A reader writes: “I am a 48-year-old transgendered woman. I had a sex change operation at age 25. I am unable to get a job, go to school, or rent an apartment. There are laws against discrimination against transsexuals in this state, but they do not enforce the laws. “I used to have a career [...]
Posts Tagged ‘being trans’
Ask Matt: Anti-Trans Discrimination Ruins Dreams
Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Observations, tagged being trans, community, discrimination, employment, transition, transphobia on February 9, 2012 | 8 Comments »
Ask Matt: Non-Trans Privilege and Social Justice Parenting
Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, Information, tagged being trans, discrimination, family, trans education, transphobia on February 6, 2012 | 5 Comments »
A reader writes: “I am working very hard to teach my children to acknowledge their various privileges. Social justice parenting is extremely important to their father and I, but we know that because we are also riddled with various privileges that we will unintentionally pass on our biases to our children despite our best efforts. [...]
‘Objectified’: An Interview with Singer/Songwriter Shawna Virago
Posted in Information, Interviews, tagged activism, being trans, community, identity, music, trans women on February 2, 2012 | 4 Comments »
Shawna Virago isn’t shy. This in-your-face singer and songwriter lets you know just what she’s thinking – about being trans, about being a woman, and about being Objectified. Her first CD is out now, and I hope there will be a second. As someone whose iTunes collection pretty much came out on vinyl first, I [...]
‘Transfigurations’: An Interview with Photographer Jana Marcus
Posted in Information, Interviews, News, tagged being trans, bodies, books, trans men, trans women, transition on January 12, 2012 | 8 Comments »
In 2003, photographer Jana Marcus started photographing and interviewing trans people for a small photo exhibit. She didn’t know at the time that the exhibit would grow into a major project, Transfigurations, that would travel to galleries around the country for several years and receive prestigious awards and universal praise. Transfigurations has recently been released [...]
2012 Resolutions: What Are You Doing Right?
Posted in Advice, Observations, tagged being trans, community, holidays on December 29, 2011 | 12 Comments »
Another new year is upon us, and I will admit that I’m the type to make New Year’s resolutions. I’m also the type to break them before January is out the door. I honestly can’t think of any resolutions that I’ve made that I’ve been able to keep long-term. Eat less? Well, less than the [...]
Providing H.O.P.E. for Homeless Trans People
Posted in Information, tagged being trans, community, discrimination, holidays on December 12, 2011 | 7 Comments »
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season, you don’t have to look any further than H.O.P.E. House, a safe house and transitional living home for trans people. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, and run by Michael Brown, founder of TransMentors International, and his wife, Lillian, H.O.P.E. House serves trans people [...]
Staying Happy During the Holidays
Posted in Advice, Information, Observations, tagged being trans, community, family, holidays on December 8, 2011 | 15 Comments »
The holidays are once again upon us, and no matter which one you celebrate at this time of year, or even if you don’t celebrate at all, the forced cheerfulness of Christmas songs, glittery decorations, light displays, and other holiday hoopla can add to the seasonal blues of those who feel alone. This can be [...]
Ask Matt: The Legalities of Marriage in Trans Land
Posted in Advice, Ask Matt, tagged being trans, gender expectations, legal, LGBT, relationships, same-sex marriage on November 21, 2011 | 17 Comments »
A reader writes: “I am a transman in a committed relationship (6.5 years together) with a cisman. We met when I was still presenting as female, and he has been a source of unconditional love throughout the process. I hope to begin hormone therapy in early December, and he supports me. “We were in a [...]
In the Cards: My Tarot Card Reading
Posted in Information, Observations, tagged being trans, community, identity on November 3, 2011 | 10 Comments »
I have found that being trans is a very spiritual experience, truly representing both male and female energy, yin and yang, god and goddess – however you want to characterize it. And that is one part (of many) about it that I really like. And although most of the time I’m a card-carrying skeptic, I [...]



Trans People: Are We ‘Just Like You’?
Posted in Commentary, Observations, tagged assimilation, being trans, discrimination, gender expectations on January 26, 2012 | 23 Comments »
The “just like you” argument is about as old as time, dirt, and me. It probably emerged with the first person to be marginalized by a group in power, and there was likely enough of a difference between this person and that group that the group was able to justify shutting him or her out. [...]
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