Midwest GenderQueer

Busy work day highlights:

Mom of a trans kid: “I’m so grateful you can help us; I am so grateful for you. This has been so wonderful.”

Young trans* person: “I love you! You have just answered years’ worth of questions for me. I’ve been so alone… I actually feel like I can do this now.”

Thank you community, for making my job so incredibly worth it. Thank you for reminding me why I do this.

Awesome interview with Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens director/producer Gabrielle Burton plus two of my co-starts Liz Balk and Andrew Levitt. Be sure to catch the awesome conversation about feminism and drag at the end.

To support this project, visit the Kickstarter now!

KINGS, QUEENS, & IN-BETWEENS is a documentary on drag queens, kings, transgender performers, and the issue of gender expression.

I am so very excited to be a part of this documentary project, working with some of the most wonderful people ever. It was filmed a couple years ago, so I’m in a slightly different place in how I talk about things, but it is still AWESOME. Please check out this project, and donate if you can! And spread the word!

foxski:

“The Human Rights Campaign asked us to take down our trans* flag because ‘marriage equality is not a transgender issue.’

They said this to one of our activists as well as a transgender person who held the flag. We stood our ground, and flew our flag proudly.

That flag flew behind the podium ALL day today, keep an eye for it on the news.”

This apparently happened twice. Well done, HRC. Well done. But I’m not allowed to be critical of your campaign. Get the fuck out of here.

While it is entirely possible that these were isolated incidents that are not representative of the HRC, based on my own experience with HRC organizers I see this as another example of how problematic and exclusionary “our movement” is. The HRC as an organization states it is inclusive of trans* folks, but they don’t train their organizers to be. Typical problem. Activist Organizations: If you are gonna talk the talk, walk the fucking walk; if you’re people aren’t walking right, then neither are you. 

A Widdershins Girl: Transphobic logic   (via coolgrandpa)

Really good quote. It is an interesting portrayal of what the trans* community looks like now (which is lots of young people), versus 5-10 years ago. I especially like the part that says “you would have said something by now…” I think it speaks to those of us who weren’t able to come out until we were older because we didn’t even know trans* existed. 

(via transawareness)

So glad to see this resource! Especially with a shout out to my former employer, and one of my fav organizations, Advocates for Youth.

(via genderedintelligence: via cisprivilege: via latinegrasexologist:)

A question I received and responded to in private. Making this rebloggable so that folks can see what my response is but more importantly for trans* Latin@s to share the resources they find useful.

Advocates for Youth also produced this booklet called ‘I think I might be transgender… now what do I do?’ which is available in a few languages, including Spanish. 

(via transawareness)

so… my classmate (who is a genuinely nice guy) just asked me why I wasn’t at the recent HRC Gala, where he expected to see me. I answered with a 10 minute lecture about the good, but relatively unproductive intentions of the classist, normative system that is local gay organizing and the resulting exclusion of trans* communities. Poor guy, I think my intensity freaked him out a little. In my defense, I just ate a lot of sugary cookies… so really, totally not my fault.

Here we are again! Winter is on it’s way out, and I’m getting ready to SPRING into action with activisty presentations, performances, workshops, and more. Spots are already filling up, so don’t wait! Visit the Booking Page for more info or reference the ad below. Maybe this year, you and I can tip-toe through the trans* tulips together!

(Source: midwestgenderqueer)

I read a quote that really moved me. It said ”self portraits (selfies) are often such an act of self preservation and resistance.” I take a lot of self portraits and I have a good reason for it.

OMG Just got a call from the American Counseling Association’s LGBT group ALGBTIC. My baby, aka my org MTQWI, has been chosen for their Joe Norton award. HUGE DEAL! OMG! Incredible to think that my one-human organization can be fancy like that!!

taken from an email I just received from a new member of the trans* group I started/run, Cincinnati Trans* Community Group.

(via transqueerwellness)

Again, I’m glad that people are getting better access to resources/benefits, but come on. Where’s the attention to Trans* communities, Mr. Government? Trans* folks aren’t even allowed to serve openly, let alone get needed health benefits.

“The military is poised to extend some benefits to the same-sex partners of service members, U.S. officials said Tuesday, about 16 months after the Pentagon repealed its ban on openly gay service.”

This is great news. Ok, now that we’ve acknowledged that, I want to point out that military service “gays” have been “accepted” and are feasibly getting partner benefits before the “ban” on trans* people serving is ever even mentioned by the government, let alone repealed.

truth from one of my favorite truth tellers.

transgendermenac3:

Daily reminder that you dont have to pack or bind or tuck or wear anything or do anything you don’t want to do if you don’t want to. You’re trans* no matter what you do or don’t choose to wear or use. 

Sports fan or not, this is freaking adorable.

“Last week the Vancouver Canucks invited Cory Oskam, a transgender goalie from Britannia Hockey Academy, to share the ice with goalie Cory Schneider. Their same first name isn’t a coincidence; Oskam chose the name because of his favorite hockey player — Schneider.”