I'm carrying on an interesting conversation on another one of the websites that I run. We were talking about the age-old dilemma of how do we define gender? He wrote about the sheriff's department in his county that is attempting to develop some policies for transgender prisoners. 

To rely upon genitalia for deciding gender is essentialist bullshit. What about intersex people with ambiguous genitalia? Think of it this way: What about the Bobbits of the world? Is he now a woman because his dick was cut off? Of course not. If a woman has a hysterectomy, does that make her male? Believe it or not, many women think it does. If a woman wears a strap-on, does that make her a man? If so, I bet alot of women would be packing in the workplace if it meant they'd be paid the same as their male counterparts.

To rely upon genitalia with regard to transpeople is also a class issue. As it stands now, health insurance policies that pay for transition costs are very rare. In fact, it is commonly listed as a specific exclusion in most policies thanks in no small part to Janice Raymond and others of her ilk who argued that we were just psychotic and that the medical community should not humor us by giving us medically appropriate care. This means that our healthcare visits are paid out of pocket, unless our providers code it as something else. Transpeople have to pay full-price for hormones which can run over $2k/yr. Considering that transpeople are unemployed or underemployed at double the rate of society, not many of us can afford to get the medically necessary care that we need.

My top surgery costs close to $8k, none of it covered by insurance. Bottom surgery would cost anywhere from $10k-$100k, depending upon which method I'd choose. I'm super-fortunate that the surgeon who did my hysto was able to get the insurance company to cover it so I paid about $500 out of pocket for a $25k surgery.

Unfortunately, the surgery is still rather primitive for FTMs and most of us are not in the mood for taking a risk of loss of erotic sensation for something that doesn't really look like a penis and doesn't function like a penis (well, I could pee out of it but would need a rod inserted to make it hard enough for sex). If interested, look up metoidioplasty or phalloplasty to
see what is available to FTMs. I think women are paying around $15-25k for all of the surgery that they need. 

Your sheriff's department should look at the King County, Washington incarceration policy. Many transpeople were involved in the development of the policy so I think it serves as a pretty good example for how to respectfully treat transpeople during their incarceration. It is by no means perfect and would probably sue some revision but it is far better than the policy in the county of my friend.

I am fortunate to sit on the board of Ingersoll Gender Center, an organization that has provided peer support services and a speakers bureau for over 30 years. Ingersoll was there for my wife when she transitioned 20 years ago and it was there when I began my transition two years ago. My work with Ingersoll is so gratifying because I get to see people recreate themselves so that they can live a more authentic life. I've been a grassroots activist since I came out in 1985. Now, I am learning how to work from the inside while not forgetting my roots. I believe that grassroots organizing and institutional organizing both have a very important role in our movement and when working together, form a powerful force for change.

Is this a great town or what? Just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, along comes Translations!, The Seattle Transgender Film Festival brought you by the wonderful folks at Three Dollar Bill Cinema. Translations, now in its fifth year running , this year promises a bumper crop of high quality headliners and edgy, independent local product.

“While there are many film festivals around the world for the queer community, few focus on the transgender community like Translations Transgender Film Festival,” explains Elayne Wylie one of the festival programmers. “Translations celebrates films about transgender people, their stories and their lives, and also films by transgender filmmakers. Films that play at Translations come from all parts of the world, including our own back yard.”

Cresdan Maite the Festival’s programmer had this to say about the program: “Transgender film has changed and grown over the last five years. Filmmakers are developing their stories more. Documentaries are shifting from simple transition stories into larger explorations of our lives as people. This is exciting progress.”

On March 13 at 8:00PM, CNN will air Susan Stanton's story in the documentary Her Name Was Steven. To increase visibility of those who are gender variant, CNN is asking trans people to take a self-portrait while holding a sign that has a message that you would like to share with the public about being transgender. CNN states, "People whose gender identity doesn’t match with that assigned to them at
birth say they often feel misunderstood and their voices unheard." This is a chance to be heard. If you wish, you can remain anonymous by not taking a head shot and keeping your name anonymous. You can see an example of what they are doing with this project here. The deadline for submissions is April 9, 2010. In order to submit your story, just head to CNN's iReport section.

Hello everyone, my name is Gwen. I am transgressive, I am transgender, and I am new here. I am also excited to have this opportunity to share with everyone my opinions and experiences. I don't usually speak about myself but since this is my first post I will indulge in introductions. As I write this, I am still at the beginning of what will probably be a very long transition. One that is hopefully filled with rich and exciting discoveries as I define and redefine myself in search of personal candidness and honesty. Although I have not yet begun HRT and I do identify as female, I still occasionally operate under my male identity, especially at my job. I do this not out of an irrational fear of socially awkward situations, but the same rational fear of job security in the face of potential ignorance or bigotry. I understand getting a job here in the northwest is definitely not as hard as it is elsewhere for the trans community, but for anyone at the beginning of their transition this risk is relatively intimidating.

Josh Friedes was chosen as the new Executive Director by Equal Rights Washington in a move that surprised no one. Josh has been invaluable in our battles for full equality and he is the natural choice to continue the fine work of ERW. According to the Slog, ERW's work for the coming year includes changes in the laws so that transgender citizens can receive all medically necessary healthcare. In addition, Equal Rights Washington is committed to supporting a fully inclusive ENDA. Please join us in congratulating Josh Friedes and Equal Rights Washington.

Why not use your experience of gender and identity as a spur to your creative life?

The work you have done - may still be doing - on understanding your gendered identity allows you to look with intensity into how our personal and private worlds develop.

Take that same set of experiences as a force to drive other work! To drive your education, your art, your writing, even the business of work itself.

And this method can be a gift to others as well; we will live life as an example of complexity, reporting to the world through our creations.

For the Future,
Marsha Botzer

I think activism is in my genes. I know that being an activist is part of my identity. I've been an activist since I came out as a babydyke back in the mid-80's. As you were handed your dyke credentials and taught the secret dyke handshake, you were also instructed to get to work. One of my first political acts outside of voting was to write to my senator urging him to vote against Robert Bork's confirmation. I can remember being so excited to march to the state capitol about 1,000-strong to demand our rights. We decried the Bowers v Hardwick decision. We stated how we would never give up until gays and lesbians were treated equally (bisexuals and transgender people were still invisible at that point). I understand Columbus' pride parade has grown up.

My first March on Washington was back in 1987. I remember feeling absolutely giddy that for one moment in history, we were in the majority. I really cut my activism teeth with ACT-UP. I had friends who were diagnosed with HIV. I've lost some of them. So I was angry. I was angry that our government turned a blind eye to the suffering of its citizens. We took our anger to the streets in the form of civil disobedience. We cried as we walked through the AIDS Quilt memorial project. We engaged others and explained how the AIDS crisis affects them as well. And we organized to March on Washington in 1993.

I've worked with other organizations over the years but I think my proudest work is right here with Ingersoll Gender Center. No, no one paid me to say that. It is an honor to see people walk through our doors for the first time, taking those first courageous steps towards living a more authentic life. I see people rebuilding their lives after losing everything when they come out. I see people thrive.

In addition to being an activist, I have a reputation for being a hothead. I honestly have no idea why <insert tongue-in-cheek smiley here>. Sometimes I can channel my anger into constructive endeavours. But usually, my anger is unbridled and gets in the way of my activism by damaging important relationships. I can also be accused of acting before thinking and this is the point of this blog post.

Creating Change empowers grassroots organizers by providing them with skills and opportunities to further their work at home. I had a good friend in Dallas and had wanted to attend Creating Change for years. Thanks to being unemployed, having a free airline ticket and a friend who was willing to let me crash in her room, I was finally able to attend. On February 4, I attended the day-long institute for Trans Rights NOW! I heard time and again that one should "expect good intentions" when working with other people and organizations. Expect Good Intentions. What a simple concept yet one that I seem to have missed in all my years as an activist. This was never made more clear to me when I confronted my own actions in the debacle otherwise known as Ron Gold-gate.

It is with great sadness that I report that Gender Odyssey 2010 has been canceled. The good news is that the producers are working on an exciting project to bring a year-round health and wellness program to the Trans community. This saddens me greatly because Gender Odyssey has a big place in my heart. It was Gender Odyssey 2007 that I discovered that I was Trans. It was a pretty intense time as my wife and I grappled with what this meant to our relationship. Believe it or not, it was just as difficult for me to come out to my transgender wife as I imagine it is coming out to any spouse. My wife had to deal with guilt for not being totally supportive because she was just as angry and hurt as anyone would be. I told her that there's no need to feel guilty because I did change the rules after 12 years of being together. Now, I could not ask for a better supporter. Breanna is not only the Love of my Life but she is also my best friend. While I did not actively begin my transition until January 2008, The discovery of my identity will always be linked to GO.

On Thursday, February 18, 2010, history was made when Dr. Oz covered the lives of transkids without resorting to the usual "fair and balanced" coverage of providing a NARTH expert to "balance" the show. This was 15 minutes of true delight as these families presented their stories. You can see the video here. Please join us in thanking Dr. Oz by signing the petition. The times, they are a'changin and this time, it is for the better.