The Trans Thread

[Gatito Grande]

It's amazing how many people outside the trans community actually think that this can be/is done (that MTFs and FTMs literally trade genitalia)!



GG Me? I'm more the "make new friends, but keep the old" type! Out

[willowrulz4ever]

Quote:

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It's amazing how many people outside the trans community actually think that this can be/is done (that MTFs and FTMs literally trade genitalia)!

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Don't I wish it was that easy.



What drives me as crazy is insurance companies won't pay for hormones for us to start hormone therapy but they will pay for guys who don't need it to have viagra.



i know guys who brag they can get it no questions asked and have insurance pay for it.Insurance won't pay one penny for hormone therapy.Which is needed if you choose to transition.



Tabby



tabby

[Gatito Grande]

Tabby, I'm on a couple of FTM lists, and a lot of guys have their hormones covered by insurance. I think it depends on 1) what insurance policy you have (obviously) and 2) how the prescription is written (what condition it's prescribed for). In that case, if you can get the doctor to *not* use the Insurance Freak Out words ("gender dysphoria", any "trans" word), you'll be better off.



The larger problem relates to surgery: that's where the vast majority of insurance policies have (their completely bigoted) exclusions. (Yeah, like waking up in a body that makes you want to kill yourself is a completely "elective" condition: give me a break!*)



And speaking of elective: (I've complained about this before) female-bodied person wants DD implants? "Just sign here." Female-bodied person wants flat chest? "Show us the letter from your shrink, saying you've had at least 6 months of therapy, freak!"



GG America: where the Pursuit of Happiness is sacred, unless you're trans ("Sorry, you're excluded: see, it's right there in the fine print." ) Out



*NB: Um, that's some trans people---who have dysphoria so bad they want to die. Not speaking for myself!



Yo Ho Ho: Troll Hammer!

[willowrulz4ever]

Quote:

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The larger problem relates to surgery: that's where the vast majority of insurance policies have (their completely bigoted) exclusions. (Yeah, like waking up in a body that makes you want to kill yourself is a completely "elective" condition: give me a break!*)

---

I can live as I am,but it would be nice to know if I ever choose to transition money woud not stop me.



You know they give viagra to guys and the insurance pays for it becuase it is not unreasonable for men with that problem to want to enjoy their sex life.



What abot us.I know sex with my ex never seemed right.It seemed,I was using this thing that has aways seemed completely alien to me.

Quote:

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And speaking of elective: (I've complained about this before) female-bodied person wants DD implants? "Just sign here." Female-bodied person wants flat chest? "Show us the letter from your shrink, saying you've had at least 6 months of therapy, freak!"

---

If you choose surgery to conform to societies idea of what you should be.You rock.If you dare to seek it to be who you are and that means you don't conform.You are an evil freak.



Ranting.excuse me if don't make sense.



Tabby

Edited by: willowrulz4ever at: 2/17/04 7:09 pm

[sprhrgrl]

the last bit, about chest surgery, has always gotten to me. i've always wondered what would happen if i were to go say that i wanted my breasts reduced and not mention any gender shit at all. . . it would be different surgery and my areolas would be . . . funny sized. . . but it would help with "passing" with my clothes on. . .



sexuality's always been an interesting thing. i definately had crushes on boys i wanted to be - still do, actually. i called them 'intelligence crushes' and some of those boys. . . wow.



cubbie and i have fun in how we're both genderqueer because it allows for a lot of. . . interesting. . . stuff in the bedroom. lots and lots of gender play, which is one of the best things ever.



for myself, i identify as pansexual. i like boys and i like girls and i like other people who aren't boys or girls. . . genderfucked people make me hot. (grin)

Sweetie, I'm a fag. I been there. - Tara (Dead Things shooting script)

[Tempest Duer]

Nice sound bites you've got there, GG. I've heard 'em before, but it's always nice to hear 'em again.



...if everyone here didn't already know me I'd clarify that I was being sarcastic. Luckily, we're pretty free of narrowminded bigots on this board.

Willow: Hey Buff. One more thing. Buffy: Yeah? Willow: I’m gay. Buffy: Okay, Will. Xander owes me ten bucks.

~Remember to Breathe by Yellow Crayon

[Warduke]

I read this over at Yahoo...

Quote:

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GENDER BENDER: Chris O'Donnell, who recently inked a deal to headline the CBS sitcom pilot Westerbergs, is getting an early tryout on the network's freshman comedy Two and a Half Men. On the March 1 episode, the former Practice lady-killer will play a female-to-male transsexual from Charlie's past. For more on this, pick up the current issue of TV Guide magazine.

---

---

Firefox: One Browser To Rule Them All.

[Tempest Duer]

Saw a quick ad for that show... didn't get what it was about from that though. That could be pretty cool, I'll check it out.

Willow: Hey Buff. One more thing. Buffy: Yeah? Willow: I’m gay. Buffy: Okay, Will. Xander owes me ten bucks.

~Remember to Breathe by Yellow Crayon

[Gatito Grande]

. . . hey, who you callin' half a man?



Google found me the title of the ep: "An Old Flame with a New Wick"



(phallo or meta? )



GG Of course, it would be great to see an FTM actor play an FTM, but we have to start somewhere! Out

[Tempest Duer]

Not you, GG.



That's a really funny ep title.

Willow: Hey Buff. One more thing. Buffy: Yeah? Willow: I’m gay. Buffy: Okay, Will. Xander owes me ten bucks.

~Remember to Breathe by Yellow Crayon

[Gatito Grande]

Today has just been a really sucky day in the news for me. Massachusetts and California have both dealt same-sex marriage a blow, while the Bush Admin (having nothing better to do, apparently), via the FDA, is in the process of banning the production and sale of andro.



(Story here www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/0...index.html )



Let me explain (for those of you not on the FTM side o' things): andro (various versions of androstendione or androstendiol) is what's known as a "prohormone" (or hormone precursor). Andro, in the body, converts to testosterone (in various ways, w/ various degrees of efficiency). Testosterone is the hormone of muscles, hence its popularity w/ athletes (aka "steroids"). "T" is also the hormone of desire (libido), and hence it is sometimes prescribed to both men and women w/ a deficit in that department.



But for FTM purposes, testosterone is the hormone of maleness. Now FTMs can go to the doctor and (in most cases) get a prescription for testosterone: in the quantities sufficient to make a distinct change, or "transition", from the appearance of one gender to the other (female to male). That won't change w/ today's ban.



But, for someone like me---who's made neither the decision to go whole hog, or seek the medically-supervised process to do so---"andro" provided a way to (safely, if used in quantities as directed, or even less: despite what the government's BS sez) surf the edge of maleness. Most important, it was under my full control (a little bit male, or a little bit more). That's what Dubya's know-it-alls are trying to take away from me, and it pisses me off.



Can andro be abused? Absolutely. Does it "enhance performance" of athletes, giving them a (possibly) unfair advantage? You bet. Should teenagers take it? Heck no! But I'm an adult dammit. I don't compete in organized athletics. Lots of legal substances can be abused (in unhealthy ways), and the history of making substances illegal (like heavy-duty steroids already are) is not a good one: going underground just makes the price higher, and encourages even less safe use.



Gender-wise, I'm sort of freaky, I admit it (though not really to look at---right skittles? ). Call me "genderqueer" or "androgynous" or just indecisive---whatever. The point is, just knowing that andro was out there, even when I wasn't taking it (I'm currently in "cycling off" mode), was a tremendous comfort. It reassured me that, whatever my gender today, or tomorrow, the megadrugstore/health food store/on-line supplement seller had a product that I could take, if I felt the need to be just a little bit more masculine (biologically) than my XX chromosomes provided for.



And that little bit o' comfort (i.e. "strength" in all my manliness ) is what the frickin' FDA is planning to take away from me.



GG In my panic and pissed-offedness, I ordered some more today on-line, which I hope will still be delivered. It was at an excellent price, for a product I've used before and trust. Out



Edited, because I can never proofread my grammar and syntax enough!

Edited by: DrG at: 3/12/04 1:45 am

[Tempest Duer]

Well, that's just bloody lovely. Damn FDA.

Willow: Hey Buff. One more thing. Buffy: Yeah? Willow: I’m gay. Buffy: Okay, Will. Xander owes me ten bucks.

~Remember to Breathe by Yellow Crayon

[Jennpurr]

I wasn't sure where to post this.



Did anyone watch this when it was on Wednesday night?

I found Rene's story very moving, what I have watched

so far, at least. I taped it, but haven't had time to

watch it in it's entirety.



Here's the schedule:





# Showtime Too

Wednesday 9:00 PM



# Showtime

May 22 2:00 AM



# Showtime Too

May 24 12:30 AM



# Showtime

May 30 12:30 AM



# Showtime

Jun 7 10:45 PM







Here's the sypnosis:



Rene, 31, a female-to-male gender reassignment

candidate took hormones for years and "passed" as a

man for all of his adult life. Married to his

high-school sweetheart, Wona, a heterosexual woman,

for 12 years, no one would guess Rene was biologically

a woman.



Living under a veil of secrecy and lies, Rene and

Wona's lives seemed fine until someone "outted" the

couple at their beloved church and everything they

knew was destroyed. The public revelation of Rene's

secret starts to unravel his marriage to Wona.



Through all of it, Rene continues to hold on to his

lifelong obsession to become a biological male and

goes on a cross-country search to find the best

transgender surgeon, only to discover that the current

surgery options are flawed.



At the last minute, Rene finds a surgeon who has

created an experimental procedure, which will be seen

in THE OPPOSITE SEX for the first time.



Rene's Story



There's a trailer at the link above.





Jen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phoebe: Be vewy, vewy quiet. We're hunting demons. ~ Charmed: Season 2, "P3 H20"

[urnofosiris]

Thanks for posting this here as well, saves me having to do it. I replied to you in the tv-recommendation thread as well. I can´t access the page and I am curious about that procedure and too lazy to google this right now.

[maudmac]

Gender Immigrant by Jennifer L. Pozner, AlterNet. This is an interview with Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of She's Not There: A Life In Two Genders.



Here's a bit:

Quote:

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JP: You have this great joke in the book about the effects of estrogen pills and testosterone suppressors: "One pill makes you want to talk about relationships and eat salad. The other pill makes you dislike the Three Stooges." Part of the reason it's funny is because it gets at deeply held notions about nature versus nurture. From your unique experience, how much of male/female behavior do you believe is innate, and how much is socialization?



JFB: I'm nervous about declaring "The Truth" about nature versus nurture even from my own perspective. I am a storyteller, not a sociologist. Here's what we know: There is a physical, neurological genesis for transsexuality. To get technical on you, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of the hypothalamus is 40 percent larger in women and in male-to-female transsexuals than it is in non-transgendered people born male. It's not caused by hormone use, it doesn't have anything to do with being gay, lesbian, or straight. It's there your whole life. That's real. Now that I've said all that, I'm going to contradict myself. People in the "genderqueer" community are saying a very different thing. They say it is our duty or at least our prerogative to mess with accepted notions of gender, to turn every assumption upside down. They're particularly suspicious of some kind of hypothalamus litmus test to judge whether you're "really" transgendered or not. They say it's wrong to imply that there's just one thing that makes us this way.

---

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everybody here is outta sight   /   they don't bark and they don't bite

[Jennpurr]

Garfield,





Rene Pena



Rene and his wife, Wona





The procedure used in the film is called, Metaidoioplasty.



Defined as:





METOIDIOPLASTY



(CLITORAL RELEASE)





Metoidioplasty is a procedure that enables the clitoris to be released from its "hood" and then appear as a small penis. A form of circumcision can be performed at this time to enable the tip of the clitoris to appear as the male glans.



Besides dehooding the clitoris, the undersurface of the structure, known as the chordee, must be freed of its dense fibrous tissue to allow the entire structure to be free of surrounding tissues and release it to allow more exposure. This technique may also provide some additional length, though it is somewhat limited in this regard. Care must be taken to avoid injury to the internal erectile tissues during removal of this fibrous band so as not to lose that important function.



The labia minora are used as flaps to provide protection of this denuded undersurface of the clitoris and to provide additional girth and circumference.



The labia majora are descended from their natural position using plastic surgical techniques, and pockets are created within them to allow the placement of testicular implants. This simulates a male scrotum with testicles. At a later stage, or in the initial procedure this divided scrotum may be joined centrally to have the appearance of a single scrotum with two testicles within. Expanders may be used to enlarge the "scrotal" pockets prior to placement of permanent implants, but this is usually not necessary. It does also require additional surgery. The testicular implants usually descend further on their own due to their weight and the effects of gravity.



As an option, along with metaidoioplasty the urethral may be advanced to the tip of the new penis. A vaginal mucosal flap is used for the extension of the urethral from the native urethral opening (without disturbing that opening directly and endangering sphincter function). In this situation the labial minora flaps are used to protect the vaginal flap urethral extension as well as provide girth. This procedure is more complex and entails additional risks such as fistula formation (urinary leakage).



It is important to recognize that this is not formal phalloplasty and that the result will depend in great part upon the size of the clitoris and its enlargement under the influence of hormones.

---

I don't know if this link will work, but here's a link to the trailer: Rene's Story





Hope that helps you a little. If you want to know anything more about the film, I can try to tell you.



Jen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phoebe: Be vewy, vewy quiet. We're hunting demons. ~ Charmed: Season 2, "P3 H20"

[Tempest Duer]

That's fascinating, but still... that poor guy, everything falling apart like that...

Saying that up is down will not make up, down.



~Gene Burns

[Jennpurr]

True. I felt bad for Rene... the hurt, betrayal and just everything he had to go through, but he was happy in the end. That's what matters.



Jen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phoebe: Be vewy, vewy quiet. We're hunting demons. ~ Charmed: Season 2, "P3 H20"

[urnofosiris]

Is that really him or is that an actor playing him? If it´s him, I need to start working out more. Thanks for posting the info Jennpurr. That procedure is not experimental, but maybe it still was when he was going through al that stuff.

[Jennpurr]

Yeah, I think they meant experimental when they started filming the documentary.



And you're very welcome.



Yes, that is Rene. All through out the program, they showed him working out alot. He started taking hormones at 23. Also, they showed the actual surgery and the camera wasn't shy, if you know what I mean.



Jen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phoebe: Be vewy, vewy quiet. We're hunting demons. ~ Charmed: Season 2, "P3 H20"

[Tempest Duer]

That's very impressive. I wish I'd known about it beforehand. Anyone know where I can get it on VHS or DVD?



And I need to start hitting the gym again, too...

Saying that up is down will not make up, down.



~Gene Burns

[Jennpurr]

Quote:

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Anyone know where I can get it on VHS or DVD?

---

Tempest,



If you want, I can tape this for you when it's on again. I think it's on again, Saturday night. Let me know if you want me to do this and we can sort out the details.



Jen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phoebe: Be vewy, vewy quiet. We're hunting demons. ~ Charmed: Season 2, "P3 H20"

Edited by: Jennpurr at: 5/17/04 1:54 pm

[Tempest Duer]

I'd adore you forever... but then we'd have to work out the details... of course, what time Saturday is it on, and which channel again? I might actually be able to see it then...



Either way, I'm sure we'll figure something out.

Saying that up is down will not make up, down.



~Gene Burns

[Jennpurr]

K... just let me know what you want to do before Saturday, k?



Here's the schedule from Showtimes website:



All times are ET/PT. I think I got the CTs right though.



# Showtime - Saturday, May 22 / 2:00 AM OR 1:00 AM CT



# Showtime - May 30 / 12:30 AM OR 11:30 PM CT



# Showtime - Jun 7 / 10:45 PM OR 9:45 PM CT





Jen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phoebe: Be vewy, vewy quiet. We're hunting demons. ~ Charmed: Season 2, "P3 H20"

Edited by: Jennpurr at: 5/17/04 7:13 pm

[wildnexu]

Hey,for those who don't remeber me.I am Tabitha.



i found out why I have taken the same "vitamins" sense I was small and why i have never felt male.geneticaly speaking I am not.I always wondered why in the locker room my plumbing looked weird to the other guys.I won't go into the gory detais but my arents decided i would be raised as a guy.



the vitamins were synthetic testerone.I just went to the doctor our family doctor sen me to in Atlanta and went to our family doctor again when I got back.



I have been absent for a long time becuase I have been dealing.



I have forgiven my parents as best as i am able.



I still don't know what sex I want to be.I am not male but living as a male is all I have ever known.It is scary but at least I know the truth,and why when I went off the vitamins i secreted liquid from up there.



I have been off testorone for a few months.My chest has gone from training bra size to A cup.I cant wear tight shirts.I have got tired of idiots commenting about man boobs. Something about itis my body finally setting things right.



I learned I don't have guy sex organs but I have one partaily formed gal one.I really don't know what to think.



Sorry if I was too graphic.Ya'll just seemedl ike the kind of guys,gals and pals to get it off my cest(no pun intended)



i read the posts.I was so confused.I was lashing out at everything how could my parents keep this a secret.I still don't undestand,but I love them and they me.



I do not ever want to mess with anything like that.I won't even let them put me on estergen.



they said m body will never make enough on it's own to make me look like anything other than am girly male with manboobs(my words not theirs,I have never been a fan of million dollar words and terminology).I don't care.



by the by.My therapist as suggested a sports bra.Where do ya find those?I was afraid to ask her. this is so new to me.I never went near lingerie before.It was too depressing.



Thanx for puttng up with my rambling.



Tabitha



the Tabby Cat

Edited by: DrG at: 5/20/04 8:48 am

[Tempest Duer]

Wow, Tabitha. Just... wow. I don't know what to say. I'm glad you've managed to forgive your parents to a degree... I don't know what I'd have done in your position.



Jen, I don't get Showtime... stupid cable package... I'd love you forever if you taped it for me. After that, well, we can figure something out, right?

Saying that up is down will not make up, down.



~Gene Burns

Edited by: DrG at: 5/20/04 8:52 am

[Jennpurr]

Tempest,



Hey, sweetie. Well, it's taped. Let me know what you want to do, k? You can e-mail me here: jennpurr@yahoo.com



I'll keep a look out for you.



Jen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Phoebe: Be vewy, vewy quiet. We're hunting demons. ~ Charmed: Season 2, "P3 H20"
Quia ego cognosco cogitationes meas, quas ego cogito super vos, dicit Jehova, cogitationes pacis, et non in malum; ut dem vobis finem et expectationem. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

[Miss Ediths Bad Kitty]

Has anyone in here read the book 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides? It won the Pulitzer prize for fiction in 2003. (The author also wrote 'The Virgin Suicides', which was adapted for the big screen in 1999 by Sophia Coppola.)



I learnt quite a bit about what it is to be intersex (as well as, erm, Greek American heritage) from that book. It's wonderfully written. It's the story of Cal (aka Calliope Helen Stephanides) and is told (mainly) in a kind of otherworldly first-person flashback. This is the opening line:



"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974."



Isn't that a wonderful and intriguing way to begin a story?



It's a really good book. I recommend it. Especially to intersex/transgender/hermaphrodite folk... (or those curious about the topic.)

[maudmac]

Rene's Story was interesting. I found myself sympathizing with just about everyone in it. I really want an update, too. Things weren't looking too good for Rene and Wona. I hope they both find happiness and peace, whether together or apart.



I'm also really looking forward to Jamie's Story.

---

and i don't really care if you think i'm strange   /   i ain't gonna change

[Tempest Duer]

Middlesex is a freaking awesome book. It's absolutely fabulous. It's so fabulous it caused me to say "fabulous!"



Well duh. But yeah, it's good. Everyone should read it.

Saying that up is down will not make up, down.



~Gene Burns