To Be Transgender & A Refugee In the USA

Crossing over on Tumblr

Crossing over on Twitter

Source: Crossing Over Doc.com

"Each year, thousands of Mexican nationals immigrate illegally to Los Angeles in search of better opportunities and a better life. They work in the shadows, undocumented, hoping that their efforts will pay off and that someday they will live in the light. For the transgender individuals among them, the shadows are more pervasive and difficult to overcome. Though many are eligible for political asylum, few are aware of it, and as a result many turn to the sex industry—often falling prey to its many dangers—simply to survive."

"Crossing Over is the story of three strong, transgender women who immigrated to the United States to escape a lifetime of sexual and mental abuse, and found that if they wanted a better life, they’d have to fight for it."

"This is a film about a community of strength and support, about women who fight for themselves and each other, and about finding the strength to be true to oneself no matter what the obstacles. The juxtaposition between the proud, colorful moments from the lives that these women have managed to craft for themselves and the quiet moments of darkness that continue to pervade will remind us of what they have undergone to become the women they are today."

Yet Another Turkish Transgender Woman Slain Amid Rising Right Wing Violence

Seçil Anne's throat was slit and her face showed deep cuts according the the KA OS GL report:

"

Neşe Dilşeker, born in 1966 and known as “Seçil Anne”, was a resident in Antalya for 15 years and was found dead at her own house around 23:00 on July 10, 2012. Her death came in sight after her friends could not reach her and reported that to the police."

"Police officers who entered Dilşeker’s house found her dead body with her throat cut. It was also reported that Dilşeker had deep wounds on her face as well. After investigations in the crime scene, Dilşeker’s funeral was taken to Forensic Science institution."

"It is known that the Antalya Police Station has not yet reached the suspect. Cameras around Dilşeker’s house and neighborhod are taken into scrunity. The Police Station is running a broad investigation including the testimonies of her ex-boyfriend and close friends."

"In This Church There Will Be No Out Casts" Episcopalians OK Trans Ministry

I loved being a Acolyte growing up at St Paul's.

I loved the anticipation of worship in the rectory hall, I loved our ministers recusing themselves in preparation for the service. I loved that some of our ministers even years ago were woman. I loved when the doors opened to the sanctuary and the first few steps of the procession. I loved winding to the back of the church proudly holding the candle.

I loved the smells of Sunday in our old, old Episcopalian church.

I loved getting to the alter, doing the few jobs we were assigned and not tripping on my robe.

I loved settling in behind the ministers and choir opening the prayer books and examining them so I would be sure to know when my next duties were to be. I loved understanding the message and to to do that I learned to listen carefully as the minister painted a grand portrait in living color of the days sermon to the children before their dismissal to Sunday school.

I loved the choir. Their voices would raise to the very tip top of our church making my heart soar with them.

But my favorite part of the service was and still is communion. I absolutely loved the message of inclusively, nonjudgmental hope extended to all in the invitation. To me those few moments were exactly as Jesus had wanted them to be and I held as a sacred honor my duties.

I loved it when the priest would ask us to greet our neighbours because that always meant hugs, laughter and love.

I loved sitting beside my mother and listening to her sing. She had this connection with Jesus that makes my heart ache with love even as I write this now.

I would always move closer to the back of the church when babies were baptised as I was. It was a connect, a reaffirmation even as I knew I was moving away in adolescent disregard in spirit and deed.

Today I love that the St Pauls still believes in everyone.

I love the Episcopal Church even more today if that's possible. I am crying in joy. Today the Episcopal Church Approved Transgender People for Ordination.

Josie Romero 11 Year Old Trans Girl First Doctor Visit

Meet Josie Romero an eleven year old transgender girl from Tucson Arizona. All of us can attest to the trepidations we felt during our first OGBYN visit as adults. Can you imagine how stressful it would be to be a adolescent in that position knowing your answers will forever shape your life? The next set of videos chronicles Josie's first visit doctors visit...

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Stand Firm Call to Action in revulsion of Episcopal GC Transgender Canonical Changes

General Convention Updates [No Rest For the Wicked, Not Even On Sunday] Via Stand Firm

I received this article in a email call to action prefixed with the above title from Stand Firm the de facto media outlet for the followers of the virulently anti trans Fort Worth Bishop Ikers in response to the Episcopal Church's GC vote to become inclusive to transgender and all gender diverse.

Although Stand Firm states it is not a official mouthpiece for Bishop Iker's Dioceses of Fort Worth the publication is essential in disseminating information and call to action for Republican Episcopal Conservatives followers of the radically anti LGBT Iker.

Yes Iker, I was at your Church a few years ago and that was me who one of your goons deflected from the communion rail. Your article tries to give the impression gods love is the reason cradle Episcopalians like me are abandoning our beloved church. How can you live with knowing its you who is destroying gods good will and inviting the devil to manifest his presence physically?

Stand Firm Call to Action in revulsion of Episcopal GC Transgender Canonical Changes A couple paragraphs from the Stand Firm article that say it all....

[Commentary] What does this mean, practically? Parishes who are in search processes, and who are looking for a good priest, cannot “not consider” those who “differ from majority societal gender norms” simply because of that disorder. To name two examples: those men with perfectly good xy chromosomes but who imagine that they are really women, and then undergo surgery and take hormones in order to further foster their beliefs or who simply cross-dress or otherwise “differ from majority societal gender norms” cannot be “not considered” because of that disorder in gender identity. The words “gender identity and expression” are extraordinarily broad and vague—and they are meant to encompass a variety of “expressions.”

Stand Firm goes on to condemn us all for love and acceptance.....

It has been clear for some years now that the people leading us at the national level—90% of bishops, lay and clergy deputies to General Convention, and those serving on national commissions and committees—are not competent, healthy, or ordered in their theology or foundational worldview. It is one thing to love sinners [as we all are], and to love those with mental illness [as many of us have]. It is another thing to re-name pathologies as “good and healthy”, to enshrine those with such pathologies as leaders of a church, and to force others to pretend as if disordered affections or gender identities are functional and wholesome.

An Amazing Interview With Julie Bindel

META magazine's interview with Julie Bindel on July 7th, 2012.



Frankly I am surprised. Of course we differ greatly on some topics such as delaying puberty in adolescents. I also think she played the victim card then went and blew up a whole lot of good will with her description of trans people who called her on her transphobia in 2008 and again in 2011 when she was nominated for all things, the Stonewall Diversity Award...but as she said, those are years past.

Some will say she was simply on her best behaviour during the interview adapting to the changing social norms and I could see a cauldron of anger swirling just below the surface of this woman. But that being said, I would say I am in agreement with Bindle on a number of topics.

We need to take a pluralistic view, accept that others disagree and find common ground.

RadFems monolithic view of men bad, woman good is ridiculous but somehow, just somehow we need to make peace with Radfems. Lord knows I have tried and failed, maybe someone else would be successful.

The only ones who will benefit directly from the Trans Radfem conflict are those who hate us and make no differentiation between cisgender and transsexuals, and believe it or not, some from within our own community who find satisfaction in the fanning the flame of the current conflagration.

Like Julie said, we journalists have the potential to greatly influence social understandings, and the winners are the ones who rise to the top.