So Others May Have/Gifting To: TLDEF (Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund)

AlmaSilientaenFuego
AnaMendieta,1975
imagecourtesyartnewsorg

Peeps,

For many T's, life rarely unfolds to the catchy tune of a well-crafted musical score, or seldom culminates in a rousting finale with wide-eyed optimism and open hearts all aflutter at the wonderful way(s) in which justice and equality prevails, as evidenced by supportive spouses, accepting families, and non-judgmental peers.  For many T's, the feel-good extravaganza known as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, remains the cinematic equivalent of a torch-song: unrequited love sung high, held long, felt deep; hopeful, yet hopeless for that is the defining quality of a torch-song.  And a torch-song is not a love-song, and a love-song is not a torch-song, and the latter resides almost exclusively in the repertoire of many T's; for whom, love remains eternally elusive.  


The T's (transgender persons and transsexuals) are not simply a group of cross-dressers, drag-queens, lip-sticked divas, butch-dykes, butch-kings, and the like which really are derogatory terms (revealing a deep misunderstanding of, as well as reflecting stereotypes based on fear, ignorance, or prejudice whether societal, cultural, or religious). Transequality.org states that ' Gender identity refers to the way you understand yourself and your gender.  It is about the internal sense of masculinity or femininity that a person feels.  Sexual orientation is our attraction to someone else of the same or different gender or both.  It refers to the kinds of relationships that you have with others.  Transgender people can be heterosexual/straight, bisexual, homosexual/gay/lesbian or identify as queer.'  Some individuals attempt to reconcile their gender (identity) with their sexual (identity) and embark on this process usually with the assistance of an informal support group, and later under the guidance of a mental health professional, who in conjunction with a medical doctor can facilitate gender reconstructive surgery, facial reconstructive surgery, breast removal or augmentation, surgeries to remove the ovaries and uterus, and surgeries to reduce the Adam's apple or change the thorax. After completion of this extensive process, they are by all accounts, transsexuals, meaning persons who have utilized the tools of modern technology to match gender and sexual identity.  And they, should be applauded for undertaking and completing this journey to full self-hood and internal peace.  


Some T's never fully complete this process (either in its entirety if this is so desired, or portions of it), and there are many reasons for this 'interruption.'  Some of these range from being thrown out of homes, losing jobs, facing discrimination and prejudice when seeking employment, housing, medical services; physical and psychological abuse at the hands of family members or strangers.  And a large number of transpersons, (it is reported that a transperson is killed every three days) are strangled/stabbed/stoned/shot/decapitated and dismembered/drowned, and as of late, the acts of rage and violence towards trans-persons have resulted in a serious of deadly attacks in which the victims' bodies are burned.  Sad, shocking, repulsive, unacceptable, yet in many parts of our country and abroad, these murderous acts are of no concern to authorities and certain segments of the society who view these incidents with a large degree of disinterest. Transequality.org reminds us that, ' Sex and gender are complex issues.  A huge variety of factors are at work in making each individual the person that they are and there is no reason that causes people to be transgender.  Trans people are part of the variety that makes up the human community.'


During this season of giving, please consider making a donation to TLDET (Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund) at www.tldet.org; become a member of The Center for Transgender Equality at www.transequality.org; or stay informed and voice your support of equality for all persons at www.transrespect-transphobia.org, and The Bilerico Project at www.bilerico.com.


Thank you,
Shane