of awareness and education in trans issues to be found in the college and professional levels."

"It was at this point that I first heard of Morris Home, then not even having a name, but an idea that was growing of providing affirming formal professional care for the trans and gender variant community. I was invited and attended several of the focus groups during the time period this idea, this dream, was growing into the concept of what is now Morris Home."

"During this period I also produced for 2 ½ years The Transcommunity News Show for TransFM, an Internet Broadcasting Network created and produced by Ethan St. Pierre. In this weekly show I shared events happening in the trans community world wide, and learned about the struggles everywhere to find dignified care for those who are trans and gender variant. It impressed on me, once again, the desperate need for affirming healthcare services for our community."

"I was living in Oregon last Spring when I was contacted by Resources for Human Development – RHD – and asked to interview for a position at Morris Home, as it was now named. I had my first interview on a conference call from Portland Oregon. They contacted me and said that if I came back to Philadelphia they would be interested in meeting with me again about Morris Home. So, after long hours of discussion with a close friend there, I decided that this was a dream that was coming to fruition that I wanted to be a part of. So I moved back to Philadelphia, and eventually was hired as Therapist at Morris Home in December of 2012."

"After months of training a staff – a most qualified staff, I might add. Comprised of trans and gender variant and “true” family, we have created a team that I am confident will provide the best care for those who come here for recovery - and setting up an entirely brand new program … as of last week we are officially open and the home is filling up!"

Q: How did the Home come to be named "Morris" and can you give a overview of the services?

A: "Morris Home, the dream child of Sade Ali, Deputy Commissioner for The Behavioral Health Services in Philadelphia, was named in honor of Nizah Morris
, a trans woman of African- American heritage who was murdered in Philadelphia in 2002, and whose death has never been investigated. Morris Home is a long term residential recovery treatment program designed specifically for those who self- identify as transgender or gender variant. We are operating under the Transformational Guidelines developed by the Department of Behavioral Health Services providing a holistic, humanistic approach to treatment to instill hope, empowerment, motivation, and to support those who come to Morris Home in developing the skills and supports essential for a positive recovery journey."

"I want to emphasize that Morris Home is a “home”, not a house, a center. We encourage a culture where all persons can find a “temporary home”, a safe and supportive environment where their transgender/gender variant status is honored and affirmed, and they can finally focus on their individual recovery and healing."

"When we assess a person for the intensive long term services that Morris Home provides the areas we assess are a serious history and pattern of substance abuse, any co-occurring challenges that may be present in a person’s life, severity of environmental distress, and those who identify transgender or gender variant. Those who are not in need of the intensity of services we offer our director and staff and Resource Coordinator work as a team to access appropriate care for the person."

"The Persons who come to Morris Home for recovery are funded for up to 1-2 year stay, giving us the time to support the persons here to work through short term and long term recovery plans, to achieve long term objectives of abstinence of substances, emotional and mental balance, a positive support system in the community, a stable source of income and permanent housing that is affirming of their transgender/gender variant status. We support and advocate for the persons at Morris Home in their work to maintain recovery, and not just “stay clean”. Right from the day a person enters Morris Home the person begins to identifying “after here” plans and visions. Morris Home makes sure all pieces of a person’s sustained recovery are in place when the person leaves here."


Q: Many Trans people have had difficulty finding therapists and medical doctors willing and trained to address transitional needs and once they do, it become apparent with time the care givers main concern is the continuance of treatment and revenue and not prescribing HRT and a successful transition. This is a pervasive problem enabled by the APA's Gate keepers methodology. How will Morris Home address these issues?


A: "Morris Home has joined in partnership with The Health Annex, a full service clinic operated by RHD. We will be offering primary care, HRT, mental health and other specialized care through this center. All staff, from front desk to M.A. to N.P to Psychiatrist have been extensively trained in affirming and informed care of those who are transgender. We have a clinical care professional at the Health Annex who will assist us in coordinating all their health care needs. The approach we advocate for, and that will be practiced at The Health Annex, is one of Informed Consent, Harm Reduction and Person Centered care."

"There are persons who are here at Morris Home who are currently enrolled at The Mazzoni Center and are happy with their care there. We encourage and support their efforts to continue their care there. Mazzoni Center is an excellent center and we assist those here get the care they feel most comfortable with. All treatment we provide at Morris Home is individualized, dignified, and affirming."

"We have also developed, and continue to expand, a resource guide to assist those at Morris Home seek transitional related services they may need."

"Concerning legal and preferred names, we use preferred and legal names on all documents. We in the milieu of Morris Home, and when we advocate for the persons here for services, emphasize preferred name and identity. We also support and advocate the goal of legal name change and have resources they can access to gain legal name change and to reflect that in all documents. We assist them in reaching this goal and walk them through the process."


Kelli: Morris Home will have to have a outpatient program for people in transition in all of these parts of there lives. It almost boggles the mind, but evidently Morris House has a plan!

Q: Tell us about what help a person may expect in finding shelter, hormones and work after inpatient treatment.

A:" One of the guidelines that our program is built around is engagement and access to services after a person has left Morris

Home. When a person leaves Morris Home they will carry all services that they are linked into with them. A main goal of maintaining recovery is a stable environment, so we make sure that they have a stable source of income and permanent housing that is affirming of their trans and gender variant identify when they leave. And our Resource Coordinator follows them for a few months to retain that connection of our support with them."

"All persons who come to Morris Home for recovery will always have access to our resources after they have left through our Resource Coordinator. We are coordinating a consistent support group/drop-in evening, facilitated by those who live at Morris Home, open to the entire local trans community at a local health center, as a way for those living at Morris Home to make positive community relationships and for those who were at Morris Home to stay connected."

"We are also coordinating to present workshops on trans issues, involving the persons in recovery at Morris Home, and to volunteer at events for local trans organizations, such as Philly Trans Pride March and Gender Reel. This will support the persons at Morris Home in developing a sense of community among themselves and within the larger community that they will retain after the person’s stay at Morris Home."

"We believe that the ability for a person to live at Morris home from 1-2 years will enable them to work for housing, develop and act on educational or training goals, maintain recovery, and build a strong, positive, social supports while in a safe, supportive environment."

***********************

As an activist and blogger I have seen time and again how the revolving door of homelessness and addiction desecrates our people. For most people myself included, it takes decades to advance past that ingrained self destructive behaviour. Morris Home has the potential of dramatically shortening that time while enhancing all of our lives.


Once again, I would like to thank you Susan for your work. You are making the crucial difference between life and death for our people.

Please visit Morris Home web site.

Morris Home on Facebook

ABC STOP Commercializing Transphobia

I would call ABC out for transphobia, again.

When does placing a trans person in a contrived over the top situation preying on unsuspecting peoples emotions accurately represent the trials and tribulations we face in the workplace? Since ABC said it does, that's when.

In the latest episode of "lets elicit emotional reactions" ABC's guinea pigs are patrons in a restaurant flipping out over the way a dinner is treating his waitress. Not since ABC's transphobic Work It was Axed have they been able to express their transphobia. Now like Work it they want to frame this awfulness as a learning experience. But ultimately its transgender people who will pay the price.

WE do not need ABC producers to stage a act where we are kicked lower than dirt so unempowered we must rely on a stranger to drag us back up above ground!! And seriously folks, one of these times someone is going to get really pissed off and hurt someone.




Here's the real deal. When I work my part time job as a cashier at Walmart no one gives me a second glance, anymore. Why? Because I don't have anything they want. Its a low paying service job like being a wattress and like a waitress I would never flaunt my gender expression becuse that is not what I am paid to do.

But let me go in there dressed in my primary workplace attire and I get jealous hateful stares because in their minds I represent a threat, having obtained something that's rightfully theirs by using my transgender status as a unfair advantage.

Now that's the flip.