Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility

Today marks the second annual International Transgender Day of Visibility, a celebration of the transgender communities contributions and lives. This is a new holiday conceived by Rachel Crandall, the head of Transgender Michigan who rightly points out that so much of what we hear about the trans community is negative. The only other trans holiday on the calendar is November 20th the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) which honors those who perished at the hands of transphobia.

Unlike TDOR this holiday is about celebrating the living and the positive aspects of being transgender. Events will be happening around the country to celebrate this day and will likely and hopefully continue to grow in the years to come.

Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility!

Word of the Gay: "Mantique"

"Mantique" is a term used in the gay community to describe an attractive gay man over the age of fifty.

Organization Spotlight: Equality Across America

Equality Across America exists to support grassroots organizing across the United States to achieve full equality for the LGBT community.

Urge Continued Funding of The LGBT Health and Human Services Network of New York

A network of over fifty nonprofit organizations serving over 800,000 LGBT New Yorkers is striving to get the bare minimum necessary from the state for funding purposes. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health and Human Services Network of New York reduces health disparities and promotes access to quality care. The amount requested for this fiscal year is $2.048M which falls short of the amount of funding needed but serves to maintain basic and critical services.

New Yorker's please use the e-action form to contact your elected officials.

Word of the Gay: "Queen's Tank"

"Queens tank" is a section in many prisons where gays and transvestites are segregated.

National LGBT Health Awareness Week

This year the theme of LGBT Health Awareness Week is Closing the Gap. The LGBT community has, on average, worse health outcomes and less access to the care we need than the straight community. We cannot afford to ignore the gap anymore. We need to educate ourselves and our health care providers about our unique health needs as well as our health risks. We need to commit to closing the gap, because everyone deserves good health!

To help accomplish this, we have provided many resources. You can learn more about specific health issues relevant to the LGBT community, download and print out fact sheets, find events to attend and see ideas of simple ways individuals and organizations can get involved.

More information on how to get involved and download materials here.

H/T to Feministing.

Web Spotlight: Drinking for a Change

Drinking for a Change hosts monthly events where various NYC bars donate one dollar for each drink consumed to various LGBTQ charities.

Word of the Gay: "Gay Until Graduation"

"Gay until graduation" or GUG refers to individuals who exclusively had same-sex relationships in college but paired with a person of the opposite sex after graduation.

Shameless Self Promotion Sunday

Please feel free to share any links to queer or queer related topics of interest. You can post a blog entry you made, a website you found interesting. Anything goes as long as it is queer in nature.

Blog Spotlight: Full Frontal Activism - Intersexed and Awesome

Full Frontal Activism: Intersexed and Awesome is a blog written by a 25 year old intersex activist who seeks to create awareness about the intersex community, people and issues.

U.K. LGBTI Asylum Seekers & Refugees Conference July 5-7th

The 'Case of Double Jeopardy' conference will explore the double jeopardy faced by LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) Asylum seekers and Refugees. Firstly, from their own nation because of who they are and then secondly, from where they seek asylum.

The conference will be launched at the House of Lords 5th July 2010 (Hosted by Baroness Joyce Gould) and will be held at the University of Greenwich 6th – 7th July 2010.

For more information, to submit papers, or register please go to the conference website.

Word of the Gay: "Queer Flight"

"Queer flight" is a term to describe when a lesbian, gay, bi, or trans person leaves their small conservative town to live in a more affluent and diverse city.

Demand Sean Hannity Not Distort the Truth About Hateful Slurs

Fox News host Sean Hannity downplayed recent racist and anti-gay slurs hurled at lawmakers who support health care reform. He claims there is no proof of the allegations even though there is video documentation.

On his show Hannity said:

“Well, they are trying to make a big deal over the weekend and this is denied by a lot of people. I have not seen the video tape that confirms this yet. If anyone has it, send it to me. I want to see it, of racial slurs, anti-gay slurs being made at the Tea Party Movement. Do we have any evidence that corroborates this at all?” (GLAAD).

GLAAD is asking people to email Hannity and demand he show video coverage of the anti-gay slur hurled at congressman Barney Frank.

Sean Hannity can be reached at hannity@foxnews.com

Prom is for Everyone!

Show your support for Constance by changing your profile picture on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other online sites to the ACLU's "Prom is for Everyone" logo for the weekend. Not only will you be letting all your online friends know that you support the right of Constance and other students to bring same-sex dates to prom, but you'll also be generating awareness online.

http://aclu.org/prom4all

Word of the Gay: "Stepford Fag"

A "stepford fag" is a gay man who wishes to get married, have kids, and live a more traditional lifestyle.

Organization Spotlight: Lavender Light

Lavender Light is a mixed chorus (women and men). Although the group encompasses many ethnic and spiritual backgrounds, the choir provides a special ministry to black lesbians and gays, who have historically been pressured by their communities to choose between their blackness and their gayness.

Support The Federal Student Non-Discrimination Act (HR 4530)

The Student Non-Discrimination Act (HR 4530) has been introduced in congress to protect LGBT students or those perceived to be in K-12 public schools throughout the country. The act would provide protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity and list remedies for victims of queerphobia.

Studies show that discrimination leads to higher rates of LGBT absenteeism, drop-outs, poor grades, and has an adverse affect on mental health and well being.

Contact your representative through the ACLU's e-action alert to urge them to co-sponsor this important and historic piece of legislation.

Word of the Gay: "Heterofriendly"

"Heterofriendly" is a new marketing term being used by predominantly gay establishments to indicate an openness to straight consumers.

Web Spotlight: Equally Wed

Equally Wed is the nation's premier same-sex wedding magazine, providing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples with a modern, elegant and unique guide to wedding planning, from ring shopping and proposing to tying the knot and living happily ever after—and everything in between.

Word of the Gay: "Optimal Gender Policy"

The "optimal gender policy" was advocated by psychologist John Money to raise intersex children as male or female. The premise of the policy was that nurture could override nature. It has largely been discredited and found to be physically and psychologically harmful.

Take Action: North Carolina YMCA Discriminates Against Gay Family

The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina is refusing to give a family membership to Mark Maxwell and his partner Timothy Young and their children. All other metropolitan YMCA's in the state do recognize gay families for their family membership rate.

The family in question was told that only couples legally married under North Carolina law or those who file joint tax returns are eligible. However, same-sex couples are not afforded these rights in North Carolina. The chief executive said that the policy will be reassessed shortly and that it is done so every four or five years.

Demand that the Northwest NC YMCA amend its policy to embrace gay/lesbian families.

President and CEO

Curt Hazelbaker, President and CEO, x 6239 - c.hazelbaker@ymcanwnc.org

Membership

Sam Franklin, VP of Operations/Executive Director, (336) 838-2152 s.franklin@ymcanwnc.org

YMCA of Northwest North Carolina
Association Office
Winston Tower, 301 N. Main Street, Suite 1900
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336.777.8055
Fax: 336.777.6345
Email: info@ymcanwnc.org

Queers United Celebrates Two Years Online!

Today marks our second anniversary of being part of the LGBTQ blogosphere. The first post in 2008 started with the Oklahoma state representative who said that "gays are worse than terrorism," and we called her out on her egregious comments. Since then it's been a joy to bring action alerts, demonstrations, commentary, and fun and educational posts such as Word of the Gay and Open Forum which has allowed us all to engage in great conversation.

If you haven't already done so be sure to add us to your blog reader so that you can keep up to date. You can also add Queers United to your blogroll, twitter feed, or post our activist application on your website!

A big thank you and hugs to all of of our loyal readers!

Word of the Gay: "Stack o' Fags"

"Stack o' Fags" is an apartment complex where many gay/bi men live.

Remove Crossdressing from the DSM-V

A petition to remove cross-dressing as a mental disorder is being submitted to the Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Workgroup of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Currently the APA considers individuals who crossdress to be suffering from "transvestic disorder"

Crossdressing should not be considered a mental disorder for a host of reasons. The diagnostic criteria operates on sexist and gender conformist principles. People who crossdress present no harm to themselves and/or others and are not conflicted about their desire to dress. The only distress associated with crossdressing is the unfair stigmatization that comes from a society that does not accept nor understand this behavior.

Sign the DSM-V petition demanding that the new APA manual remove 'transvestic disorder'

Word of the Gay: "Buppie"

A "buppie" is a young urban professional who identifies as bisexual.

Open Forum: Gay for Pay or Pay for Gay?

Many in the porn industry are willing to do things they wouldn't ordinarily do to make a particular film scene sexy to their viewers. Some straight actors even say they are willing to go "gay for pay" and do a person of the same-sex that they are not physically attracted to. The industry is heavily reliant on women sexually engaging other women in "lesbian scenes" to make the films more sexually palatable. On the flip side men who have sex with men are able to make a significant amount of money more than if they engaged in sexual acts with women.

Some people say that if a man is able to have sex with another man that he is gay or bisexual. These actors maintain that they have no physical or romantic attraction to the same-sex but are doing a job like any other. Are all the female on female acts women who are lesbian or bisexual? Might we consider that many openly gay people once lived closeted lives married and sexually active with the opposite sex. People can have sex without necessarily enjoying it so are these people really gay for pay or might they enjoy getting paid while also being able to be gay? Weigh in with your thoughts.

Shameless Self Promotion Sunday

Please feel free to share any links to queer or queer related topics of interest. You can post a blog entry you made, a website you found interesting. Anything goes as long as it is queer in nature.

Word of the Gay: "Gay by May"

"Gay by May" is a term used for when a theater major comes to college claiming they are straight but comes out of the closet as gay by the end of their freshman year.

Rallies to Demand Justice for GetEQUAL Protesters

Grassroots organized rallies have sprung up around the country to demand an end to government sanctioned discrimination and to support protesters who were arrested yesterday at various direct-action events protesting Don't Ask Don't Tell and demanding an Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Multiple actions by the newly formed group GetEQUAL took place yesterday, first starting with the anti-gay Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Following a demonstration by the Human Rights Campaign, Lieutenant Dan Choi and Cpt. Jim Pietrangelo marched to the White House and chained themselves to the White House gate in a non-violent act of civil disobedience against the policy. The two were arrested without bail and will appear in a D.C. court today. Co-director of GetEQUAL Robin McGehee was arrested for aiding Choi in shackling himself to the fence but was later released.

Later in the day activists on both coasts took action to demand a trans inclusive ENDA be brought to the floor of congress. The protesters arranged a sit-in in at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco and Washington D.C. offices. The activists were arrested but have all been released. A blogswarm was also arranged whereby thousands participated in calling in to Pelosi's office demanding ENDA legislation.

Scheduled solidarity rallies:

Florida

Orlando
Friday, March 19
12:00pm
Senator Bill Nelson's Office
Orlando Landmark Two
225 East Robinson Street

New York

New York City
Friday, March 19
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Time Square Military Recruitment Office

California

Orange County
Friday, March 19
6:00-7:30pm
UC Irvine Footbridge at Campus between West and East Petalson.

Please comment if you know of additional scheduled protests.

Queer the Census - Fill It Out!

Help the government expand services to the LGBT and HIV affected communities by filling out the census. This simple document enables the federal government and nonprofit organizations to better serve our communities.

Gay couples can be recognized as married to their spouse by specifying that their spouse is of the same-sex. Transgender people are encouraged to select their gender identification on the form.





For more information check out http://www.queerthecensus.org/ and http://ourfamiliescount.org/

Blogswarm to Demand Speaker Pelosi Hold Vote on ENDA

Today thousands of people will put pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to a vote. Dr. Jillian T. Weiss of Bilerico put out the call to action and many LGBT and progressive blogs are participating in this blogswarm.

ENDA (HR 3017) will prohibit job discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The majority of the house and senate support this bill and Obama favors this civil rights legislation being passed. With a democratic majority now is the time to get ENDA on the floor for an up or down vote.

Please call Speaker Nancy Pelosi at 202-225-4965. Ask that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HR 3017, move to a vote.

Word of the Gay: "Butch Brutha"

A "butch brutha" is a term to describe butch lesbian women who are African-American.

Washington D.C. Rally for DADT Repeal Tomorrow

LGBT activists are headed to the nations capital to rally and lobby for an immediate repeal of the discriminatory Don't Ask Don't Tell policy which bars gay, lesbian, and bisexual servicemembers from serving openly. Among the protesters will be esteemed comedian and straight ally Kathy Griffin.

Thursday, March 18th
NOON
Freedom Plaza, Washington, DC (on Pennsylvania Ave NW between 13th and 14th streets)

Word of the Gay: "Fruit Picker"

A "fruit picker" is a straight man who on occasion enjoys the company of gay men. The term was also used in the 90's to describe a gay gathering place, where you could pick a fruit aka gay man of choice.

Virtual Lobby Day for LGBTQ Rights in Florida

Equality Florida is encouraging netroots activists to urge legislators to sponsor three LGBT equality bills. The bills would ensure fairness in the areas of employment, adoption, and spousal benefits.

• The Florida Competitive Workforce Act (HB 391 by Skidmore and SB 798 by Gelber) This bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state law that already protects people in employment and housing based on race, religion, sex, age and disability.

• Repeal of Florida's Adoption Ban (HB 3 by Brandenburg and SB 102 by Rich) Equality Florida continues to work with legislators to repeal the ban. With approximately 3,000 children waiting for adoption in Florida's foster care system, the state desperately needs to open up the pool to include qualified gay and lesbian parents.

• Domestic Partnerships (HB 477 by Steinberg SB 232 by Sobel) This bill would create a statewide domestic partnership policy in Florida. Dozens of cities and companies in Florida already offer some form of domestic partnership benefits, but right now there are no statewide protections for our families.

Take action by filling out this form to contact your representative and state senator.

Jose Peralta For New York Senate

Jose Peralta a progressive democrat is running for New York state senate against anti-gay incumbent Hiram Monserrate. Fight Back New York an advocacy group committed to ousting all the senators who voted against marriage equality is urging all in the 13th district of Queens (Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst and Woodside) to vote in the special election tomorrow on March 16th.

Monserrate was convicted of domestic violence for slashing his girlfriend in the face and was consequently expelled from the Senate. Anti-gay right-wingers are supporting him for his efforts to deny marriage equality to same-sex couples.



Jose Peralta has an LGBT rights voting record, voting three times for marriage equality! Please learn more, donate, and campaign for Peralta.

*Image courtesy of Manhattan Young Democrats.

Vigil and 'Kiss-Out' Tonight Protesting Anti-Gay Assault in Brooklyn

Activists have organized vigil for tonight at 8:30 pm at the corner of Luquer Street and Hamilton Avenue in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, New York to rally against an anti-gay hate crime in which a man was attacked and severely beaten by a gang of five men last week.

The vigil will be preceded by a KISS-OUT at South Brooklyn Pizza at 5:30 pm. The organizers write: "This Monday, March 15th at 5:30 pm, we’ll assemble at the pizza place (451 Court Street) and then, starting at 6pm, groups of two or more will be given a place to go and kiss. You will be directed to stand at an intersection and kiss for 20 minutes. Ideally, we'll have 4 groups at a given intersection, one at each corner. By stationing ourselves on each corner in the neighborhood, we're aligning ourselves with the street-- a fixture that isn’t going away. At 6:30, everyone is invited to return to the pizza place and enjoy the night together."

Crossposted via Towleroad.

Organization Spotlight: Shades of Yellow

Shades of Yellow (SOY) is a nonprofit Hmong LGBTQ organization that provides support, education, and advocacy to Hmong LGBTQ and allies. We are committed to creating a community that is aware of the issues that Hmong LGBTQ face.

Word of the Gay: "IGM"

"IGM" is an acronym that stands for infant or intersex genital mutilation. This often unnecessary and invasive medical procedure is done on many intersex babies in order to assign them one sex.

Open Forum: Does the Kama Sutra Address Asexual Orientation?

The Kama Sutra an ancient Hindu text considered to be a manual on sexual behavior has long been studied and revered for its breakthroughs in the field of human sexuality. Upon closer examination it appears that there are sections that speak to what we quite possibly today call asexuality or grey-a that may have been ignored by readers with a sexual perspective.

The Kama Sutra recognizes that just as sexuality falls along a spectrum and some are gay, bi, or straight, that sexual desire falls along a spectrum as well. There are nine kinds of unions described based on the level of sexual desire of an individual.

There are those labeled "small", "middling", or "intense" to describe their level of sexual desire and interest.

"A man is called a man of small passion whose desire at the time of sexual union is not great, whose semen is scanty, and who cannot bear the warm embraces of the female.

Those who differ from this temperament are called men of middling passion, while those of intense passion are full of desire" (Sacred Texts).

The text then goes on to discuss the length of time a person sustains themselves sexually indicating that the verses above are not about the length of the sexual act but merely the desire and intensity of the behavior.

All people who are sexually involved find that there are times they are more desiring of sex than others. Is the Kama Sutra referring only to periods of time that people are not as sexually inclined, or may the authors have been speaking to those who are to some degree asexual, or quite possibly both?

Word of the Gay: "Half Dyke"

A "half-dyke" is a bisexual woman who has more interest in women than men.

Shameless Self Promotion Sunday

Please feel free to share any links to queer or queer related topics of interest. You can post a blog entry you made, a website you found interesting. Anything goes as long as it is queer in nature.

J. Crew Store Being Protested by Transgender Groups

Transgender activists and allies plan to demonstrate at a New York City J. Crew store over their accusation that the store is not hiring trans employees. Organizers have filed a complaint with the Attorney General and plan to raise awareness through their demonstration.

Through a report called 'Transgender Need Not Apply: A Report on Gender Identity Job Discrimination'...

"Researchers have identified J. Crew as a violator of the New York City Human Rights Law. When equally qualified job applicants applied for positions at J Crew, non-transgender applicants were consistently hired over transgender applicants, the study found"(SDGLN).

Activists will demand that the store include gender identity/expression as part of its non-discrimination policy and train employees about these practices.

The rally and news conference will be at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, March 14, in front of the J. Crew store, 91 Fifth Ave., between 16th and 17th streets.

Organization Spotlight: LGBT Humanist Council

The LGBT Humanist Council, a project of the American Humanist Association, is a forum for LGBT humanists from across the country to exchange ideas on local organizing, find support in coming out as LGBT (and a humanist), and to speak out with once voice on issues of concern to the LGBT-humanist community!

Demand that Lesbian Student be Allowed to go to Prom

Constance McMillen a lesbian high school student in the Itawamba County School District of Fulton Mississippi is forbidden from wearing a tux and attending prom with her girlfriend. After the American Civil Liberties Union threatened to sue the school for discrimination on the students behalf, the school canceled the prom completely.

Below is a cute video from Lizzy the Lezzy describing the situation:


This story has gained national attention and prompted discussion on LGBT youth rights. Please contact the superintendent and school board members and demand they hold the prom for all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

Superintendent:
Teresa McNeece
tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us
(662) 862-2159 Ext. 14

Board members:
Trae Wiygul
twiygul@itawamba.k12.ms.us
(662) 862-3104

Eddie Hood
a082315@allstate.com

Jackie Nichols
jnichols@itawamba.k12.ms.us

Harold Martin
hmartin@itawamba.k12.ms.us

Clara Brown
cbrown@network-one.com

Tony Wallace
twallace@nexband.com

Word of the Gay: "Mince"

"Mince" is a term used to describe someone with an effeminate appearance who walks shorts steps in a prim manner.

Vote for Same-Sex Couples in Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest

Anti-gay blogs have taken an innocent competition called "The Ultimate Wedding Contest" being held by Crate and Barrel to urge their readers to make sure only a straight couple wins. The contest is for people to choose their favorite couples story and the grand prize is a 100,000 dollar dream wedding. 18 other couples will also win prizes.

Voting is open for a little over two weeks and with so many adorable same-sex couples like (Greg & Jon) and (Emily & Rachel) to choose from lets counter the anti-gay bias from some parts of the blogosphere.

Word of the Gay: "Bahasa Gay"

"Bahasa Gay" is a language used among homosexual men in Indonesia.

Queer D.C. Will Set Guinness World Record

Washington D.C. has officially kicked off same-sex marriage recognition this week but more history is to be made in the upcoming days as a mega wedding of same-sex couples seeks to create a world record. Billed as the "Our Time Has Come" celebration on March 20th hundreds of same-sex couples will tie the knot in a mass ceremony that will qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records.

To learn more or to register click here.

Word of the Gay: "My Judy"

"My Judy" is a gay term of endearment to describe a good friend. It is reference to the gay icon Judy Garland.

New Yorker's Call Senate for GENDA

Today the New York LGBT advocacy organization Empire State Pride Agenda is urging New Yorkers to demand the senate vote on the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act (GENDA). The bill if passed will outlaw discrimination based on gender identity and expression. GENDA has already been passed in the Assembly and now needs to be voted on by the Senate.

-Due to difficulty with job discrimination, one-fifth of transgender New Yorkers have incomes below $10,000 a year.

-28% of transgender New Yorkers have experienced a serious physical or sexual assault motivated by hate.

GENDA has widespread support, 78% of New York voters, Unions representing 2.1 million working New Yorkers, 30 Fortune 500 companies based in cities like Rochester, Corning, New York City and White Plains, and 547 clergy and lay leaders representing over 20 different denominations.

Please call your state senator and urge them to bring (S.2406/Duane) The Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act to the floor and to vote in the affirmative.

Word of the Gay: "QWOC"

"QWOC" is an acronym for queer women of color.

CNN Documentary - 'Her Name Was Steven'

CNN presents the documentary 'Her Name Was Steven' on air nationally this weekend. The film followed Susan Stanton formerly Steve Stanton who was fired from her position as City Manager in Largo Florida when the desire to transition gender surfaced in the media.



Susan Stanton has quickly become not only a face for the struggle for equality in Florida, but she has become an icon nationwide. She even had the honor of being recognized at LOGO TV's Visible Vote '08 where questions were asked of the Democratic presidential contenders.

The documentary premiers on CNN this Saturday and Sunday 8 and 11 pm ET

Diversity Lesson 101: Transmen

Transmen or female-to-males (FTM) are men who were born biologically female but have taken steps to align their gender identity with their presentation. Some FTM's elect to have hormones or surgery to accomplish this, but not all choose this option.

The Difference Between Sex and Gender:

People often get these two terms confused because they are similar yet in reality they are entirely different. Sex is the biological genitalia we are born with, either male, female, or intersex(combination of male/female genitalia). Gender is how we identify and is a social/biological construct, so in the case of transmen, one may have the parts of a female yet their mind, body, and spirit identifies as a male. The genitalia one has or lacks does not define their gender identity.

Trans Males and Sexual Identity:

Like all people transmen can be of any sexual orientation. The majority of transmen like the majority of the population are heterosexual. However many identify as gay, bisexual, queer or asexual. Typically one's gender identity does not dictate their sexual identity.

The Silenced Voice of Trans Men:

Transmen suffer discrimination from all angles. Many transmen often first find community among lesbians but quickly get drowned out and/or ostracized when they begin to transition. They face an equal amount of discrimination from many gay and straight men who often do not view them as "real men"

FTM Privilege:

While all transmen face hardships for expressing their identity and have a difficult time finding their place in society there are also privileges associated with being trans. Transmen often report getting treated with more respect once they transition. They don't suffer as much with the stigma and inequalities that women face in job pay, life, and other arenas.

The Influence of Transitioning on Sexuality & Gender Identity

While most people do not find their sexual identity shifting during the transition process there is growing discussion among those who find that hormones may have some impact on sexual orientation.

Below is a guest post on the subject from Sinclar Sexsmith of the Sugarbutch Chronicles:

"One of the most challenging concepts gender theorists like myself work to introduce to the general population is the disruption of the Sex-Gender Assumption - the assumption that sexuality and gender identity are intrinsically linked, and therefore, for example, that all gay men are effeminate and all lesbians are mannish. Or, on the flip side, that all feminine women are straight and all masculine men are gay. This is simply not true - one's gender is not the same as one's sexual orientation, though they do influence each other. Think of it as an elaborate dance between the two: the orientation, the sexuality itself being the source of desire, and the gender as one of the physical languages in which to express it.

As different as these things are, however, there are some ways that they are inseparable, and interact with each other. As I came into my own gender identity in my late 20s, my sexuality began to grow and shift with newfound desires, and I figured out yet more traits that are now basically requirements for my sexual relationships. As my sexuality grew, so did my gender, and so did the ways that I played with gender in the bedroom, sexually.

Transitioning changes your physical presentation of gender, sure; great physical effects, finally matching the body to an 'internal' gender or “subconscious sex” (as Julia Serano calls it). And as those effects go deeper, as testosterone flows freely, transitioning can sometimes bring changes in sexual orientation or other aspects of sexuality. It has happened frequently enough that there are even some jokes about it - “testosterone makes you gay,” some queers joke, meaning, it makes you want to sleep with guys. I've seen trans guys become more fully liberated through this process, never before feeling so much like themselves; I've also seen trans guys struggle to maintain relationships because of their changing sexuality.

Is it possible that the sexual orientation of “queer” can somehow overrides one's gender identity? If one's gender changes, but one remains queer, will one's orientation switch too? Regardless of whether a certain person is a man or a woman, will some of us still be queer?

No one knows exactly how the interactions between sexuality and gender identity work - even these concepts barely existed just fifty years ago. And of course, this shift of sexual orientation isn't true for all of those who transition - though the effects of testosterone do deeply effect all sorts of physical things, like muscle mass, center of gravity, sex drive, desires, and stamina. As research, observation, and experience is more and more available and less stigmatized, the intertwined connections between sexual orientation and gender identity will, hopefully, become more understood"

How Can a Biological Female Change to Male Bodied?

Female to male sex reassignment surgery is a complicated and long journey and requires a host of procedures. FTM's who want a complete transformation can elect to remove their female organs and take testosterone to deepen their voice, develop muscles and facial hair. The breasts can be removed to create a male looking chest and the clitoris can be elongated to create a penis and scrotal implants can be inserted.

Transgender Female-to-Male Terminology:

FTM or F2M - Female to male transsexual.

Binding - The process of flattening ones breasts in order to have a more male appearing chest.

Packing - The process of creating a male looking bulge in the crotch.

Top surgery - Chest reconstruction surgery to remove the breasts to create a more male looking chest.

Bottom surgery - Genital reconstruction surgery for constructing a penis from ones own donor tissue and the possible addition of scrotal implants.

Drag King - A biological female who impersonates a male. Drag is usually done for entertainment purposes and does not necessarily reflect the persons desire to live as a male or female.

FTM Videos:







Links of Interest:

National Center for Transgender Equality

FTM International

International Foundation for Gender Education

Queer Transmen

FORGE

FtM Mentors

Hudson's FTM Resource Guide

The Transitional Male

FTM Passing Tips

Trans Passions

Happy International Women's Day 3/8/10

International Women's Day is a global celebration of women's economic, social, and political achievements. The 2010 theme is Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all. It is imperative that all unite in the effort to ensure that women are able to live with full respect, equality and dignity.

Women around the world are still subject to rape, violence, workplace discrimination, sexism, genital mutilation and lack access to quality health-care and education. More needs to be done to combat unfair laws and societal perceptions and biases that plague the advancement of all women.



Women of color, disabled, transgender women, and lesbian,bisexual and queer women suffer additional hardships that come with being a "double minority"

Resources for International Women's Day:

International Women's Day 2010 - United Nations holiday website

The Lesbian Herstory Archive - Collection of historic material of W4W

Transsexual Roadmap - Resources for transsexuals

The Zuna Institute - Advocacy for Black Lesbians

Regard - Advocacy for disabled LGBT people

National Organization for Women - Stories and feminist advocacy

International Foundation for Gender Education - Advocating for freedom of gender expression and an understanding of all identities.