Transgendered Vet News

As most of you know, I am a transgendered vet with a transgendered history with the VA.
To make a long story short, my hormone recommendation letter was written by a VA pyschologist. I also have my "meds" filled through the VA but not prescribed yet. What that means is there is no one in my area who feels well enough trained in the transgendered/transsexual treatment field to do it. I'm still awaiting news if the VA will cover my private doctor bills. If they don't I can appeal.
The "Transgender Equality Site" just issued this statement concerning transgendered care and the VA.
Here is an excerpt:
"Building on the June 2011 Directive on the treatment of transgender veterans, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has announced a clarification to its records policy that will make significant difference in the lives of trans veterans. Since the Directive has gone into effect, we have received positive reports from trans veterans about receiving more respectful health care. However, one area that the Directive left somewhat unclear was the documentation that was required for veterans to change the gender marker on their health records.
The Directive was very clear that medical records will now reflect an individual’s self-identified gender.  However, the policy also indicated that the individual must provide official documentation as per Veterans Health Administration policies in order to change the gender marker. This was initially interpreted incorrectly by some staff and facilities to require proof of sex reassignment surgery."

The most important and positive part of the post comes at the end:

"This clarification is another important step forward for trans
veterans. At NCTE we’ve been very pleased to provide education and
advocacy to the VA, which continues to be very interested in ensuring
that transgender vets are treated equally. We’re confident that the VA
will continue to move forward and are excited about some great
upcoming programs the VA is planning to provide cultural competency
training to clinical and administrative staff across the country.

In the coming weeks, NCTE will release a user-friendly guide to
changing your VA health records. Until then, we urge trans vets to
read our resources about the June 2011 VHA Directive and the passport
policy and speak with a patient advocate or Social Worker at your VA
facility if you have questions.

VHA Directive: http://transequality.org/PDFs/VHA_Trans_Health.pdf

Passport gender change policy:
http://transequality.org/Resources/passports_2012.pdf

If you have difficulties changing you records at your local VA or have
trouble accessing respectful healthcare, please contact NCTE
immediately at NCTE@transequality.org or 202-903-0112.

Really good information!!!!!

When Do You Stop Being Transgendered?

Silly question? Maybe never.
This all came up as I was swapping emails with an old friend who has a similar life experience as I. She is also considering hormones at the same age. She had just recently watched a couple short documentaries about a couple of transgendered women with her wife. Ironically, she found herself identifying with neither. Unfortunately, one of the individuals in the documentaries came off as rather clownish and even hurt the home discussion. Her wife is to the point that she told her if this is what you want, do it. The problem became, just who is "you"?
 My friend and I then ended up discussing just finding a niche for yourself in the transgendered culture.
Of course later I began to rethink the process and came up with this idea- At what point do you cross the threshold from identifying as a transgendered person and identify as just being you?
At times I feel guilty in some sort of way about not identifying internally as a male or a female. I think "Isn't there a problem here?"
I hate the phrase "It is what it is" but in this case "it" is.
In the past here I have detailed many of the formative experiences in my life in either gender.
The experience helped to understand both genders. I know what it is to compete in an alpha male world and how it shapes a man. That's why I don't hate them.
I'm learning to know what I so wanted over the span of my life about a female existence. Slowly but surely, I'm discovering the true essence of a life I only dreamed about.
Where does all this leave me? Right smack in the middle.
I have been so fortunate to carve out a small niche is society as a woman. My fondest desire is to continue the process just as far as a can.
On the other hand. "It is what it is" I can't erase so many years of male life either. 
At some point I would have a label at all anymore. I will just be me!

Who is the "Ass" Now?

Celebrated showman "P.T. Barnum" is erroneously credited with saying  "There's a sucker born every minute".

Unfortunately it seems the "Black Madam" is finding her share of them until she gets exposed again and taken off the street. 

The whole process begs the question "Who is the ass  now? Dumb or other?"

Once again the 'Black Madam' who was suspected of killing a British student with a botched bottom implant has been arrested in connection with another illegal enhancement procedure.

The 42-year-old, also known as Padge-Victoria Windslowe, was about to host a 'pumping party' at a home in Philadelphia when she was apprehended last night, police said.

 Windslowe went on the run last year went on the run after one of her patients allegedly died from a botched butt implant. Approximately two weeks ago, yet another of her "patients" nearly died and police obtained a warrant.

Hopefully this woman is exposed and recognized by an obviously desperate segment of the transgendered community and spends some time behind bars.

I'm ashamed to point this out, Windslowe is transgendered herself.