Transgender Representation in 1952

I found this from a Tumblr post (surprise, surprise) and came here to share it right away. The image below is from a newspaper article from 1952 about one of the first patients of a gender-affirming surgery. 

Photo Credit: Cryingalonewithfrankenstein 

The first thing I noticed was how incredibly positive this article is! They use her correct pronouns and have nothing negative to say about her transition. Even if some bits would be considered politically uncorrect now, I think this article is more trans-positive than almost anything I read these days.

The original poster also included this translation of what the text in the image says:

George W. Jorgensen, Jr., son of a Bronx carpenter, served in the Army for two years and was given honorable discharge in 1946. Now George is no more. After six operations, Jorgensen’s sex has been changed and today she is a striking woman, working as a photographer in Denmark. Parents were informed of the big change in a letter Christine (that’s her new name) sent to them recently.

How cool is this?!?!

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Gender-Affirming Surgery: Surgeries which change the makeup and physical appearance of someone's body to relieve gender dysphoria.

Transition: Typically thought of as the time someone stops identifying with the sex they were assigned at birth and starts identifying with their gender identity; may or may not include hormones, surgeries, etc; Can mean something different to every transgender person

Trans: Short for transgender; Someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Just Trans Things

This is one of my favorite videos ever. We've all seen those "Just Girl Things", "Just Couple Things", etc. pictures and whatnot around the Internet. Check out this funny video by transgender Youtuber Alex Bertie, where he tackles "Just Trans Things"

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Transgender: Someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Transgender Day of Remembrance: Emergency Support

Given that the 20th was a day to remember trans lives lost, I thought I'd share some resources for if you or anyone you know who is transgender or anywhere else in the LGBTQIA+ community needs help.

http://www.translifeline.org/ (Trans specific - ran by trans people as well)

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

http://www.transhousingnetwork.com/ (Trans specific)

http://www.crisischat.org/

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/get-help-now (LGBTQIA+ specific)
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Transgender: Someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

LGBTQIA+: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, plus

Genderless Photoset

Just a friendly reminder, thanks to Tumblr 

The Transgender Day of Remembrance: Memorializing Those We've Lost

The following is a list of all the names of our transgender siblings who have lost their lives this year due to transphobic hate crimes or suicide. The youngest of these was 13; the oldest 59. May they all rest in peace.

Keyshia Blige

Tamara Dominguez

Kandis Capri

Amber Monroe

Ashton O'Hara

Shade Shuler

K.C. Haggard

India Clarke

Mercedes Williamson

Penny Proud

Taja Gabrielle DeJesus

Bri Golec

Lamia Beard

Papi Edwards

Nephi Luthers

Diosvany Munoz Robaina

C.N. Alves de Matos Jr.

L.A. de Souza

Waleska Rayala

Paulihna

Flower

V.H.A. dos Santos

Patricia

Gabi

Erika Aguilera

India Nascimento

L.R.O. Dorta

Vanessa Calaca

Bruna J. Mendes

Sidney Araujo Claudino

Laura Vermont

Kauane da Silva

Kelly Silva

Andreja Amado

Carol Melo

Priscilla da Silva

Barbara Sodre

Jean Waltrick

Vandressa Vinnitt

Ticiane Abravanel

La Monique de Roma

Steffany

Job Rodriguez da Silva

Bruna

Bruna Quercia

Victoria Carmago

Bruna Michele

Debora

Vanessa Ganzaroli

Lotinha

Adriana

Bianca Araujo

Michael Lucas de Almeida Reginald

Natalia Ferrez

Ygor Fernando Oliviera Santos

Keity

Lara

Raissa

Capitu Santos

Joyce Akira

Pata

Didihna

Leo

Piu da Silva

Diana Sacayan

Marcela Chocobar

Francela Mendez

Fernanda "Coty" Olmos

Yoshi Tschuchida

Leticya Santos Ignacia

Miscilene

Miscilene

Tiffany Latifah

Tiffany Latifah

Anusha

Pravalika

Hande O

Leelah Alcorn

Ashley Hallstrom

Eylul Casin

Melonie Rose

Zander Mahaffey

Aubrey Mariko Shine

Ash Haffner

Sage David

Taylor Wells

Ezra Page

Blake Brockington

Taylor Alesana

Sam Taub

Rachel Bryk

Cameron Langrell

Jess Shipps

Kyler Prescott

Sam Ehly

Skylar Marcus Lee

Ryley Courchene

Emmett Castle

13 Unidentified

The Transgender Day of Remembrance: Rita

Photo Credit: Label-Aid

Content Warning: 

Murder, Death, Hate Crimes, Transphobia.

If you are bothered by any of these, please read this post with caution.

This video by Skylar Kergil talks about the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which takes place today - November 20th - annually.

Skylar shared the following information about how TDOR got started,

"The Transgender Day of Remembrance was a day founded in order for us to memorialize those whose lives were lost due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. It is a day to raise awareness of anti-transgender hate crimes, as well as a day for us to mourn and honor those whose lives were lost who may be forgotten. Transgender Day of Remembrance, or TDOR if that's a simpler acronym for you, started in 1999 following the murder of Rita Hester in 1998.

Photo Credit: TransGRiot

Rita Hester was a transgender African American woman, murdered on November 28th 1998 in Boston, Massachusetts...She was killed in her apartment due to anti-transgender violence, just two days before her 35th birthday.

The reaction to that was an outpouring of grief and sadness into the streets, to hold a vigil just a few days later for Rita's honor. That vigil has turned into Transgender Day of Remembrance."

Skylar also shared an exceptional original poem titled Rita (in honor of Rita Hester mentioned above), but as he said "it is really for all of us." You can hear that by clicking the video link above or right here.
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Transgender: Someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

True Life: I'm Genderqueer (Full Episode!)

Here's the link to the full episode of the True Life: I'm Genderqueer special I talked about in my last post. It's a good watch!



http://www.mtv.com/full-episodes/9vkwdv/true-life-i-m-genderqueer-ep-genderq

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Genderqueer: Someone who does not identify with a single, exclusively masculine or feminine gender identity

True Life: I'm Genderqueer (Sneak Peek!)

I rarely ever watch MTV. But I happened to skip past it on the guide tonight and saw an episode of True Life on titled "True Life: I'm Genderqueer" - and I couldn't be more thrilled!

 Since the episode just aired tonight, the full episode is not yet available online. When it is, I will post the link to that here. But for now, here's a sneak peek from the MTV website.

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Genderqueer: Someone who does not identify with a single, exclusively masculine or feminine gender identity

Frustrated Trans-Person/Student Rant

When will school faculty stop thinking they know how I identify better than I do? I understand what your paperwork says. I understand what you see, and that I may not be the most picture-perfect example of what you expect a "guy" to be. But what gives you the right to say that you see is more important than what I /know/ and live with every day?

I don't give a shit what you believe. If you think my identity is something to be shameful of, then that's your opinion and I respect it. All I ask for is the same respect, like not deliberately using my birth name or wrong pronouns continuously in a CLASSROOM where people don't all know I'm trans. This is not a battle to be held when you're in a position of power over me.

When you continue to out me in front of people who may or may not have known my assigned sex at birth, that not only destroys my self confidence and shows me that you don't care about respecting your students with the same respect you ask for, but it potentially puts me in danger - and as someone who is supposed to be a positive figure for their students that's not okay.

Rant over. <3

My tattoo, it reads "The Floor Is Hard, Not Unforgiving".

A constant reminder to myself to stay strong, and that nothing that is negative is worth submitting to.

Any obstacle can be overcome, you just need to be around to do it.

If You're Wearing A Binder Right Now...

Sit up nice and tall...

Photo Credit: HDImages and Clipartpanda

Photo Credit: Clker

Try to get as straight as you can...
(With your posture, that is)

          

Photo Credit: Cliparthunt

Relax your upper body...

Especially those shoulders.... 

Photo Credit: ClipartOf

Take a deeeeep breath in through your nose... 

Keep going...







Till you feel it in your belly... 

The tips of your lungs...

And your ribs puff out...

Photo Credit: ClipartCo

Now exhale slowly through your mouth.... 











If you're done you're not doing it slow enough... 

Keep going...

Photo Credit: Pearls of Prosperity

Till it's all out.... 

Photo Credit: USF

Now stretch.... 

Photo Credit: Clker 

Arms up to the sky.... 

Out like an airplane and twist to each side...

Photo Credit: ClipartLord

Touch your toes....

Come back up....  

Photo Credit: Wonders of Disney

Roll your shoulders backwards a few times....

Then forwards... 

Photo Credit: Dreams Time

Photo Credit: ShutterStock

Face forward and cough...  

Twist to the left and cough...

Twist to the right and cough... 






Tell yourself you are an awesome person... 

Photo Credit: Can Stock

You're strong... 
You're worthy... 

Photo Credit: Clipartof

You're valid.... 

Photo Credit: Can Stock

Now do it all again.

(And if you have a Tumblr, I recommed following this blog for regular binder reminders like this)
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Binder: A compression vest used to give the appearance of a flattened chest.

Words Do Not Define Me.

Content Warning: Misgendering, Obscene Language, Slurs, Transphobia, Suicide, Bullying.

If you are bothered by any of these, please read with caution.

I wanted to share this amazing photoset I found on Tumblr. It was posted by the user thetransprincess with the following caption:

"Words used to have impact on me, especially in the start of my transition... 

Now, I am confident, comfortable, and careless

as to what others have to say about me.

I am not going to become the negativity,

 I will shed it."

Oops: I Accidentally Misgendered Someone...Now What?

I'm misgendered on a daily basis. On mistake, on purpose, by strangers, by friends, family classmates, co-workers, and teachers, by people I'm not out to, by people I am out to. And yeah - it sucks. But it happens, and I get that. I know that it's not practical to expect the world around me to instantly know, use, or respect my gender identity.

This is a pretty universal mindset for transgender people. Nobody likes being misgendered - and at times it can really ruin your day/week/month and cause some pretty crappy gender dysphoria. But as much as we hate it we know it's gonna happen.

What makes all the difference is what goes on after it happens. Misgendering someone on purpose is never okay. But when it happens on accident - we get it. Accidents happen. Sometimes it's just out of habit - our names and pronouns are new and you're still getting used to it. Sometimes it's an honest slip of tongue. Sometimes you just didn't know and forgot not to assume. I'm trans and I know I've accidentally misgendered people. Probably more times than I do even know about, honestly.

The point is, it's not the end of the world if you screw up. If it's an honest accident, most transgender people aren't going to instantly hate you forever. But it is important to react appropriately when it does happen.

If you accidentally misgender someone...

Do:
Apologize: Say you're sorry, correct yourself, and move on quickly.
"We're still waiting for her- I'm sorry, him- to come. "
"We're still waiting for Alli-I'm sorry, Dallas - to come."



Don't:
Over-Apologize: We know you mean good, but drawing attention to it like this just makes it more uncomfortable. 
"We're still waiting for her...oh my god! Him! It's him. I'm sorry. We're waiting for him. Oh god I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I know it's him, not her. Him him him. I'll get it next time I promise. Him. Ugh, I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry. Are you okay? Can you forgive me? Okay. We're waiting for HIM -to come."

It's really as easy as that!

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Misgender: To invalidate someone's gender; Usually by referring to them by an incorrect gender, incorrect pronouns, or a birth name".

Out: A term used for someone who has already "come out" about how they identify in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Gender Identity: A person's personal perception of their own gender

Transgender: Someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender Dysphoria: When someone experiences discomfort or distress over a mismatch between their gender identity and assigned sex at birth.