The Rest Of The Story…

Do you remember the headlines in all the newspapers and on the TV new programs… “IRS Targets Tea Party!” well the rest of the story appeared last week on the back pages of the newspapers.

How the media outrageously blew the IRS scandal: A full accounting
Almost everything "reported" about the big Obama scandal was wrong, and no one has been held to account (UPDATED)
Salon
By Alex Seitz-Wald
July 8, 2013

The first few days of the IRS scandal that would consume Washington for weeks went like this: Conservatives were indignant, the media was outraged, the president had to respond, his allies turned on him … and only then, the Treasury Department’s inspector general released the actual report that had sparked the whole controversy — in that order. It’s a fitting microcosm of the entire saga, which has gone from legacy-tarnishing catastrophe to historical footnote in the intervening six weeks, and a textbook example of how the scandal narrative can dominate Washington and cable news even when there is no actual scandal
[…]
And they would have gotten away with it, too, had their narrative had the benefit of being true. But now, almost two months later, we know that in fact the IRS targeted lots of different kinds of groups, not just conservative ones; that the only organizations whose tax-exempt statuses were actually denied were progressive ones; that many of the targeted conservative groups legitimately crossed the line; that the IG’s report was limited to only Tea Party groups at congressional Republicans’ request; and that the White House was in no way involved in the targeting and didn’t even know about it until shortly before the public did.

Wait! Wait, what was that? The Republicans asked them to only investigate conservative groups… no, the Republicans would never do anything like that. And of course the media would have not just wanted a sensation to sell more advertising; they would have researched it and not just taken the Republican’s word on it.

Just A Little Bit On Scheduling Posts

Many of my posts are done in advance because I am away or will be busy that day so I write them ahead of time and schedule them to be published at a later date. If I find time later I might another post; hence two posts in one.

The New Out Is In

Helen Boyd on her blog en|Gender asks the question why is trans-rights “the civil rights issue of our time”.

When I go to schools for the Stonewall Speakers we usually just have trans-speakers because when they had LGBT speakers we got asked all the questions. It was like “Oh gays…we know all about them, we want to hear from the trans-speakers.” I think one of the reasons is that gay men and lesbian women are focusing on marriage and it is the trans-community that is fighting for the anti-discrimination laws. The gays and lesbians have narrowed down to one issue while we are working towards employment, housing, public accommodation and credit protections not just for trans-people but for everyone.

Another reason I think is that we are more “out” than ever before. We are more visible, when a gay or lesbian walks down the street no one knows that they are gay or lesbian, but when some of us walk people know that we are trans. Back in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s it was all about assimilation, blending into society… see we are just like the girl or boy next door.

Back then the medical profession required us to pass and we had to be straight. It wasn’t until the late 90s that the medical professionals started to realize that we came in all shapes and sizes and orientations. That is how we got the reputation of saying anything to get our hormones and surgery, when a doctor asked a trans-woman who she was attracted to she would men and get her hormones; however, if she said to women she would be denied hormones (There are still some therapists out there who believe that we are just gay men in denial).

I think another reason is the internet; back when trans-people my age were growing up many of us had no idea what all this was about, I thought the world would end if anyone found out about “my little secret”. We were isolated from one another, but now all you have to type “transgender” in you get over a 30 million hits. As a result kids are coming out because they see other kids have successfully transitioned.

The media has also changed its tune. In the past we were portrayed as the deranged killer (Psycho & Dressed to Kill) or as the comic relief (Milton Berle & Flip Wilson) or the raging drag queens on talk shows (Jerry Springer), now we are played for the most part in a positive light on TV dramas and on talk shows.

Lastly, I think the public is curious and want to understand why we are trans. I think they can understand why someone is gay or lesbian but they wonder why we feel like we do.


What are your thoughts? Leave a comment or a link to your blog on why you think is the reason trans is so popular.

2014 Olympic Winter Games Boycott!

The winter Olympics will be in Sochi Russia next year and there is a talk of boycott it because of Russia’s policy on LGBT people…

Russia Says It Will Arrest Openly Gay Tourists
Russian president Vladimir Putin has passed a draconian law that calls for the arrest of anyone who is openly gay or supportive of gay rights.
Travel + Escape
Story by: Amanda Lee
July 10, 2013

Thinking of taking a vacation to Europe this summer? If a trip to iconic city of Moscow or the edgier St. Petersburg is on your bucket list, an anti-gay law recently passed in Russia may have you thinking again. It is now outlawed to be ‘out and proud.’

In a throwback to the country’s authoritarian ruling, Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial law that punishes people for “homosexual propaganda.” The law fines people—including tourists—up to 200,000 rubles ($6,240 CDN) for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.” For Canadians—where same-sex marriage is legal—it is unfathomable that Russia’s laws permit the government to arrest and detain gay, or pro-gay, foreigners for up to 14 days before they would then be expelled from the country.

So what is considered pro-gay? Anything from gay-affirmative speech to hand-holding; even displaying a rainbow flag alongside a maple leaf on your backpack is illegal. Recently in southern Russia, there were complaints that Elton John’s stage outfits fell under “gay propaganda.” While LGBT are being told they are unwelcome in Russia, with such vague definitions, one wonders if anyone who even looks like they might be gay could also be fined or deported from the country.
[…]
And how are these new laws going to impact tourism and the world’s spotlight on the upcoming 2014 Winter Games in Sochi? Will LGBT visitors—or anyone who embraces the gay community—want to visit the games?

It is time to start to consider boycotting the winter games, complaining to the IOC, the USOC and the television that is covering the Olympic; the Olympics should be open to all who want to attend.

The Trial

You know the trial that I'm talking about… Zimmerman.

I think they got it all wrong. He was with the “Block Watch” what do those words mean? It means that you watch and call the police. Once he got out of the car he was no longing watching, he was on the offensive.

How do we know that Martin wasn’t defending himself and standing his ground? We don’t know and we will never know because he is dead and cannot give his side of what happened.

Here in Connecticut the law says that if you can escape without using deadly force you had to retreat.

Duty to retreat:  the defendant had a duty to retreat from the physical encounter because (he/she) knew (he/she) could do so with complete safety.

Surrender property:  the defendant knew that (he/she) would not need to use physical force against if (he/she) surrendered property to .

The only time when that isn’t true is in your home.

The “Stand Your Ground” law allows you to comment murder and get away with it, all you have to do is say you were in fear for your life. You want to get rid of your ex-girlfriend new boyfriend, just meet him and a dark street and shoot him and say you were in fear for your life. Bingo, you get a free get out of jail card.

You don’t think that is true? Read this…

Florida 'stand your ground' law yields some shocking outcomes depending on how law is applied
Tampa Bay Times
By Kris Hundley, Susan Taylor Martin and Connie Humburg, Times Staff Writers
June 1, 2012 10:25am

Florida's "stand your ground'' law has allowed drug dealers to avoid murder charges and gang members to walk free. It has stymied prosecutors and confused judges. • It has also served its intended purpose, exonerating dozens of people who were deemed to be legitimately acting in self-defense. Among them: a woman who was choked and beaten by an irate tenant and a man who was threatened in his driveway by a felon.

Seven years since it was passed, Florida's "stand your ground" law is being invoked with unexpected frequency, in ways no one imagined, to free killers and violent attackers whose self-defense claims seem questionable at best.
[…]
Among the findings:
[…]
• People often go free under "stand your ground" in cases that seem to make a mockery of what lawmakers intended. One man killed two unarmed people and walked out of jail. Another shot a man as he lay on the ground. Others went free after shooting their victims in the back. In nearly a third of the cases the Times analyzed, defendants initiated the fight, shot an unarmed person or pursued their victim — and still went free.

• Similar cases can have opposite outcomes. Depending on who decided their cases, some drug dealers claiming self-defense have gone to prison while others have been set free. The same holds true for killers who left a fight, only to arm themselves and return. Shoot someone from your doorway? Fire on a fleeing burglar? Your case can swing on different interpretations of the law by prosecutors, judge or jury.
Remember what I said about the boyfriend of an ex-girlfriend…
Derrick Hansberry thought John Webster was having an affair with his estranged wife, so he confronted Webster on a basketball court in Dade City in 2005. A fight broke out and Hansberry shot his unarmed rival at least five times, putting him in the hospital for three weeks.

Ultimately, a jury acquitted Hansberry, but not before police and prosecutors weighed in. Neither thought Hansberry could reasonably argue self-defense because he took the gun with him and initiated the confrontation.

The Republicans pushed through the law in Florida and in 23 other states there are similar laws.

Yoshihiro Hattori was on his way to a Halloween party and went to the wrong house by accident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the homeowner shot and killed him. So if your car breaks down in the middle of the night, don’t go and ring any doorbells because you could be shot through the door.

Saturday Six #483

Patrick’s Place Saturday Six #483

1. Who is the last person whose photo you took?
That is a hard question to answer because even though I take hundreds of pictures, I rarely take pictures of people. Probably it was last Christmas when the family was together.

2. Who most recently took a photo of you?
It probably was a reporter at political celebration of the Supreme Court decision on DOMA and Prop 8. I was standing behind our two Senators and the mayor of Hartford when they were giving speeches.

3. When you take a photo, what camera or device do you prefer to use?
I have a Nikon D3200 with interchangeable lens (18-150mm, 150-300mm and a 500mm). Here is a video that I made from the pictures that I took at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens…


4. Do you have any social media accounts on which you share your photography?
Yes, a Facebook account

5. Do you ever browse someone else’s photography for creative inspiration?
Sometimes, but I have developed a pretty good eye now. However, I used to look at famous photographers and also the college where I went has an internationally known photo school, so every time I took a picture I had a half a dozen photo majors critiquing them.

6. When was the last time you had a roll of film developed?
A long, long time ago, I used to develop and print my photos back in the 70s and early 80s.

Saturday 9: Just Give Me a Reason

Crazy Sam’s Saturday 9: Just Give Me a Reason


Thanks to Carielle for recommending this great song.

1) When she first burst onto the scene, Pink was a self-proclaimed tomboy. Now she's glam. Literally. She was on the cover of the June issue of Glamour and is a spokeswoman for Covergirl cosmetics. Does a celebrity endorsement increase your interest in a product?
Nope, they don’t care if the product is good or it works, they only care if the money is green.

2) This song is about a woman who feels her lover slipping away. Do you believe a couple can repair a relationship once it starts to sour?
Yes, only if they both want to work to fix it.

3) As a little girl, Pink wanted to be an Olympic gymnast. If you could excel (or, if you do excel) at any sport, which one?
Competitive navel lint picking.
Seriously, I’m not into sports at all. I don’t like how cutthroat sport is, the win at all cost and the prima donna attitude of the players. Somehow the fun has been taken out of sports. What ever happen to a pick-up game of baseball or basketball? Look at little league, it runs all summer and you better not miss a game because the coach will be all over you for letting down the team.

4) Pink is married to motorcycle pro Carey Hart. Have you ever ridden really fast on a motorcyle?
Once when I was young, foolish and immortal we went over a 100 mph with me on the back with no helmets or glasses.

5) When she found out she was pregnant, Pink says she gave up whiskey and cigarettes … but admits she misses the whiskey. Do you have a habit you know you should break?
Yes, eating too much. I need to go on a diet.

6) In 2010, she fell out of the aerial harness that was supposed to carry her across the stage. Are you afraid of heights?
Once again when I was young I used to sit on the edge of a 200 foot cliff behind my house, but now I had trouble standing on a bridge and looking  down. I actually gripped the railing and froze. I walked out on the bridge to take some picture and I had a hard time letting go of the railing to take them (Rt 2 in Massachusetts over the Connecticut River).

7) Pink enjoys showing off her tattoos. Do you have any body art?
No, I don’t like body art, I once saw an eighty year old man with tattoos and they looked so ugly and faded on his wrinkled skin.

8) Pink can be very salty in her language. When was the last time you cursed?
Last week when I was trying to cut some rope and the knife blade broke and just missed my finger.

9) On her website, Pink sells 10 different t-shirts. Do you have a favorite t-shirt? What does it look like/say?
No, I don’t like t-shirts with writing on them. I don’t like people staring at my boobs trying to read it.

Dating? Yeah Right!

In Dear Abby the other day she answered a question about trans-dating…

DEAR ABBY
Transgender journey makes dating a challenge
Kansas City Star
July 11
By JEANNE PHILLIPS
Dear Abby

DEAR ABBY: I am a 30-year-old transgender woman who has just started her journey. Feeling more comfortable in my skin, I have been going to some local hangouts with friends from work and meeting straight men. My question is, when is it appropriate to disclose that I am a preoperative trans woman?

I have tried online dating on trans-friendly websites, as well as visited the local transgender bar, but those men tend only to be looking for sex, and I am looking for more than that. I would love your advice on the matter. — Starting My Journey

She never really answers the question; instead she talks about safe sex. Which is important but it is not what she asked.

For trans-people dating is a problem as “Starting My Journey” said, you have to find someone who is OK with you being trans and you have to find a person who is attracted to you, and they are few and far between. I would estimate that the chances of you find someone is about the same as getting hit by lighting… but people get hit by lighting every day.

My answer to “Starting My Journey” is to get out of the bars; of course you are finding people there who just want sex with a trans-person. We have a name for them, “Tranny chasers.” Get out there and interact with other people.

I got hit by lighting last August when right out of the blue… WHAM!

When I posted about the speech that I was giving on Facebook a woman that I had known for a number of years sent me an email asking if anyone could attend the workshop. Before the workshop we talked and then than afterward I asked her if she want to go to dinner. We dated for a little over 3 months and then we kind of realized that the spark wasn’t there.

Earlier this month I went to a lesbian dance and I had a good time there and I think I’ll go to the next dance, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Tonight I’m going to a fundraiser for the non-profit that I’m on the Board of Directors; I doubt I’ll meet any women there because it is a gay bar but you never know. There was I woman I meet there at the last fundraiser, her son was one of the performers and we talked until the show started.

The Paper Chase

No one else have this problem, it is unique to us. You get married and you don’t need to get a letter from your doctor to change your documentation, but trans-people have to jump through hoops in order to change our documents. Time online has an article this week about the paperwork jungle that we have to go through…

Identity Crisis: Changing Legal Documents No Easy Task for Transgender Individuals
By Nolan Feeney
July 10, 2013

Cecilia Gentili couldn’t stand the looks on their faces. The looks waiting room patients would give her when a nurse called a man’s name and she stood up instead. The looks nurses would give her when they said they were looking for someone else. The looks she’d get at the bank when she tried to open an account.
[…]
Gentili is a transgender woman, and in person, with shoulder-length blond hair, she is the woman she always knew she was. On paper, however, it was another story. For years, Gentili’s legal name and documents didn’t match her identity, and navigating that discrepancy became a daily struggle. For transgender people — those who don’t identify with the sex are born with — any time they have to show ID can turn into moment of awkwardness, humiliation or, in some cases, discrimination: making credit card purchases, applying for jobs, checking into hotels, securing housing, getting into school, voting. Gentili even avoided medical care and traveling through airports because of how uncomfortable the interactions made her feel.

For me the problem is my health insurance provider, they will not change my gender unless I surgery. I don’t have a problem with that but I do have a problem with them calling me sir and the robo calls where the computer calls me sir.

The article goes on to say,

“There’s always been a misunderstanding that being trans has something to do with surgery,” says Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, one of several groups that works on policy in this area. “You shouldn’t have to have to be able to afford tens of thousands of dollars in surgery in order for your ID to match who you are. There’s no government interest in people having the wrong gender marker on their ID. It’s always just done because it’s always been done.” 

Also for a number of trans-people surgery could be life-threatening, diseases like diabetes and heart arrhythmia could prohibit gender confirming surgery. Two states and Washington DC allow birth certificates to be changed without surgery, as the article says, why do you need to have gender on your birth certificate? When was the last time you had to show your birth certificate? It probably was to prove that you are a U.S. citizen and having you gender does prevent someone from using it for fraud, after all 50% of the population has the same gender that is on the certificate.

Health insurance doesn't need to list your gender; they should pay for any medically necessary surgery. Think about an intersex person who may have organs of both sexes, so whatever gender they are listed on the record will be wrong. If their birth certificate says that they are female and they have undescended testacies that have to be removed the insurance company probably will, say sorry we don’t cover that in a female?

Of course there are some Republicans like the ones in Arizona and the ones in the Connecticut legislature who want to police the bathrooms and require you to produce birth certificate before you can pee. Shouldn’t it be based on your behavior in the bathroom and not something that a doctor glanced at when you were born?

Plum Island

Do you know where Plum Island is and what is on the now?

After World War II the agriculture department took over the island at the east end of Long Island and made it into a research lab to study hoof and mouth disease. Now they want to move the research station out to Kansas, it was originally located on the island to prevent the spread of livestock diseases that they study there if there was an accident. But the government in its infinite wisdom is moving it right into the middle of cattle country.

In the Hartford Courant Sunday they had an article about the island on their Opinion section,

No Place For 'For Sale' Sign On Plum Island
By LEAH SCHMALZ | COMMENTARY The Hartford Courant
7:19 p.m. EDT, July 5, 2013

Plum Island — located off Orient Point, N.Y., within Long Island Sound's "Race" — is a cultural, historical and environmental haven — a rare place in danger of being lost.

It was there, 12 miles from Connecticut, that the first battle between Colonial and British troops took place during the Revolutionary War. It's home to historic Plum Island Light and to Fort Terry, which provided essential defenses for the East Coast from the Spanish–American War to World War II. Then it became the Plum Island Animal Disease Laboratory, a high-security federal research center. The lab's work has meant that for six decades the entire 843-acre island was off limits to humans, except those working there, and that restriction created a de facto wildlife refuge.

The sanctuary includes nine miles of wild beach, dune and bluff, an unusual assortment of uplands, and tidal and fresh water marshes. It's a breeding site for threatened birds such as piping plovers, and hosts the largest seal haul-out in southern New England.

When our federal and state governments identified the 33 last great places around the Sound, Plum Island and the nearby Gull Islands — which together host the Western Hemisphere's largest colony of roseate terns — were recognized as an "exemplary" habitat deserving of special protection. It's of international conservation importance, and one of the very last large, undisturbed, wild coastal systems in the highly urbanized Long Island Sound region.

And now, the federal government is hoisting a "For Sale" sign.

Congress told the General Service Administration to sell it to the highest bidder.

I think as the author of the commentary said the island should be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary. For one thing the islands has historical significance dating back to the Revolutionary and all the way up to World War II. It was during the early days of WWII that my father was stationed on the island, he was a lieutenant in the National Guard in the 242^nd Coastal Artillery Harbor Defense (My father is on the right). His unit was tasked with defending the entrances to Long Island Sound and the New London submarine base. Fort Terry was located on the eastern end of Plum Island. I remember the stories that my father told about Fort Wright, Fort Terry and Fort Michie.

One story was about my mother coming out to Fishers Island for Thanksgiving and being caught in a blizzard on the ferry on the way back to the mainland and then driving back to Fairfield where they lived.

At the end of WWII Fort Wright on Fishers Island was sold and the island is now just about all private, they frown on outsiders coming to the island. There are big estates now that cover the island with a private golf course and very little public land left on the island. I would hate to see Plum Island become another Fishers Island.

The article goes on to say,

What can be done? Citizens concerned about the potential sale can contact their elected officials and the General Services Administration (comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement can be submitted until mid-July) to talk about the importance of Plum Island to our region.

What I would like to see done to the island is made into a park and wildlife sanctuary. In Portland Maine their coastal defense batteries were made into a beautiful park where you can learn about its history.

Memories

I’m reading a book written by a friend on marketing to the LGBT community and how a business can be LGB friendly, well it brought memories of when I came out at work. I didn’t transition at work but I was out to the general manager, the HR director and her assistant.

As a supervisor and the head of the safety committee I had a lot of interaction with the HR director and we were friends. One Friday afternoon in January 2007 just before quitting time, I was in her office talking about personnel matters and she asked me what I had planned for the weekend. I told her that I was going to a semi-formal fundraiser for a non-profit and she said, “Oh are you going to be wearing a tux?” I paused for a second and said, “No, not really… let me tell you a story” and that was when I came out to her. About 2 hours later when I finished telling her my story and doing a “Trans 101” we were the last ones to leave the building and locked up. The first words out of her mouth when I finished was “There is a sale at Syms and the dresses are 33% off.”

Later I came out to the general manager when I was asked to be a back-up guest on NPR in case they couldn’t get their main guest in time. Then shortly before I was laid-off when the factory closed we told the HR director’s assistant.

Last Week Was The 150th Anniversary of Gettysburg

This is something that I always thought I might like to do…

Gettysburg 150: Transgender re-enactor no longer hiding
Barbara Ann Myers was always interested in history and knew as a child what costume she would wear.
By BRANDIE KESSLER
Daily Record/Sunday News
Posted:   07/06/2013

 In a sea of 12,000 re-enactors, Barbara Ann Myers stood out.

Though she was pretending as much as the others dressed up to play a persona as a living historian or re-enactor during the third day of the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee's re-enactment, Myers was no longer hiding.

Wearing drawers, a corset and camise layered under her hoop skirt, petticoat and dress, Myers peeked out from under a teal bonnet cap at the wares on tables inside sutlers' tents.

She looked every bit a lady of the 1860s, shopping at the market.

I knew someone from here in Connecticut who was a civil war reenactor but she was given a hard time at the reenactments and the last time I talked to her she was dropping out. I hope that she is once again reenacting. Another friend is a Roman reenactor and he also does World War II reenacting. I don't know if I would want to be a Roman reenactor, but maybe a WW II reenactor, I could be a WAC.

Did You Know…

…That one of the writers for WKRP in Cincinnati was a trans-woman? PJ Torokvei died last week at age 62 of liver failure, she had transitioned twelve years earlier. She was a comedian and writer on Second City and SCTV and she was a friend of John Candy and wrote many of his movies such as Caddyshack.

Remembering PJ Torokvei: Comedy Genius Behind 'WKRP' Was Transgender Trailblazer
The Hollywood Reporter
By As told to Scott Feinberg
7/9/13

Producer Stan Brooks recalls how the screenwriter, who died July 3 at age 62, revealed his plans to become a woman: “I was hoping for Christie Brinkley; I fear I'm heading toward Bea Arthur.”

PJ Torokvei, a Canadian-born comedy writer and producer who decided at age 50 to become a woman, died as a result of complications from liver failure on July 3 at the age of 62. Torokvei, whose name was originally Peter, was an alum of Second City and SCTV, and went on to serve as a producer and the head writer of WKRP in Cincinnati (1979-1982), for which she and her colleagues received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. She also co-wrote the films Real Genius (1985), Back to School (1986), Caddyshack II (1988) and Guarding Tess (1994). She is survived by an ex-wife, a son, a daughter and grandchildren.

I cannot wonder if her drinking was the result of the stress of living with a “terrible secret,” I see so many trans-people who are fighting drugs and alcoholism. In the survey “Injustice at Every Turn” they found that,

Over a quarter of the respondents misused drugs or alcohol specifically to cope with the mistreatment they faced due to their gender identity or expression.

The survey didn’t ask about the use of drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism for being trans but I can’t help think that we have a much higher use of drugs or alcohol than the general population.


The article goes on to talk about her transition…

Peter informed me that he had to live as a woman for a year before a surgeon would do the operation. We talked often that year. We even pitched a movie to Showtime with his former writing partner from WKRP. With each subsequent visit Peter was transforming. And it wasn't easy. Long hours of electrolysis, heavy doses of hormones. Pierced ears. Learning how to put on fake eyelashes. I heard it all, and always with humor. I began to understand the painful double life he led to this point. At one juncture, I asked him, “Why not just be gay and come out of the closet?” Peter's answer was all too obvious and drove home his anguish.

“If only it was that easy. I wish I could do that. I'm not a man. I'm not attracted to gay men. No more than heterosexual women are attracted to them.”

I had my “a-ha moment.”

Even while under the stress of transition she still maintained her sense humor…

...I asked her if she thought she'd be an attractive woman of a certain age. And with her characteristic humor she replied, “I was hoping for Christie Brinkley, I fear I'm heading toward Bea Arthur.”

Too Much Wiggle Room

Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control issued new guidelines for trans-student-athletes, but they leave the decision up to individual school boards.

WIAA sets new transgender policy among other changes
ConnectStoughton
07/08/2013
By: Anthony Iozzo

New transgender policy

The WIAA [Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association] approved a new transgender policy for student-athletes.
[…]
The procedures for the new policy state that the member school needs to determine the student’s eligibility, which includes school registration information, a written statement from the student and parents affirming gender identity and expression, written verification from a health professional and medical documentation.

Following that decision, a school administrator will contact the WIAA office.

If the school approves, the student will not be able to return to the gender on his/her birth certificate. If it denies participation, the student’s eligibility will be based on birth gender.

There may be an appeal if denied, but that appeal must abide by the school’s appeal policy and the Wisconsin Pupil Nondiscrimination guidelines.

The policy also has a privacy statement that states that the athletic departments in schools must protect the privacy of the transgender student-athlete and that all medical records be kept confidential depending on the state, local and federal laws.

It shouldn’t be up to school officials to decide, it should just be a medical decision. They are already getting medical data from the students healthcare providers and they should let the healthcare providers decide on what team the student should be placed.

Also, “If the school approves, the student will not be able to return to the gender on his/her birth certificate” if only life was so simple. One of the reasons that are on puberty blockers is so that they can go back if transition is not right for them, but rigid WIAA policy does not allow them to detransition.

I have always heard that school sports are to build character; however, it is really all about WINNING. It is not about building good character but about making prim donnas. Allowing trans-student-athletes to play with the gender of their identity is how you build character.

Trans-Servicemembers…

You remember the Kristin Beck the trans Seal Team 6 member who had to quite the military in order to transition. In the Austrian army a Lt. Col. transition; she is Lieutenant Colonel McGregor and she is the highest ranking of six transgender people serving in the Australian Defense Force.

Compare the two militaries…




Meanwhile the US military is studying if they can include trans-sevicemembers… why study it, go ask Canada, Great Britain, Australia and all the other militaries around the world.

Week Number 377

...Curious as a Cat  Week Number 377

Happy Independence Day to my USan readers!

1) What are your three favorite spices?
Pepper, Mrs Dash and cinnamon

2) Which piece of furniture needs to be replaced next in your house?
My recliner, it is almost 22 years old.

3) If someone was having a wardrobe malfunction (hole, missing button, etc.), would you tell them?
Oh, that is a hard question, I don’t know… maybe “Pardon me miss but your slip is showing”

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

4^th of July cookout, having friends over to relax and enjoy life.

A Slap In The Face

Last weekend’s San Francisco Pride for the first time had military recruiters at the pride.

Military recruiters to attend SF Pride for first time
SFGate
Posted By: Justin Berton
June 25, 2013

Organizers of the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade throw a party where everyone is welcome.
Now, for the first time, military recruiters are joining the crowd.
The California National Guard will set up two recruiting booths at this weekend’s event, which organizers predict will draw 1 million people to the city.
The arrival of the uniformed recruiters marks the first time the U.S. military has officially participated in the city’s largest gay-rights celebration, and since the Obama administration repealed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2011.

However, when the Pride organizers were asked by trans-activists not to have military recruiters because trans-people still cannot serve in the military the organizers when ahead and allowed the recruiters.

The Transgender Law Center issued the following statement about SF Pride…

Transgender Law Center is disappointed in San Francisco Pride’s decision to welcome, for the first time ever, military recruiters to the city’s annual celebration. While great progress has been made for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, transgender people are still not permitted to serve openly in the military. Transgender people are routinely discharged from service simply for being their authentic selves. We simply cannot be silent when an avowedly discriminatory organization is invited to be a part of an event that is intended to be inclusive and celebratory of everyone in our community. Transgender Law Center is proud to regularly support many transgender veterans through our legal and advocacy work, and by working hard to ensure we all have fair access to quality health care, housing, and employment, and are able to live authentically, free from discrimination.

This comes on the heels of SLDN/OutServe firing of Allyson Robinrson as Executive Director. Ms. Robinson was asked for her resignation  as a result most of the senior staff also resigned over her firing. It is not known what the SLDN/OutServe will do about trans-servemember exclusion from the military  will they continue their policy of working towards trans inclusion? Or will they now work on other gay and lesbian issues in the military?

In allowing the military recruiters at SF Pride “Gay Inc.” once again thumbs their nose at the trans-community

Saturday Six #482

Patrick’s Place Saturday Six #482

1. Which holiday are you most likely to spend outdoors?
Both the Fourth of July and Labor Day, all the other holidays are a little too cold.

2. What’s your favorite cookout food?
Pork Tender Loin

3. Which cookout food could you do without?
Hot dogs

4. Which holidays do you think are appropriate to celebrate with fireworks?
The Fourth and New Year. Here at the cottage in New Hampshire fireworks are legal and on the 4^th there was fireworks to the left of us, fireworks to the right of us, fireworks across the lake and the fireworks off in the distance.

5. Which holidays do you wish weren’t celebrated with fireworks?
Any holiday other than the Fourth of July and New Year shouldn’t be celebrated with fireworks.

6. Which holiday is the last one for which you threw a party yourself?
Thanksgiving, I had the family over for dinner.

Saturday 9: Dedicated to the One I Love

Crazy Sam’s Saturday 9: Dedicated to the One I Love

Oh gee, I better answer today Saturday 9,

Thanks to Diana for recommending the Mamas and the Papas. (You can listen to the song here.)

1) The lyrics include the line, "Love can never be exactly what we what it to be." Are you happy with your love life?
What love life?

2) Another lyric is, "Each night before you go to bed, whisper a little prayer for me." Do you say your prayers?
No, I think I stopped saying my prayer before I reached double digits

3) Mama Michelle and Papa John were married in real life. It didn't end well -- not for the couple and not for the band. Do you believe you could work successfully with a romantic partner?
I know that I a successful relationship requires give and take on both sides.
Ops... I haven't had my coffee yet.
No, it is not a good idea to date a co-worker. If you break up it can cause friction in the workplace. I had write up one of my technician's because he was harassing a former co-worker (she also go written up because she was doing the same thing)

4) After the band broke up, Michelle tried her hand at acting and eventually became a regular on the nighttime soap, Knott's Landing. Of course, she could live off of her music royalties while she learned her new craft. If money was no object, what career would like to try?
Hmm, I think I already did that. I retired and became a social workers because you can’t make a living off of social work.

5) There is a famous rumor -- completely false -- that Mama Cass died while eating a ham sandwich. Can you think of another urban legend?
There is one about don't stop to read notes on your windshield because crooks are waiting to rob you when you stand there and read it.

6) In the 1960s, every high school girl wanted to wear her hair like Michelle and Cass -- long and straight. Can you recall a fashion trend from your school days?
Yup, every girl wanted to wear her hair long and straight… they are from the same era that I grew up in. oh, the other fashion trend back then was miniskirts, tie-die shirts and going bra less.

7) With the Fourth of July falling on Thursday, are you able to enjoy a looooong four-day holiday weekend?
Yes, I went up to the cottage on Wednesday and I'm coming home on Monday

8) Many communities have parades to celebrate Independence Day. Have you ever ridden on a float or marched in a parade?
Yes, back in my scouting days.

9) In honor of the Fourth of July, name your favorite Founding Father.
Samuel Adams, he had a beer named after him.

What Else Is New

There is an article in the Las Vegas Sun about how we trans-people are overshadowed by gays and lesbians… no, I never would have guessed.

Overshadowed by gay and lesbian compatriots, the transgender community is fighting for acceptance
By Lornet Turnbull, The Seattle Times
Monday, July 1, 2013

Seattle —
The "T" in LGBT
Gwyneth Yeh identifies as a transgender woman. Launch slideshow »

They are the “T” in LGBT and arguably the most maligned segment of that community.

Many transgender men and women face hardships in routine areas of daily life. They are twice as likely as the general population to be unemployed or homeless and four times as likely to live in poverty.

Some 90 percent said in a 2011 national survey that they had encountered discrimination at work, and more than one in three attempt suicide at some point in their lives.

Such dire statistics are part of what inspired Danielle Askini, a 30-year-old transgender activist, and a group of volunteers, to organize Trans Pride in Seattle during the week set aside at the end of June each year to mark the historical launch of the nation’s gay rights movement.

And they even did it to us in the article, “nation’s gay rights movement.” Ah folks… it is the national LGBT rights movement!

Still, transgender people — who can be either gay or straight — have not gained the kind of visibility that the gay community has.

Yup, we can be straight or gay; so it is not the Gay Rights Movement! Nor was Stonewall the beginning of the “Gay Rights Movement,” we were out there protesting long before Stonewall, the first time that we know of was at the Dewey Lunch Counter in Philadelphia in 1965 and in San Francisco at the Compton Cafeteria in 1966.

Askini believes the next step is for transgender people to gain more acceptance through visibility, by allowing others to get to know them as neighbors, co-workers and friends — much as the larger gay and lesbian community has done.

“That cultural shift has started to happen,” she said. “The reason we started Trans Pride is to highlight that, to increase visibility, while creating something where we in the community can see one another and celebrate ourselves.”

A recent PEW poll found that ~92% believe that the change in attitudes about marriage equality was the result of knowing someone who is LGBT.