Discrimination Against Transgender People On The Rise In Hampton Roads, VA

In the past thirty days, I know of three cases of blatant discrimination against Transgender people in Hampton Roads, VA. If one considers the size of the Hampton Roads Trans community, these three cases can be considered an epidemic. First, a Norfolk police officer brutally threw a 66 year old Trans woman to the pavement while making an arrest for what the cop feels was assault. By the way, this Trans woman had just suffered a hypoglycemic attack on the side of the Interstate Highway. The police officer then took her to the station where he and two other male cops searched her - Norfolk Virginia Police Officer Arrests 66 YO Transgender Elder After Diabetic Attack Next, a Trans woman was fired for low productivity from a Midas Muffler shop five days after she transitioned at work - ENDA Or Not: The Right To Discriminate Against Transgender People Exists Laura Bush (yep, that's her name) called me to say she received a letter from Fleet Reserve Association Branch 60- Club 60 president, Dale Aho which can be read below. Aho (not to be confused with the vulgar term many people use to refer to a jerk) and the rest of his little club blatantly discriminated against Laura Bush by telling her she could not use a woman's restroom. She had to use a man's bathroom or the ever sacred non-gendered bathroom. This form of discrimination smacks of the days of segregation when separate but equal was the rule. Some of you will not remember the days when there were "colored" only bathrooms and "white" only drinking fountains. In this case, The Fleet Reserve Association chose separate but equal bathrooms for Laura from which one can draw the conclusion Laura is not considered good enough to use the woman's toilet. And on, and on, and on ad nauseium. The real clincher on all three of these stories is that each of these Trans women served their country proudly as members of the United States Navy. They were willing to lay down their lives for their country and now they are beaten by local police, can't keep a job simply because she was attempting to live her authentic life and finally Laura, a 24 year Navy Veteran who is not allowed to freekin pee in peace nor  is she allowed to participate as a Chaplin as her authentic self in the VFW Post 392 in Virginia Beach. Yep, they want her to drab down in order to participate. This is a time when I am quite ashamed of my Hampton Roads community.I also realize there is a tremendous amount of work to be done in educating the general public in Hampton Roads, VA about Transgender issues so all of these ugly forms of discrimination can be brought out in the open for what they are and people will be angry when a Transgender person feels the bitter sting of discrimination. Transgender veteran draws complaints at club by Brian Farrell 13NEWS / WVEC.com Posted on September 28, 2010 at 11:29 PM Updated Tuesday, Sep 28 at 11:30 PM NORFOLK -- "I go up there. I drink a couple Cokes. I read a newspaper. I pretty much keep to myself," says Laura Rae Bush of her trips to Club 60, Inc. in West Ocean View. "I've been using the ladies' restroom." What sound like simple visits to the bathroom are, in fact, a little more complicated. Bush is a transgender female who, for most of her life, went by the name Larry. "I've been on hormones for four months, and the pluming doesn't work anymore," offers Bush. "They don't have anything to fear from me." Monday, the manager of Club 60, which is a private club associated with Fleet Reserve Association Branch 60, asked to see Bush in the office. She gave Navy veteran a letter which she signed in her managerial capacity along with the club's president, Dale Aho: SHIPMATE, This letter is in regard to your use of the Ladies restroom: Numerous complaints have been made to Club Management by female members and their husbands in regards to your use of the Ladies room. It is our understanding that you're currently of the male gender. If this is indeed a fact, you must use the Men's room or the unisex restroom on the patio. Thank you in advance, for your cooperation in this matter. "The sex discrimination and the prejudice should not be there," argues Bush. "I can understand their being kind of nervous, okay. Yes, I'm not biologically a female yet. I am, but I feel female in my heart, and in my mind, and in my soul." Aho tells 13News, "I've tried to handle a delicate situation as best I can," and that he "did it with the utmost respect." The club's president says the Board of Governors discussed the circumstances. Aho decided it was in the club's best interest to spell things out in a letter "and on the record." He adds that giving the situation a lot of attention is "...making a story out of something that isn't there." Earlier this year, Bush encountered some issues at VFW Post 392 in Virginia Beach where he served as chaplain. Bush was on the roll as "Larry," which was her legal name at the time. (She since had it changed.) The post commander asked Bush, who served as chaplain, to wear proper attire to functions. As a man, that included pants, not a skirt as Bush wore. "I have a lot of people that tell me I did the right thing for standing up for my rights," says Bush. "I wasn't trying to do it for publicity. I was trying to make it, you know, right for other people like myself." Bush explains the situation at Club 60, like the one at the VFW, makes her feel unwanted. Despite the disagreement, Aho says Bush is welcome at the club in West Ocean View anytime. "People fear what they don't understand, and I understand that," Bush says. "I'm not trying to say accept this, you know, or I want everybody to be acceptable of who I am. I'm not saying that, you know. I'm a person. Just talk to me." Original Article

Obama Administration Threatens Your Online Privacy

The Obama administration and law enforcement officials are seeking greater power to invade your privacy. Sign the ACLU's petition to Attorney General Holder: Rein in FBI surveillance power. Did you hear about this? The Obama administration is seeking to expand the government's ability to conduct invasive surveillance online.1 This outrageous proposal would mandate that all online communications services use technologies that would make it easier for the government to collect private communications and decode encrypted messages that Americans send. This includes communications sent using texting platforms, BlackBerries, social networking sites, and other "peer to peer" communications software such as Skype. While the country tends to other issues, the administration and law enforcement officials are seeking greater power to invade your privacy. We must take a stand against this proposal before it even makes its way to Congress. Sign the ACLU's petition to Attorney General Holder: Rein in FBI surveillance power. So, what's wrong with this proposal? Instead of securing our online communications and protecting our privacy, the government wants to pave the road for more out-of-control government spying. Concern over cyber security is at an all-time high. This proposal will create even more security risks by mandating that our communications have a 'backdoor' for government use — making our online interactions even more vulnerable and easier to collect. It's not only the government that will go through this 'door.' In 2004, hackers took advantage of a similar law in Greece to hack into mobile communications systems and listen to the calls of high government officials — including the Prime Minister.2 The government has yet to make the case that encryption is actually hindering their investigations. According to the most recent Wiretap Report3, law enforcement encountered only a single encrypted call last year, and they were able to learn the contents of that call in spite of the encryption. Take a stand against this proposal. Sign the ACLU's petition to Attorney General Holder: Rein in FBI surveillance power. There is no justification for this move to put our personal online communications within easy reach of the government's prying eyes. We must send a strong and clear message to the Obama administration today: Do not spy on me. Thanks for standing with us,

ENDA Or Not: The Right To Discriminate Against Transgender People Exists

The Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative regained its funding from the City of San Francisco in June, 2010. The Mayor and city council recognized the importance of job training for Trans folks. There are so many positives to any employment training program and the following article does a great job describing them. The mirror image of San Francisco are the twenty-two "right to discriminate" states where employers have the right to fire an employee for no specific reason. Virginia is one of these states. Yesterday, a dear friend and Trans sister told me she was fired from her job five days after she transitioned. Her employer, Midas Muffler actually used low productivity as the reason for termination. My friend had one warning several weeks ago about low productivity. Ironically ,it was the same time she informed Midas she was going to transition.  According to my friend, she has a spotless attendance record and has never had any negative issues with Midas.Her low productivity is a direct result of a lack of business during one of the worst recessions in history and Midas' failure to attract business. What can she do about this blatant act of Transgender discrimination? She could sue Midas for sex discrimination under Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but this would cost big bucks and there is no guarantee she would win. The other option is to look for another job because Midas had the right to discriminate in our wonderful Commonwealth of Virginia. So for those of us who live in the twenty-two "right to discriminate states," the passage of an Employment Non-Discrimination Act  or  the lack there of is not a big deal. Employers can fire anyone for any reason and never have to give the terminated employee a specific reason. The bottom line is that it will have to be up to the majority of people to change their attitudes toward Transgender folks and all other marginalized segments of society and do the right moral thing as they did in San Francisco. Goodwill store hires transgender people Thursday, September 30, 2010 Amy Hollyfield SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- In this economy, it's tough for anyone to find a job, but for one segment of the population it's especially difficult. So one local store is knocking down barriers and putting them on the payroll. An estimated 70 percent of transgender people in California face workplace discrimination. This is the first Goodwill in the nation to provide training and job skills. It's a temporary store, but those involved in the program think it will have long-term effects. Mia Tu Mutch, 19, says discrimination is alive and well. "As soon as I started transitioning with my gender and playing with that and changing with how I looked a little bit, it was very hard to find work," says Mutch. She came to San Francisco looking for tolerance, but even at job fairs where everyone was interviewed, she was turned away. "It took me six months to find a job in San Francisco of all places," says Mutch. The job she found was at a Goodwill pop-up store. The space on Market Street in San Francisco's Castro District has been empty for three years. The area's supervisor, Bevan Dufty, decided to play matchmaker. "I brought Goodwill together with the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative and it was love at first sight," says Dufty. Goodwill can have the space until a permanent company is ready to move in, which is likely going to be Trader Joe's. Goodwill has agreed to hire participants from the transgender program. "This is not just a hire, this is a very unique program tailored to TEEI participants, so it's not discrimination," says Claire Farley from the Transgender Initiative. The on-the-job training includes teaching transgender employees how to handle unique situations that will come up in the workplace. "We help them kind of traverse that water that 'Well how do I call my reference from two years back and say now my name is...'," says Farley. This pop up store could be gone in nine months, but workers like Mutch hope this is the only the beginning of what will be long careers. "We'll prove we can increase sales and we can get loyal customers and then they'll want to continue to hire trans-people or keep a trans-store somewhere else," says Mutch. The store has been unofficially open this week, but the ribbon-cutting ceremony is this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and it is open to the public. (Copyright ©2010 KGO-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Original Article

Transgender Family And Friends Have No PFLAG In Hampton Roads, VA

This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak with some ladies who represented the Richmond, VA chapter of PFLAG - Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.PFLAG is a fully inclusive organization and represents family and friends of Transgender and Bisexual folks as well. We talked about the new update on PFLAG's Welcoming Our Trans Family and Friends which can be downloaded or ordered in quantity. The topic shifted to the availability of other PFLAG chapters in Virginia. Although there are listings for a PFLAG chapter in Hampton Roads, VA, it seems it does not exist. Phone calls are never answered. Messgaes are left unanswered. A local Norfolk church that sponsored a PFLAG chapter even advertises the chapter and contact information in its weekly bulletin. All for naught. It just doesn't exist. This is a sad situation for the family and friends of LGBT folks who are looking for support. For years, I have encountered many looking for such an organization. The closest active chapter is in Richmond, VA, which is almost 100 miles from Hampton Roads. One would have to think that of all the churches and other organizations who say they are totally acceppting and inclusive one of them would actually practice what they preach and form a PFLAG chapter. PFLAG marks 20 years of support to family, friends of gays, lesbians By Paula Vogler GateHouse News Service Posted Sep 28, 2010 @ 04:13 PM Easton — A group formed to lend support to those involved with the gay and lesbian community held its first meeting on Sept. 24, 1990 at the Unity Church in Easton. Now 20 years later the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is still meeting once a month and still embracing those that walk through the door. Recognition of those 20 years will be incorporated into the group’s Sept. 27 meeting at 7 p.m. but the meeting will still be about supporting the parents, children, and young adults who come, according to Cecile Arnold, PFLAG member. Arnold said the meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30. Eight to 20 people from Easton and surrounding communities like Canton, Stoughton, Taunton, and Sharon typically attend. An Easton resident, Arnold said her daughter came out when she was 29 years old and since then Arnold has spent 10 years working with a PFLAG group in New York and another 10 years in Easton. She said the welcoming atmosphere at the meetings is a place people feel safe to discuss their concerns and experiences. “The participants at the meetings agree to respect each other’s confidentiality,” Arnold said. She said many parents did not realize their child was gay although sometimes they suspected it. While most parents are okay with that, Arnold said they struggle with who in their circle of friends and family to tell and how to tell them. “The big issue is the coming out process for parents,” Arnold said. Arnold said the group also works with the schools, making presentations in classrooms so teachers are tuned in to what to do when they hear anti-gay comments and students understand how hurtful those comments are. Mary Cuddy Sutherland of Canton had been involved with the Greater Boston PFLAG for six years when her son let her and her husband know he was gay. She said for some people attending a first time meeting with people they do not know can be intimidating but they quickly learn the common goal is to love those that are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). “The meetings have helped me understand LGBT issues and that loving your child unconditionally is the best road to follow,” Sutherland said. “I have learned to become an ally in the quest for full equality for all LGBT people.” Arnold said while the group was formed originally to support those in the gay and lesbian community, in the past five years more people are coming with transgender children. “We help them understand it’s a family dynamic they can live with,” Arnold said. Dianne Monnin of Easton said her son went through his transgender transition five years ago when he was 27 years old. She first attended Easton’s PFLAG meeting one year ago with a friend who attended. “I felt like I might have something to offer but I definitely had something to gain,” Monnin said. “I understand what families go through. Because it’s such an accepting place it’s okay to talk about it.” For more information on the Easton PFLAG chapter call 508-238-0567 or send an email to PFLAGEastonArea@comcast.net. Paula Vogler can be reached at 508-967-3510 or by email at writedesk84@comcast.net. Copyright 2010 The Taunton Gazette. Some rights reserved Original Article

Insensitive School Does Irreperable Harm To Transgender Child

This is what happens when a school and / or entire school system do not do enough to ensure the safety of a Transgender child nor was the school sensitive to the needs of the Transgender child by making her use a gender neutral bathroom. This is a case of blatant discrimination. It reminds me of Black people suffering through segregation where they had to use separate bathrooms and drink from specially designated water fountains. Panel: School Discriminated Against Transgender 6th Grader by Not Letting Student Use Girls' Room Published September 22, 2010 | Associated Press AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine Human Rights Commission has ruled that a middle school discriminated against a sixth grader by not letting the male-to-female transgender student use the girls' bathroom. The parents of the child, who no longer attends school in the district, wrote to the commission that she experienced anxiety and depression during the 2008-2009 year after Orono Middle School officials forced her to use a gender-neutral bathroom and her peers picked on her. The school stated the district trained the staff, educated students, gave the transgender student her own bathroom and locker, and met with her parents. The Bangor Daily News reports the district is fighting a lawsuit filed by the child s family in Penobscot County Superior Court. Original Article

Healthy Transgender Children: Love And Support All Around

The writter of the following story is attempting to show both sides of a story by mentioning Zucker and his "repairative" therapy for Trans kids. Transgender repairative therapy does not work. It has been rejected by the American Psychiatric Association and other such organizations throughout the world. It didn't work at Johns Hopkins and it does not work today. Brainwashing - behavioral modification does irreparable harm to the Transgender child. The most effective way to deal with a Transgender child is to let them be themselves in a loving and safe environment. If the child is not Transgender, there is no harm done. A Trans child needs the same love and support from school systems as they do from their parents. They need to be protected from bullies and allowed to live and function as their authentic selves. How should schools handle transgender kids? By Denise-Marie Balona, The Orlando Sentinel September 24, 2010 ORLANDO, Fla. — When most little girls draw themselves, they draw pictures of young ladies, often in fancy dresses and high heels. But one kid in Deltona, Fla., has always depicted herself differently: As a boy in pants, standing outside a "boy's" school or picking flowers for his mom. Today, this youngster wants to be called "he." And after years of battles over school clothes and haircuts and long meetings with a therapist, the third-grader's parents are letting her live as a boy. This child hasn't had a sex change and wasn't born a hermaphrodite. Instead, the parents say, their 8-year-old was born with the wrong body — a situation a number of families are struggling with nationwide. "This is just who he is — his brain is just wired in such a way that he's male. It doesn't matter what his genitalia is," said the child's mom, whose name the Orlando Sentinel agreed to withhold because she wants to protect her child's identity. Although mental-health experts disagree on whether people should make such a dramatic transition at a young age, children as young as 5 are doing it. They're changing their names, insisting on a new pronoun and altering their appearance with new clothes and hairstyles. As a result, school districts are having to make some controversial changes. What should schools do about restrooms and locker rooms? How do they make sure everybody uses the correct pronouns? How should teachers explain the situation to curious classmates? It's hard to know how many people are transgender, an umbrella term that includes those whose biological sex doesn't match their internal sense of masculinity or femininity. Nobody tracks statistics, and many transgender people prefer to keep information private. The American Psychological Association estimates that about 1 in 10,000 males will transition to female, with or without sexual-reassignment surgery. About 1 in 30,000 females will. The National Center for Transgender Equality thinks the number is 0.25 per cent to 1 per cent of the population. Canadian psychologist Kenneth J. Zucker, an internationally known expert on gender issues whose research is controversial in the gay and transgender community, questions whether kids should be allowed to switch roles. His studies indicate most kids will outgrow their behavior, so he tries to help them learn to be comfortable with the gender they were born with. Irv Silver, a sex therapist in Orlando who has helped three kids with gender issues during his career, said he thinks children can be re-trained. "Yes, people can be taught gender behaviors, if they are motivated," he said. However, the majority of scholars, psychiatrists and therapists interviewed by the Sentinel said children aren't just going through a phase if they consistently insist they're the wrong sex over a period of years. And, those experts conclude, it could be dangerous to ignore these feelings. Transgender kids sometimes feel so out of sync with their bodies they cut or otherwise intentionally injure their genitals — or commit suicide. Edgardo Menvielle, a psychiatrist at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., said he might suggest parents allow children to live as the other gender. "Thinking you're a boy or girl — it can happen for a while and you can grow out of it," Menvielle said. "We're talking about children who are experiencing themselves caught in a situation that is intolerable." Although no one knows what causes transgenderism, biology may play a role. Officially, it's listed as a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by mental-health professionals. But there's a national push by advocates and some who work in the field to remove it, as was done with homosexuality decades ago. It's a challenge apparently more families are facing. Advocates and experts say they've seen a rise in the number of "trans kids" coming forward in the past few years. Society's — and parents' — acceptance of transgender people seems to be growing as well. Last year, students at the College of William and Mary in Virginia elected a transgender as homecoming queen. TransYouth Family Allies, a national education and advocacy group that works with families with children who are questioning their gender, helped 15 kids in 2007. This year, it's helping 10 to 15 a month, said Executive Director Kim Pearson. Officials at the Children's National Medical Center and the Stanford University School of Medicine's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Medical Education Research Group said they also have seen increases in the number of kids coming to them for help But not everyone supports the change — or even the concept. Critics far and wide weighed in after a few kids in Arizona, Colorado and Pennsylvania switched gender roles last year and in 2008. An outspoken Florida mom who goes only by the name Rene said she has been condemned for her decision to let her child, Jazz, who's biologically male, live as a girl. Several videos on YouTube feature Jazz, a confident youngster with long, dark hair, dancing, singing or explaining what it's like to live in the wrong body. "I get some terrible e-mails — people that basically say that I am the worst parent, I am evil, I should be killed," Rene told "60 Minutes Australia" last year. In Miami-Dade County, Fla., the school district changed its policies several years ago to accommodate transgender kids. Schools are encouraged to have unisex bathrooms and a trained Gender Safety Leader, who's charged with helping the kids make a smooth transition. Just weeks ago, the Hillsborough County, Fla., School Board updated its anti-bullying policy to include transgender kids within the most protected groups. The Volusia County, Fla., school district is considering changing its anti-bullying policy, too, which parents of the transgender student in Deltona, Fla., have been pressing for. The Deltona parents said they know their son may have a tough road ahead but is much happier since he cut his hair short and started shopping in the boys' section. "He never stops talking, he never stops smiling — and that's something we didn't see before," said his mom. "For me to say 'no' would be denying him happiness." Original Article

Transgender King Denied Crown By School Principal

Mona Shores Principal Jennifer Bustard needs to get over herself and her transphobic attitude. This young Trans man certainly won the Homecoming King contest fair and square. Precedent was set at William and Mary last year when a Trans woman was elected Homecoming Queen. Come on Principle Bustard, join the 21st century. ACLU may enter school transgender case Oakleigh Reed 'willing to talk to them' Updated: Monday, 27 Sep 2010, 1:05 PM EDT Published : Monday, 27 Sep 2010, 1:05 PM EDT * By Ken Kolker MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) - The ACLU of Michigan wants to take up the cause of a transgender Mona Shores High School senior who was denied a chance to become homecoming king. "I'd be willing to talk to them," Oakleigh Reed told 24 Hour News 8 today. Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the ACLU's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Legal Project, said he took an interest in the case after seeing 24 Hour News 8's story on Reed , which aired Sunday. "It raises some concern about how the school has chosen to treat people based on gender," Kaplan said. Kaplan said he would contact the school, if Oakleigh agrees, to "alert the district to the laws. Hopefully, they'll reconsider the action that they've taken." Oakleigh, who was born Oakleigh Marie but now goes by Oakleigh Marshall, is still listed in school records as a female. The teen plans to have a sex-change operation at age 18. The student campaigned for homecoming king on Facebook -- a write-in election that took place on Sept. 17. Mona Shores Principal Jennifer Bustard said rumors that Oakleigh got enough votes for king are untrue. There is no way to know because they stopped counting Oakleigh's votes. "In order to be eligible for homecoming king, the ballot clearly states you must be a boy," she said. "For homecoming queen, you must be a girl." "He, as I use the pronoun correctly out of respect, is not a boy." When a student advisor told administrators that Oakleigh was getting votes, "we let the advisor know to nullify and not to continue on," Bustard said. "We just stopped (counting) when we noticed an ineligible person was running for that category." "The school must be consistent when it comes to gender." She wouldn't say how many votes Oakleigh had gotten before the counting stopped. "He received votes; that's all I'm going to share." Some students believe the decision violates the school district's non-discrimination policy, which says the district "does not discriminate om the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its programs and activities." Original Article

Summer from Hell: Our New Normal on a Warming Planet?

A face from the future? Pakistani girl is one of millions affected by massive flooding. Please email your Senators today: Urge them not to limit EPA climate action. As Charles Dickens may have written of the summer that ended last week, "It was the worst of times. It was the worst of times." There is brutal irony in the Senate's failure to take up a strong climate and energy bill during a summer when the world baked, melted, flooded, and burned. Below is a summary of some of the most tragic and ominous climate impacts from this summer. We offer this list not to scare or depress you, but to: Emphasize what's at stake and make it clear that the consequences of climate inaction are not theoretical – they are frighteningly real. Inspire us all to stay in this fight and keep urging our leaders and our networks of friends, family, and colleagues to treat this environmental crisis seriously. Afterall, the polluters aren't giving up -- not for a second. Even now, they and their well-heeled lobbyists are working overtime to secure Senate votes to limit the EPA's authority to cut climate pollution. We must stop them. Please take this opportunity to email your Senators and urge them to oppose efforts to limit the EPA's authority to address the climate crisis. Even if you have already emailed your Senators, email them again. Make sure they understand that the polluters may have the money and the lobbyists, but we have the numbers and we will stay in this fight for our planet's future. Thank you! Here are some of the most tragic and ominous events from this year's "Summer from Hell." Please forward this to everyone you know and urge them to get involved in this fight. Summer from Hell: Our New Normal on a Warming Planet? 10 U.S. states had their hottest summer on record and all but 7 states were above normal. And summer nighttime heat records were set in 37 states. June-August global land surface temperature was the warmest on record, 1.80 F (1.00 C) above the 20th century average of 56.9 F (13.8 C) and surpassing the previous record of 1.66 F (0.92 C) set in 1998. For only the third time in the satellite record and the third time in the last four years, the Arctic sea ice extent fell below 5 million square kilometers (1.93 million square miles). This summer's Arctic sea ice extent fell more than 25% below the 1979-2009 31-year average. Arctic sea ice volume (extent and thickness) reached the lowest level ever recorded, prompting Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center to predict, "The Arctic summer sea ice cover is in a death spiral. It's not going to recover." A record Russian heat wave caused massive wildfires and drought and may have killed up to 15,000 people, cost the Russian economy $15 billion, and destroyed a third of the Russian grain crop, causing global wheat prices to nearly double. Peat bog and forest fires filled Moscow's air with carbon monoxide levels reaching 6.5 times more than the maximum allowable levels. Devastating floods inundated one-fifth of Pakistan, drove millions from their homes, and led to the deaths of more than 1,600 people. Up to a foot of rain fell in a 36-hour period and Ghassem Asrar, director of the World Climate Research Programme, pointed to climate change: "There's no doubt that clearly the climate change is contributing, a major contributing factor. We cannot definitely use one case to kind of establish precedents, but there are a few facts that point towards climate change as having to do with this." Hundreds of walruses on Alaska's North Slope were stampeded to death when they beached themselves on land because there were no sea ice floes available. This year's extreme heat is causing only the second known global bleaching of coral reefs. In oceans from Thailand to Texas, scientists fear this year's die-off may be as bad as or worse than in 1998 when an estimated 16% of the world's shallow water reefs were severely damaged. In the waters off the Philippines, 95% of the corals have died this year. Sources: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2010-09-08-record-summer-heat-_N.htm http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/37-states-set-nighttime-high-temperature-records-this-summer.php http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/hottestsummer/ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100919104002.htm http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/ http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52896 http://psc.apl.washington.edu/ArcticSeaiceVolume/IceVolume.php http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-10/russia-may-lose-15-000-lives-15-billion-of-economic-output-in-heat-wave.html http://www.economist.com/node/16994407 http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100808/160116529.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/7937269/Pakistan-floods-Climate-change-experts-say-global-warming-could-be-the-cause.html http://www.hindustantimes.com/Map-of-Pakistan-s-flood-area/Article1-591497.aspx http://www.eenews.net/public/climatewire/2010/08/18/1 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/39278191#39278191 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/earth/21coral.html http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0923-fidenci_coralbleach.html]

Transgender Support: Hampton Roads, VA - Gender Expression Movement - GEM October Calender

Gender Expression Movement @ The Rainbow Bridge Connection of Hampton Roads 

We attempt at all times to provide a safe space for all Transgender and Gender non-conforming people. All others are welcome. Mutual personal respect is mandatory.

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The Gender Expression Movement - G.E.M., support group is having its general meeting  on Saturday, October 2, 7 pm till 10 PM

Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details

The topics are always Trans Positive. Everyone gets a chance to talk.

Please feel free to bring friends, family and allies to our new, safe meeting location and be prepared to participate. You will never be alone again!

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Non Transitioning Spouse/Partner Support - Open only to 

non Trans partners / significant others / and now includes friends / family. All are welcome to attend.

Info to come

Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details

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Trans Masculine Group

Info to come

Third Saturday of Every Month

Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details

Join the Trans Masculine Yahoo Group hr_transmale-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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Movie / Game Night

Saturday, September 18, 7 PM to ???

Hang out with friends and chill.

Bring your favorite game or movie. 

We played progressive rummy last month and had a hoot!

Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details

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Gender Expression Movement

RAINBOW BRIDGE CONNECTION
www.RBCNLMCC.org

Contact info@rbcnlmcc.org for details

T Without Pain: A Review of Topical Testosterone: Virginia Transgender Health News - Vol. 5, Issue 1

Transgender Health Brought to you by Virginia’s own Transgender Task Force T Without Pain: A Review of Topical Testosterone Gel By Julian Carr, J.D. Six months ago I began testosterone treatment for the first time, and I have been using topical testosterone gel (Androgel 1%, at 5 grams per day) rather than intramuscular injections. I apply the gel in the morning to my upper arms and shoulders and allow it to dry, which only takes a few minutes, before dressing for the day. I had two primary reasons for choosing gel versus injections. First, like many folks, I didn't relish the thought of administering my own shots via a large needle. Second, and for me the more important factor, I was concerned about potential mood swings that might result from a semimonthly shot. I thought an everyday treatment might help keep my hormones (and emotions) more stable. My voice began deepening after about a month of treatment, and some very light facial hair began developing within that same time frame. Neither my voice nor facial hair has changed very much since these initial developments, however. After about two months of treatment, my menstruation stopped completely. Within the last month or so, I have started seeing larger muscles in my biceps and triceps regions, as well as increased hair growth on my stomach and upper legs. My emotions seem to have remained relatively stable during this time period. Initially, I did notice an increased intensity to my emotions, though no noticeable change in frequency of emotions. This seems to be leveling off more recently, however. I have also seen a moderate increase in my sex drive. I am not often read as male at this point (i.e., I don't "pass"). This is not a large issue for me, personally, but it very well might be for some individuals. Unfortunately, I can't provide a direct comparison with intramuscular injections, as I've never undergone injection testosterone treatment. That said, to provide a balanced picture, I can mention some of the downsides to the gel treatment I've experienced. At my six month appointment, my doctor walked in and regarded me with a look I can only describe as "dismayed." She explained that I was far behind in terms of physical developments compared to where her other testosterone-taking patients usually are at the six month mark, and she has doubled my Androgel prescription in response. It's also important to note that testosterone gel is expensive--two to three times more expensive than injectable testosterone. If one's insurance doesn't cover it, it's probably not a financially feasible treatment option for many. Lastly, the gel can be washed off or transferred to others through skin contact for a period of several hours after initial application. Not only does this mean the user might not be receiving the full dose of testosterone but also that those coming into contact with the gel might be getting some very unwanted testosterone. (My partner is trans female and on estrogen hormone therapy, and ze very much does not want any of my testosterone!) This means that showers, swimming, massages, romantic encounters, etc., must be planned with the time of gel treatment in mind. All in all, despite all of these issues, I have been pleased with the results I've seen from my treatment thus far, and I appreciate having been able to forgo intramuscular injections. Although all hormone treatments are highly individual and others might see very different results than the ones I've seen, I hope this information is useful for others who are trying to decide on the testosterone treatment that might work best for them.

Bodybuilding for Transgender Persons: Virginia Transgender Health News - Vol. 5, Issue 1

Transgender Health Brought to you by Virginia’s own Transgender Task Force Bodybuilding for Transgender Persons By Leland J. Albright Transforming yourself takes a lot of patience, time, will power, and dedication. This is true even more so for transgender community members. It is typically due to the fact that there is more in the transformation process than in the regular fitness community. A way to start transitioning, pre-hormones and pre-surgically, is through the world of bodybuilding. The transgender community and the bodybuilding community have quietly gone hand in hand because of the achievements gained without hormones and surgery. Some of the transgender community still prefers to work out and weight train in the comfort of their own homes. Home gyms are appealing to the transgender community because of comfort levels and personal goals being met without the discomfort or discrimination sometimes associated with a gym. Depending on the gym a transgender person goes to, they still may experience discrimination. They can be ridiculed for being too feminine or too masculine. For example a person that identifies as male may be harassed for having soft features, lack of musculature, high voice pitch, being curvy, having tiny hands or not having body or facial hair. Same goes for someone that identifies as female; they may be bothered for having sharp features, being broad or having too much musculature, low voice pitch, having large hands or an abundance of body or facial hair. Make sure when choosing a gym to keep a couple things in mind. The cost of membership is important. Ask about sign up, monthly, and annual fees. Find something that is affordable. Physical transition is an expensive process and it is important save up for hormones or surgery, if those are part of your plan. Equipment is another thing to look for in a gym. The equipment should match or accommodate your current and future fitness goals. For example, if you are interested in bulking up and serious weight lifting, then a gym with more weights and less cardio machines is perfect and vice versa. Location is a key point to look at as well. If a gym is closer to you, this means you don’t have to make more time to travel to the gym in addition to your work out. In short, do some research, see what your needs are, and see if the gym can meet them. Locker rooms and showers can be intimidating for anyone, especially to transgender individuals. Here are a couple tips for the locker room and showers to make your transition smoother. First tip, if you do not pass all the time then it is not advised to use the locker room or showers. This can be a safety issue and it may be best to avoid a conflict. Also, if you have not legally transitioned, you may have less legal ground to stand on in your choice of locker rooms. When in doubt you can always use a bathroom stall. The bathroom stall technique also works if you are not entirely comfortable changing in front of others. It isn’t recommended that a female to male (FTM) person use the showers if they haven’t had chest surgery. If the gym has separate shower stalls and there is still discomfort with showering at the gym, there is always the possibility of going to the gym early in the morning or late at night. During these times there are generally less people and there will be less traffic in and out of the locker rooms and showers. A final option is to change into workout clothes before coming and then shower and change at home afterwards. Even though bodybuilders and transsexuals are fairly common within the gym, there is still a lot of judgment and discrimination between the two communities. A lot of this animosity stems from the use of steroids. Testosterone and Estrogen are considered steroids. Transsexuals want these hormones to transition and bodybuilders want testosterone (in particular) to have an edge, athletic or aesthetic, over their peers and competitors. Bodybuilders do not understand why transsexuals need to use hormones and criticize transsexuals for having legal access to steroids. That being said, there are two sides to this. Some bodybuilders believe that Body Dismorphic Disorder should be taken seriously like Gender Identity Disorder. Some feel that they should have the same rights to change their bodies just as transsexuals do. The other side to this argument is that transsexuals have to go through a process to be prescribed and start hormone replacement therapy. Medically speaking, the only difference between bodybuilders and FTM transsexuals on steroids is the starting levels of testosterone. Biological (or cis-sexual) male bodybuilders who use steroids usually have a starting testosterone level of 500 to 900. Then the use of steroids can bring their levels up to the thousands. Transsexuals who use steroids have a starting testosterone level of 29-500 depending on whether they are FTM or MTF (male to female) transsexual identified. FTMs will use steroids to get to a testosterone level of 500-800 then maintain that level through the supervision of an endocrinologist or other qualified medical practitioner. MTFs start with a high testosterone level then gradually, with the help of estrogen and/or testosterone blockers, lower the levels to below 200. The use of steroids legally or illegally continues to be a source of dis-trust and misunderstanding between the transgender and bodybuilding communities. Even with all of the miscommunication between both communities it is important to point out that not all bodybuilders think this way. Many are more sympathetic and even supportive toward transgender and transsexual individuals. Continuing education on the pertinent issues that affect both of these communities will allow fitness, determination, and commitment to bring them together in mutual understanding.

Fitness for Male to Female Transgender Persons: Virginia Transgender Health News - Vol. 5, Issue 1

Transgender Health Fitness for Male to Female Transgender Persons By Kathleen Caywood Making your birth body "fit" for being a woman is a specialized case of being fit. You don't need expensive equipment or costly health clubs to become fit this way; you can achieve that fitness with some dedication and simple exercises. For you, the benefits of exercising go beyond physical health. Fitness is a pretty general term, and just as the term is general, so is its implementation. You can be a little bit fit if you walk just 20 minutes a week, for example. Compared to someone who never walks, you are probably a bit more fit. Then again if you walk 30 minutes, four times a week, you will probably be even more fit. "Fit" also implies suitability for a purpose, as in the phrase "fit for duty". If you're doing construction work, you need to have muscles that are capable of getting you through the day safely. If you're a computer programmer, bulging shoulder muscles are not an asset to your job. As a trans woman, your body needs to be fit for moving with fluidity and grace, especially in heels (Of course, not all women or trans women want to wear heels, so this article is taking some liberty with this generalization.) Have you ever seen a man trying to walk in high heels? Ugly, isn't it: he's usually all hunched over and swaying from side to side. Graceful, elegant movement in heels can be accomplished with suppleness and balance based in ell-toned muscles, especially thigh and calf muscles. Toned muscles will stretch instead of tear if you should step on a stone and bend your ankle while you're balanced on 3-inch spikes. This is a different quality of fitness than what you may be used to doing with your birth body. Dozens of companies would love to sell you high-tech strengthening machines. If you already own equipment like this, I hope you are using it. Otherwise, read on. You will need a large-enough area to swing your arms and legs, and to lie flat on the floor -- say 8 feet by 8 feet. You will need both a hard floor and a soft floor: either thick carpeting or a yoga mat for the hard floor. I've seen "Pilates mats" for sale at K-Mart for $10-12. Or, you could use a 2-foot by 5-foot piece of thick-pile carpet to cushion the floor; it should work as well. Assemble your own set of exercises by combining body movements from yoga, Pilates, and modern dance, or maybe even tai chi. Every one of those offers a comprehensive program for experiencing your body and participating in your own health -- but you can also pick and choose from all those to create a set of movements you like to do. Women's magazines like Cosmopolitan frequently have fitness sections with nicely-illustrated descriptions of movements that work on firming specific muscle groups or toning areas of the body. Start slowly -- maybe 5-10 minutes three times a week -- and stick with it! I've seen too many people go gung-ho the first two days, but within a week they've given up completely. Start with exercises you know: bending, stretching, rolling your pelvis, rolling your head, stretching your thigh and calf muscles. Stick with exercises that feel good, and movements you like. Let your body speak to you as you work: some exercises are so easy that your body gets bored, while others may be too difficult for starting points. When an exercise is right, your body will know it. More concretely, I have selected exercises that work on these areas: Loosening the neck and face muscles Loosening the shoulders, shoulder blades, and arms Flexing the spine, front to back and side to side Loosening the hips Stretching the thigh muscles, front and back Stretching and strengthening the calves and feet For me, all of the above are preparation for the elementary ballet: bending the knees with feet flat on a hard-surfaced floor, then rising to the balls of my feet and back down. Then I flee into my fantasy world and do kicks as if I were a Las Vegas showgirl -- in heels. It takes strength in the legs to hold my whole weight on one leg while the other leg is moving. But guess what? That's exactly what we do when climbing or descending stairs in heels. We can walk gracefully in heels when our legs have the supple strength to hold us steady as we move. That's pretty much it for me: 15-20 minutes of stretching and strengthening, then 5-10 minutes of dance kicks, three times a week. Use those exercises to get to know your body better. Notice that you can turn a little further or a little easier one way than another. That's OK: your body doesn't have to be perfectly symmetrical in order to be perfect. I speak to my muscles as I stretch them. I praise my body. I compliment my body for its abilities, beauty, and grace. It is this body-knowledge and self-appreciation that are the benefits beyond health that I mentioned at the beginning of the article. Knowing your body and treating it respectfully are steps to self-acceptance and self-love. Yes, I know your body today may have some parts that aren't consistent with who you really are. The other 95% of your body, however, is complete and whole. You are going to keep your pancreas, stomach, lungs, spleen, knees, wrists, spine -- all those parts! -- for the rest of your life. You can come to love them. In sum, this article looked at how MtF physical needs influence your fitness needs, and how you can develop your own, personal set of exercises to meet those needs. And meeting those needs can enrich your life and enhance your happiness and self-esteem.