Around the World with Cyrsti

It is fascinating enough for me to wrap my noggin around the fact the cyber world is so small. How great is it that we all can learn from other cultures and individuals of their transgender worlds-pro and con.
Today is no different as I ran across this post about Jin Xing (seen right) from China.
She is a transsexual woman who has led a very public life for years and transitioned from a Chinese Army Officer to the person she is today.


Her life story has the mythic outlines of a movie ("Pedro Almódovar is a good friend of mine. One day he will make a movie out of my life.") She's a judge on the Chinese equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing, but is scathing: "In the UK they really work at it. Over here it's second- or third-class movie stars who just want the exposure and work for a maximum of one week. It's really low-quality dancing." Now she has her own debate show, which airs on a Hong Kong station rather than the heavily censored mainland channels. But she picks her topics carefully: "I'm not against the party [and] I know the laws – but I can talk about social issues." Officials trust her because "they know I know the borderlines", she says. Besides, what better way to demonstrate the changing face of China than via an outspoken transsexual former colonel?

Jump here for more! (But do it gracefully if Xing is watching.)

Trans Politicos

I promised myself I would be rather quiet about the upcoming election here in Cyrsti's Condo. So I'm quietly going to point out the picture below is of half of the transgender delegates at the Democratic National Convention.
Somehow, I missed the pictures of the Republican transgender delegates.  Sorry....but:
You just had to know I had more to add. I do! Read more about the Democratic transgender transsexual agenda here.
I was going to add the Republican one...but when I read some of VP Candidate Ryan's previous stands on our rights-I quit trying. According to him we shouldn't have any...a true American...right?

Half of the transgender delegates at the 2012 Democratic National Convention posed for a photograph after the LGBT caucus met on Thursday, September 6, 2012. From left, Marisa Richmond, Jamie Shiner, Babs Siperstein, Mara Keisling, Kylar Broadus, Melissa Sklarz and Dana Beyer.

Transsexual Matrix

As you have probably read "Cloud Atlas" co-director Lana Wachowski this week publicly embraced her gender switch from Larry for the first time -- with bright pink dreads. Her sex change was long rumored, but never confirmed as Wachowski had previously avoided interviews and publicity tours by insisting on no-press clauses in her film contracts. Suddenly last month a promotional video showing her in pink dreads went viral and in a New Yorker magazine interview she described how in school Larry didn't know whether to stand in lines with boys or girls, and opted for the middle ground, "exactly where I belonged, betwixt."
I love this picture of Lana with Tom Hanks for all it could be saying:
First of all, what the hell was she saying to Hanks?  Second of all. what was he thinking except Oh Hell! and the best thought of all is what was the woman sitting behind them thinking?
Classic!!!
I know someone is going to mess this up and add some sort of caption to it but this is better left to the imagination!

How Bad is This???

Just after I see a very positive uplifting story from Vietnam's Top Idol here comes the tragic story of transsexual woman Fernanda Milan who is seeking asylum in Denmark from her native Guatemala- literally to save her life.

Vietnam Transgender Idol

"Huong Giang"

Thursday night, a jury in Vietnam's Top Idol Contest spoke highly to a 25-year-old girl from Hanoi, due to her effort during the competition.
 “The thing that surprises me is not your voice, it’s your effort. Your singing is not absolutely excellent, but your effort makes us want to see how you can improve,” judge My Tam commented. After that, the second judge, film director Nguyen Quang Dung went straight to the point by questioning if Giang had auditioned for Vietnam Idol before. After a few tentative seconds, the contestant admitted that she previously took part in the competition under a male name, Nguyen Ngoc Hieu. “I really appreciate young people who dare to be true to themselves and other people. Whatever you do, you take responsibility for it,” the film director said."


Read the whole story from Touitrenews.

To Be or Not to Be

I have discussed the issue of going stealth as a transgender or transsexual person a number of times with you here in Cyrsti's Condo. I am the first to admit I can see the pros and cons of the issue.
We are one of the few groups who achieves a goal of blending into society and then disappears. We win and help no one else in the process.
I'm the first to say how wrong that it is until I'm out and about with nary a side look from society.
I'm passing along this article from Deja Nicole Greenlaw (right) called "The Importance of Transgenders Coming Out.
Check it out here.

Transgender Student Stepping Out

From Stock & Land (Australia) which seems to be a rather agrarian publication comes the story of 15 year transgender student Riley:

"Riley"

"Riley, 15, from Sydney's north shore, is biologically male – but says being born a boy simply never made any sense. The high school student is one of an increasing number of teenagers who identify as transsexuals – those who feel they are trapped in the wrong body. Some are so sure that nature got it wrong that they are taking the bold step of "transitioning" – presenting themselves outwardly as the sex that they feel they are – during their teenage years or even earlier. For Riley, 2012 has been a watershed year. After going to school with bras secreted under her school shirt and with minimal make-up, she started wearing the girls’ school uniform. She is also doing some schooling of her own, teaching the teachers in the correct use of transgender pronouns. "They were having a lot of trouble with calling me 'she', but they are getting better," she says. When I meet Riley at her suburban home on a Sunday morning, she's dressed in jeans, knee-high boots, a cropped leather jacket and a T-shirt that boasts she's an "Angel by Day, Devil by Night". Her hair is styled perfectly, framing her prettily made-up face – as befitting for someone who is studying hairdressing part-time at TAFE along with her school subjects. We sit in the living room, where the table is scattered with photos of her as a young child. She seems to be constantly in fancy dress: vibrant-coloured outfits, make-up, glittery headbands. In one photo she's dressed in a cowboy suit but still manages to look feminine".

I can't say it enough, the courage of these trans teens to live their lives on their terms is simply wonderful!

Trans Man Before and After

This before and after is an equal time post of sorts: Dana Pardee in her graduation picture and as he is now: "When Dana Pardee looks at his 2007 high school graduation picture, he sees a beautiful young woman smiling back at him. “A-w-w,” he says. “She's pretty, but she's not me. She's just a shell of the person who I used to be.” Dana, 23, is a year into the process of changing his gender identity from female to male. With family and friends, Dana corrects pronoun usage from “she” to “he” and “hers” to “his” when he is the topic of the conversation." For more of Dana's story go here.

Sean Penn and Transgender?

Maybe so, at least in his newest motion picture project. As you will read in this press release, a transgender life for his character is not out of the question:

" Sean Penn, who has a legion of gay fans from his role as the eponymous leader in Milk, is gending bending in his newest film, This Must be the Place. In the video we learn Penn's character, Cheyenne, is an aging rock star with long hair, makeup, and a sweet and softspoken demeaner. All the press materials calls Cheyenne "he," but you'd be hard pressed not to see some nods to transgender life in the role, too. Upon learning his father is dead, Cheyenne decides to hunt down the Nazi war criminal (in hiding in the U.S.) who humiliated papa during the war — going on a journey of self-discovery along the way. Frances McDormand (always a scene stealer) plays Jane, someone who loves Cheyenne, though it's not clear if she's the wife or girlfriend or some other intimate partner."