While My Blog Gently Weeps

Last week we lost two well known transgender celebrities.

The first was "The Lady Chablis" who starred in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Brenda Dale Knox also was known as an author and drag performer who passed on at the early age of 59.

Passing at even an earlier age was actress and trans rights activist "Alexis Arquette" At 47, she was best known for her roles in "Pulp Fiction" and the Wedding Singer.

The untimely passage of both seems to be yet another example of the tougher lives most transgender women and trans men live outside the so called norms of society.

R.I.P. ladies, you both will be missed.

JJ's Sunday Edition

Ker Plunk! Another Sunday edition is hitting your virtual front porch! First the weather,a cup o joe and we will get started. First of it is beautiful here in Southwestern Ohio. Nothing but blue sky, low heat and humidity. After some powerful stormin' it seems "Momma Nature" may be settling into a fall pattern...finally!
Page One-the Week that Was-or Wasn't: I am working with a "Day of Transgender Remembrance" committee and this week  the Cincinnati Children's Hospital's  role was briefly discussed. Cincinnati Children's has a very good transgender treatment program for ages up to 24. As you can imagine, the program is very full. In fact patients come from as far as South Carolina. The whole subject brought home to me the number of transgender women and trans guys (of all ages) struggling to find health care of any kind.  Also the number of trans people who don't get counted in any census.

I saw two this week walking by which always makes me feel so much better and not alone. Although neither spoke (or vice versa). I saw one in a very difficult scenario for a chat and the other just glared. More the likely she hasn't caught up with the idea a male face somehow is made to scowl and one of the easier ways to present female is to soften your expression.

Page Two- Yesterday's Coffee- Opinion: On this anniversary of the tragic terrorist attracts on the World Trade Center/Pentagon/and Pennsylvania, I would be terribly remiss not to take a moment to remember those lost, including the first responders still struggling with severe health issues today. May we always remember that even though we are not perfect, the right to not stand during the national anthem was earned in blood. Freedom of speech is earned too.

Page Three: Well kids, time to go and enjoy this wonderful day. I hope it is for you too! Love you all!
Jessie

A Different Potty Break?

As I read the beginning of this post, I have to admit I was totally taken aback from the direction it took. Here is an excerpt:

"I'm 5 foot 3 inches tall and under 105 pounds. My red curly hair goes down to the middle of my back. I have long eyelashes (they're natural, I swear) and I am usually wearing some sassy shirt with a sarcastic quip like "In Your Dreams Loser." I'm a size one in girl's jeans. My voice is soft. Anyone who meets me, but doesn't actually know me, would never question my gender. They would assume I'm female. But I'm not. I have a penis.

I'm not transgender, but I don't identify as a man either. To me gender is this limiting and negative social construct I want nothing to do with. I'm just me. I'm more like a woman in some ways and more like a man in others. But because I don't intend to transition or start the process to become a woman, I never question which bathroom I use. I use the men's.

And this is what happens:

A man comes in and sees me washing my hands. He looks as if he has been slapped. He backs up and looks at the door to make sure he's in the right place."

Now, before you want to jump to conclusions on "passing privilege" and the like, go here and read the rest of the post.