This is the second part of three parts on referring to what California calls my legal change of gender. This is an exercise in cathartic writing for me explaining not only why my change of gender, but also explaining why I haven’t been as prolific in my writing since last summer, nor as active in [...]

“I respect trans women as women, but I do not believe they are female.” “Females have a right to set a boundary and have it be respected.” “…Females have a right to be free of Males if they so choose. Trans women are male.” ~Cathy Brennan Today on May 22, 2012, I woke up here [...]

If a whole bunch of trans people tell you that your words are transphobic, they’re right. My friend Allyson Robinson once said that. One can make similar comments regarding most minority populations: “If a whole bunch of (African-Americans, Women, LGBT-Americans, etc.) tell you that your words are (racist, sexist, homophobic, etc.), they’re right.” Well, a [...]

The New York Times begins its article Woman Dies in a Brooklyn Fire That Is Deemed Suspicious with this paragraph: She was 25 and curvaceous, and she often drew admiring glances in the gritty Brooklyn neighborhood where she was known to invite men for visits to her apartment, her neighbors and the authorities said. In [...]

As many know, I read the essays and speeches of civil rights leaders. One I’ve been recently been reading recently is Riki Anne Wilchins, and one essay I recently read of hers is A Shopping List of Transexual Shame. So with Riki Wilchins shopping list in mind, I’d like to similar create a shopping list [...]

MetroWeekly’s Chris Geidner has the scoop, which is a breakthrough for the transgender community’s prospects for employment protections: An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person’s gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to [...]

I think I’m in love. Okay, maybe not in love. I was just wonderfully surprised last Saturday night when I attended the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles last Saturday (April 20, 2012) and became acquainted with actress Jamie Clayton. She is incredibly energetic, funny, and attractive actor — and she’s trans. I had a [...]

During the 11:00 AM hour of Sunday’s Melissa Harris-Perry show (on MSNBC), Kate Bornstein and the National Center for Transgender Equality’s (NCTE’s) Mara Keisling will be discussing trans people and issues. My friend Mara is asking that trans people who’ve experienced workplace discrimination share their stories with NCTE so that she can share some of [...]

Whatever career you may choose for yourself — doctor, lawyer, teacher — let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedicated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life. It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your [...]

On Thursday, March 28, 2010, Alexis passed away due to complications from AIDS. Alexis Rivera’s short biography from the Transgender Law Center from when she was their staff Community Advocate: Alexis Rivera, a proud queer trans-identified woman, was born and raised in Los Angeles. Alexis has been involved in the Transgender community for the past [...]