NOVEMBER 23, 2009 10:06PM

Our Transgender Day of Remembrance 1

 
This is the opening of our service last night. It was filmed by a dear sister from Sacramento. More to come.
NOVEMBER 16, 2009 12:19AM

Menstruation

Today I had the distinct honor of participating in a baby shower for a very dear sister who in due to deliver her first child, a girl, on the 1st of December.  She asked those of us who attended the shower to hand write a message to her daughter to beRead full post »

NOVEMBER 10, 2009 1:40AM

HEARTHEARTHEARTHEARTHEARTH

I learned to take risks at a young age. I was a climber, an explorer, never the kid that sat quietly alone if there was any alternative. I was "into everything" as my mother would often say. Once I was playing mountain climber on the stairs that went to the basement.Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
NOVEMBER 1, 2009 1:44AM

Gender Outlaw

“I know I’m not a man…and I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m probably not a woman, either…The trouble is, we are living in a world that insists we be one or the other.”

These words were written by author Kate Bornstein at the beginning of her landmark… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
OCTOBER 26, 2009 8:32AM

A Weekend in the Life of Elena

Tomorrow I will go to the office and will be asked several times, "So, how was your weekend?" I typically respond, "Too short." But I know how disappointing that answer is for those who genuinely care about me, as well as those who are super curious about what a transwoman does… Read full post »

OCTOBER 22, 2009 5:48PM

The Tide Keeps Turning

What a great day for transgender people, and for our country!

(October 22, 2009, Washington, DC) In an historic move, the United States Senate, by a vote of 68 to 29, joined the House of Representatives in passing The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which… Read full post »
Editor’s Pick
OCTOBER 9, 2009 1:22AM

Boy/Girl, Both, or Neither

I'm getting used to writing "male to female lesbian-identified post-op transsexual." How's that for a gender? When they put those little boxes on the forms, one says "male" and the other says "female," for years I checked "male." Now I always check "female." The first time I was ever out in… Read full post »

OCTOBER 5, 2009 8:19PM

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I have my own breasts now, and I attended a "Booby Party" last Saturday to help raise money for cancer research. Once the party ended, I had to come home and hear this song again. It has been viewed a million and a half times, and even if you have seen… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 11:03PM

Re-Living

Just a few hours ago I was in tremendous inner turmoil over a decision I made. I was trembling and on the verge of tears, but I was at work, and I was going home in about thirty minutes, so I put on my brave face. I can do this, I… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 8:47PM

Whether to Cry or Scream

I received this letter today. I thought you all might be interested. I was never contacted by Page West. I was contacted by the Perioperative Manager, Judalynn Keifner, who was very apologetic and promised to do a "full investigation," which I now understand to mean "you cannot argue with us about… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 1:41AM

Preparing for a Transgender Memorial

I have been trying for weeks to contact the family of a transgender woman (Ariana) that was murdered here in my town about three years ago. I have a contact at the local newspaper who has been very helpful in getting me the brief paragraph that reported her beating, and another… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 1:19AM

Joy, Freedom, and the Messenger

Today I was the recipient of unconditional love from six of the most wonderful women I have ever met. I am still "high" from the experience, and have had my joy returned to me even more fully than I ever knew it. Today I was given back the freedom that was… Read full post »

SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 11:35AM

55 Seconds of Good News for Saturday

I love Rachel Maddow. Soooooooooo much!

I don't know about you, but this should settle the "Gay Marriage Question" once and for all.

Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 11:09AM

What it Means to be a Woman

Let me begin by saying clearly that I am not looking for sympathy or notes of condolences. I'm not even looking for support, although I know the OS family is by nature very supportive. Let me also say that only a small handful of people know what I am about to… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 2:14PM

I Almost Died Last Night

I have always been the trusting little patient, believing that doctors have had the best education and training, so when they tell you something, it is more dependable than the Bible (which isn't saying much, I know). But they are the guardians of our lives in this life, aren't they? Who… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
AUGUST 28, 2009 12:31AM

A Little Foggy, a Whole Lot Happy

The easy part was over five hours ago when I was wheeled into Recovery. The last of my birth defects had been corrected surgically. Now I am at home reflecting on what exactly that means to me.

The day started for me at 5:00 am when I woke up and… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
AUGUST 19, 2009 10:12PM

Eight Days

In my very first blog on OS, I wrote of the road ahead for me as a transsexual woman. I spoke of the possibility of losses, my hope for new awarenesses, and of the three surgeries most commonly undertaken by male-to-female (MTF) transwomen when they determine that they must physically transition.… Read full post »

From Monday's Denver Post:

When she was first found — seen through the cracked opening of a Trinidad motel room door — she was lying on the floor naked, bleeding and bound at the hands and feet with telephone cords.

She had been sexually assaulted with a coat hanger. Inside… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
AUGUST 5, 2009 1:20AM

Still Afraid

Tonight was America's Night Out, and our apartment management got a permit to close off our street and have a street party. But I sat alone in my apartment the whole evening, afraid to go out and mingle with my neighbors. It is all over now, and the Fire Department has… Read full post »

AUGUST 4, 2009 8:53AM

The Toy Store

I had the great pleasure of meeting my first OS blogger this weekend. She lives in San Francisco and is known on this site as Sirenita Lake (yes, I have her permission to use her name here). She has been an online friend on OS for nearly as long as I… Read full post »

AUGUST 2, 2009 12:18PM

From My Perspective

I posted a song on a previous post that was my Most Read post ever. The post was titled "Getting a Second Chance," and no one commented on the song. I wondered if anyone actually listened to it.

This is my song. It resonates with me on a deep level.… Read full post »

AUGUST 1, 2009 3:17PM

My Firsts - Open Call

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? Joyce. She was pregnant with our first child and we were both Juniors. I had already dropped out of school and was working, but I had hired the band, so I had to be there, and we had a wonderful time.… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
JULY 27, 2009 8:56PM

Rest in Peace

The ocean breeze had become a cold night wind, the air filled with droplets of humidity that felt like a cold shower as I made my way along Market Street in San Francisco this last weekend. I only had to walk one block from the BART train station to the bus… Read full post »

I just found out about a show that is on ABC network tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 21. The name of the show is "Primetime: Family Secrets" and it is on at 10:00 pm PT. I don't know how well it is done, but ABC followed this family for a year… Read full post »

Editor’s Pick
JULY 15, 2009 1:04AM

I Walk Alone

This last week has been bad, marked with moments of exquisite joy, and moments of utter and complete sadness. I have been smoking and drinking far more than ever and today I even caught myself searching transsexual suicide prevention websites. I cannot remember a single thing from any of those sites… Read full post »