Friday, June 15, 2012

When you Hot-You Hot!!!

Just had to pass along this photo of "Carmen Carrerra", the transsexual woman involved in the "Cake Boss" fiasco on TLC Network.

Carmen Carrrera

New Post over There!

Just posted a new post over at "TG Reporter"!
If you would like to check it out, go here.
Just go to the bottom left of the page for my column.
Thanks!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Transsexual Courage Under Fire

Surely it seems the path to coming out as a transsexual firefighter would be an exceptionally difficult journey.
Recently the "Fire 20/20" site featured an article by Lana Moore.
Here's an excerpt:

"On the wall at my engine house hangs a large framed photo featuring the silhouette of a firefighter against vivid flames. Underneath is a caption that reads: “Courage comes from a reserve of mind more powerful than outside circumstances.”  As emergency first responders we are often lauded for our courage following some bold public act, yet I believe that the hardest courage is sometimes being brave enough to be honest with yourself.

Coming out as a male to female transsexual on the fire department wasn't easy. Wow, that's an understatement if ever there was one. In fact, for the longest time, not only did I think it would be extremely difficult, I believed it impossible. Having been on female hormones for two years, my physical transformation was well under way. I had recently separated from my wife and our marriage dissolution was pending. I decided that it was time to make my announcement and begin living socially and professionally as a woman, but I was convinced that there was no reality for me where I could be true to myself and also keep my job as a Fire Captain."

Check out the link for more of this wonderful story!

"Title of the Day"!

Internalized Transphobia: Butch Worship and the Misogyny of Femme Bashing.

No comment-"I doesn't know it?"

Never Too Old!

From the Shanghaiist comes this story called
"Man enough to be a woman". Here's an excerpt:

"Qian Jinfan (钱今凡), a 84-year-old calligrapher, art critic and retired government official based in Foshan, has become China's oldest openly transgender individual, after outing herself in an an exclusive interview with the Southern Metropolitan Daily, in her bid to promote understanding of transgenders in China."

Although I know many  in our community scorn so called "late bloomers" such as Qian (and I) it's a tribute to transgender individuals of any age to finally be able to persue their gender quest and it's a bigger tribute to those who go public with their lives!

Just an Idea

Really?
A new campaign has been announced for a line of ‘Pride’ tees and tanks made in partnership with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), features ANTM alum Isis King, who happens to be transgender (and anorexic) This is the first time ever that American Apparel has featured an openly transgender model in a campaign. Proceeds from the tees, which are screen-printed with “Legalize Gay” and “GAY OK,” will partially benefit GLAAD and its work in the upcoming Pride marches across the country.

The idea is that the skeletal King sit down with the "Cake Boss". He has to model a T-shirt and King has to eat some cake and not run to the nearest bathroom.


Two Spirits Headed To DC.

PBS-Independent Lens broadcasted the film  TWO SPIRITS nationally from June 14th-29th, 2011. A year later, the "Two Spirit Group" has been invited to the White House! Follow this link 
to learn more plus news about another project "Shi Ma' ".

More Cake

TLC has pulled Monday's episode of Cake Boss after RuPaul's Drag Race star Carmen Carrera, a transgender woman, expressed that she was very unhappy with how she was portrayed on the reality show.
According to the L.A. Times, Carrera felt that producers brought her on the show under false pretenses, making her believe that she would be a role model for the transgender community, but instead fell victim to Valastro's "homophobic prank."

Good, I sort of like cake. Never watched the show any how.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Having Your Cake and Not Eating It Too

Perhaps you've heard, read or even seen the episode of "Cake Boss" in which transgender beauty Carmen Carrera  is bullied after a prank.
Carmen Carrera

This version of the "prank" and the reaction comes from "NewNowNext".
"You know what’s a funny, funny way to get ratings? Do what the producers of Cake Bossdid and get a transgender woman on your show, convince her that you are helping to promote awareness with her role on the program and then publicly shame and mock her. Hatred is hysterical!"

"For their part some of the sensitive, sensitive souls at Cake Boss then thought it would be funny to continue to shame Carmen after the episode aired. When someone mocked Anthony, the castmember the prank was played on, for kissing a man, Anthony had this to say: “hahaha nah I didn’t it give [sic] me a kiss on the cheek.”
“It” gave him a kiss on the cheek. What an amazing guy that Anthony must be."

Follow the link to read Carrera's comments. Of course she was upset but couldn't a lot of people see this coming? Pranking a guy into thinking he was kissing a genetic woman? Really? How's that working for everyone? Not so good.
There is a petition on "Change.Org" demanding an well deserved apology though and the "Cake Boss" star "Buddy Valastro has already done just that.
 

What Would Mom Say

Image from Jenna Norman on UnSplash This week my question to answer on the year long bio I am writing for my daughter and family as well as ...