Flying High with "Skyler"!

From Georgia and the Transadvocate comes this story about a young transgender girl by the name of Skyler. (left)

Unfortunately she doesn't represent the majority of transgender youth but she does symbolize what can happen in a loving understanding family with the resources to help. Here's a little background:

Skylar, is a twelve-year-old transgender girl in Georgia, who earlier had been denied use of the girls’ restroom at her school. (of course) But sometime later,  the administration had listened to reason and reversed the school’s decision. A few days ago, Skylar returned now is back to school and is being treated the same as the other girls in her classes.

From the article and the pictures, it seems Skylar is doing well and has gotten out ahead of the "puberty curve" with blockers which keep her from developing male characteristics. Which I understand are not permanent if later she decides the male to female transition process was not the right move.

In the meantime her story brings to mind a comment a person sent along to me recently about the feminine imprint genetic girls naturally receive early in life. The picture to the right of Skyler (center) her younger sister Sylvie and Jazz (another trans girl) seems to show a strong imprint.


Interestingly, the idea of the permanency of gender imprinting has come up in other discussions I have seen and been in concerning SRS transsexuals later in life. Do they indeed revert back to their male past on occasions? Is it bad and does the imprinting slowly fade like a bad tattoo?

Who knows? Depends upon the person.  The only certainty is having the freedom of gender choice and the resources to pursue the journey with care and guidance is special.  Unfortunately the door is closed so tightly to so many.

Why? Because It Is What It Is.

As I interact this morning with my canine companion of over 12 years, I'm fairly sure I give her more credit for knowing what happens around here and the reason it does.  Of course she knows certain activities are going to happen like food, water, potty breaks and rides in the car. But as I understand it dogs don't have the reasoning power to understand why it does or doesn't. When.she doesn't get her ride in the car or her puppy treats, she doesn't reason why.

As so many of us have struggled over the years to understand the reasons behind our gender paths (cross dresser, transgender or transsexual) I began to think, are we like dogs? We really don't know why we are on this path, we just are.

As humans though, most of us do have the power to reason our way through the unreasonable. Speaking for myself, I wish I had all the time, energy and money I wasted attempting to figure out a reason returned. I went the self medicating alcohol route and the therapy route too Over the span of four decades I had four. One,  a waste, one incredible and two middle of the road. The middle of the road therapists faced the impossible task of encouraging me to look for what I didn't want to find anyhow. They did their job.

I have always disliked the phrase "it is what is is" but certainly in my life being transgender was what it was and I can only look forward to the future. Not cry about the spilled milk of the past. In fact I just spilled some of my cats milk on the kitchen floor and the dog is eagerly taking care of the mess.  She doesn't care why it's there. It just is and it's good!

It Does Get Better

You probably have heard of the It Does Get Better public relations effort which began some time ago to reach out to TGLB youth. Nothing is more tragic to me than the stories of trans kids who are subjected to extreme bullies and ignorant families. Ultimately suicide is the only answer for some.  So sad! Despite the age difference, most of their problems are similar to ours.

The fact remains though, what does and doesn't the campaign mean to the "more mature" transgender age groups? Actually everything and then again not so much. Bottom line in any self help campaign is : "what does it do for me?"

In essence we are still our parents trans kid peeking out from the closet to see what's going on. The problem is, the closet over the years has become very full of the baggage we have accumulated. We have painted our self into a corner of the closet with few alternatives. Such as these simplified examples:

Number One is going down with the ship. You have hidden your gender issues for so long, what's the problem with a few more?

Number Two are the final solutions. You can't stand the pressure anymore and you check out with suicide or you go ahead come out before you harm yourself.

Number Three is cautiously checking the waters. and slowly come out into the world.

No matter of age, the only way anything gets better is effort. Check the link above for effort on the highest level!

It's the Time of the Season

In my part of the world prom and graduation season has almost come and gone. But has it really? With increased frequency we are seeing more and more transgender youth challenging the system. Standing up for the right to enjoy activities such as prom or graduation as the trans women and men they really are. The effect of each and every one of these youth will certainly be felt for years-until all the gender walls come down.

In the meantime though, there is much to be done encouraging youth in the closet to enter the world- on their own terms. How much of course depends upon where you are. Here's an example from the television show , What Would You Do?, who decided to find out what people would do if they witnessed a boy undergoing gender transition trying on a prom dress:



 

She's...Baaaack!

Hello all, I think being MIA (missing in action) from Cyrsti's Condo for two days was like leaving my daughter overnight with the parents for the first time when she was tiny.

The much anticipated Trans Ohio Symposium has come and gone and of course I have a ton of observations and info to pass along!

The biggest observation was I'm way to old to party down in Columbus two nights in a row like I used to plus get my hair done and my ears pierced the day before I went.

The second pleasant surprise to me was the trans youth who attended the symposium, specifically the number of transgender men. AT least one third of the attendees were trans guys according to my unofficial stats and I think the lead organizers were too.

Obviously, I have way more thoughts to come. I'm going to try to start at the beginning Friday with my hair appointment in the next post!

Katie's Transgender Show

Tuesday afternoon in my part of the world, one of the more impressive television shows on transgender youth issues I have ever seen aired on one of my local television affiliates.

Katie Couric hosted a show billed as "Raising a Transgender Child".
Two impressive points were the fact the show was not presented as a sensationalized Anderson Cooper ratings booster and took a serious look at the lives of young transgender children female and male. All of them pounded home the very important point to the casual observer that gender and sexuality were different.
Above I have added a picture from the show including the youngest Coy (six) to icon Renee Richards (78) and yes the other two are transgender also.

Of course the subject of "puberty blockers" was prominently mentioned and experts were plentiful to discuss them. I would guess the more jaded of the public and the transphobic folks would have wanted a few naysayers on the show. In my mind a debate on the subject would have destroyed the continuity of the show.

Of course, I'm sure more than a couple trans nazi's will find something wrong in this show but I'm sure soon you will be able to judge it for yourself on line somewhere. Follow the link above for more!

Summer Is Over-Hope Isn't

Kids from all over may have attended a camp or two over the summer including the transgender youth who attended Camp Aranu'tiq (Aranu’tiq, which is an indigenous Alaskan word for a person who was thought to embody both the male and female spirits.)
The camp was actually started in 2010 by a transgender male in Connecticut. Media representatives are not normally allowed at the camp. An exception was granted for Boston.Com.
We have posted a story about this wonderful camp here in Cyrsti's Condo before and if you would like to read this update please go here.

The Future is Now!

How great it is to see examples of transgender youth living life to it's fullest!

Transgender Youth Fighting for her Future

A headmaster tried to ban a transgender schoolboy from sitting an exam dressed in girls' uniform - until the pupil slammed a copy of the Equality Act on his desk.
Ashlyn Parram, 16, wore girl's tights, a skirt and blazer to her first GCSE exam but was told she could not sit the paper, because she was not in correct uniform.
Incredibly, the furious teen had printed off a copy of the law governing discrimination in Britain and marched straight to head teacher Chris Wall's office for a showdown.
More from the "Huffington Post"

"Ashlyn pointed out the law to the gobsmacked head - a former Olympic diver - who then admitted he could not stop her taking the test.
But when Ashlyn reached the exam room she was forced to sit apart from the other pupils on the other side of the sports hall - in segregation.
The year 11 has openly lived as a girl at home for two years but has sensitively toned down her appearance at Giles Academy, Boston, Lincolnshire to avoid abuse.
Her mum Miranda Johnson on Monday publicly backed her gutsy daughter, who has officially been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
The family have lodged a formal complaint against Mr Walls, who they claim has failed to help protect Ashlyn - one of the youngest in Britain to begin sex-change treatment on the NHS.

Ashlyn and Mom (right)

They claim Ashlyn has been forced to ensure a string of bullying and discrimination by pupils - and even teachers.
Shockingly, during a series of meetings with school bosses to address failings alleged by Ashlyn's parents one senior teacher even told them gender dysphoria doesn't exist. The teacher said: "This is Lincolnshire - we are a very conservative county - we don't have things like that."




Really???? Follow the link for more!

Are You Ready for Transfeminism?

Transfeminism : What does it have to do with Feminism? Or anything?
If you follow and can understand the war of words which rages around all of us- you are a better person than I am.
Tonight, I was going to give you an example of more abbreviations, buzz words and labels in one paragraph than I have seen ever in a trans war post. I admit I'm fascinated by the virulent verbage which revolves around those with a native born vagina, those with a manufactured one and those with none at all. (It's like a sneaky love of the worst reality show ever!)
However,  I didn't pass it along because taking it out of context would have been grossly wrong because of it's overall tragic subject matter.
Trans feminism is actually a fairly simple concept to me. As I have gained more self confidence, I am less likely to sit quietly when I have a chance to "educate" someone.
Example? A couple weeks ago I had a chance to explain to a gay man how myself and the trans woman I was talking to were NOT in drag.
I'm not kidding myself that during the relative short time I have left in this existence I will see the need for terms such as transfeminism, rad fems and others to just go away.
On the other hand I continue to uncover examples of why they just might!
I would be remiss if I didn't pass along another:

The Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides education, advocacy and support for transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth and their families.

Our mission is to share information about the unique needs of this community, partnering with families, educators and service providers to help foster a healthy, caring, and safe environment for all transgender children."

I'm passing along a link to their Trans 101 from where you can check their whole site. 

This says it all "Helping adults understand...what the kids already know."

Maybe this is the place to quote John Lennon :

Imagine all the people Living life in peace
You, you may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you will join us And the world will be as one."

No matter where your sexual organs originated.