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DakkaDakka wrote:

Obviously a very private issue to many people, but good luck with your transition Che-Vito.

I have a few friends who are transitioning from FtM, so when I saw this thread, I thought it was because you had a family member that was transitioning, never did I expect the person that sold me a bunch if IG after a tire blowing out would be in the midst of beginning their transition.

It is a damned shame the way people are treated in this country simply because they aren't the "norm"

Alfndrate wrote:I have a few friends who are transitioning from FtM, so when I saw this thread, I thought it was because you had a family member that was transitioning, never did I expect the person that sold me a bunch if IG after a tire blowing out would be in the midst of beginning their transition.

The mind boggles, how did that one go?

"Hey mate, do you have a jack or set of tyre irons?"

"I'm sorry I don't, but I hey, I have this IG army I could sell you instead!"

DakkaDakka wrote:

I see this thread is a little old now. Mind if I dig it up? I'm glad I read what you had to say.

I don't pretend to know how one understands they are not what they appear. I'm straight. However, I can tell you that this is a hugely inaccurate description of my sexual preference. I think the human race at large is sexually repressed, even the straight people. The concept of being straight is rigid to the point of absurdity, and any deviance (pun) is to be cast out. I'm glad the outcasts have somewhere to go, and I'm glad society is beginning to accept them.

The minutia of one's sexual preference is a direct conduit to their subconscious. Why one likes this theme or that specific position is born from layers of experience. Exploring and understanding this facet of your identity makes you a more intelligent individual. But there is a tremendous pressure to be normal, and even I have caught myself questioning whether what I'm enjoying compromises my "straightness." That thought can't be natural, and it leads me to believe this concept of "straightness" isn't natural either.

The issues you outlined in the original post clearly need to be addressed first, but I think before all the shades of human sexuality can be accepted we need to get rid of "straight." It is entirely too suffocating.

By the way, though I think you'll make a lovely woman, the artist in me bemoans the loss of such a handsome male figure.

I never knew we even had a day like this, but I do appreciate the enlightenment.

To tell you the truth, I've never met a Transgendered person. I think part of this is because in my line of work, it would be impossible for a Transgender person to get a job. (I don't want to talk about my work any further than that though)

I wish you luck in your transition, I know tough times will be ahead, please for the sake of everyone, don't become one of those suicide statistics.

Cheesecat wrote:Sex and gender are synonyms.

So are "religious" and "zealous" (people have been described as "religiously capitalistic" or some other secular term, which can be interchanged with "zealously capitalistic" for the same meaning), but if you called most religious people a zealot they'd be offended.

This is because "sex" and "gender" have different, but similar definitions. The key part of that sentence in this context is "but different". Sex, scientifically speaking, refers to the biological organs-- and not everyone is male or female (thus why we have terms such as "intersex" in the first place). Gender is a social construct, and is psychological in nature rather than physical. They refer to related concepts but they are not the same.

But then again my perspective is probably different because I'm a scientist and not than someone who gives a rat's ass what pop culture thinks (no, I'm not saying they're mutually exclusive).

DakkaDakka wrote:

Either way I can't remember if I said this but I'm in favour of this Transgender Remembrance Day some shocking statistics. Not sure if I've met anyone who is transgender though, then again it's probably not

always obvious to know if someone is transgender without asking.

Round these 'ere parts we don't really care too much. Bit of a "if you've got a problem with them(GLBT or whatever acronym you'd prefer), your the one who's got the problem mate"

The thing is, if you continue to tell people they have a problem (which they do) for really giving two 's about GLBT folk, you need to educate them. Not in a "your wrong, this proves you wrong!" fashion. Just show them things that are...interesting. Greek and Roman views on homosexuality, old Siiam (Thai) culture where you have a third gender, people being born intersex and indeed a coinflip to decide what to write on the certificate. If you give people the facts properly they will come to the conclusion themselves- if you try to force the conclusion on them, they will struggle harder to disprove or destabilize your ideas.

-edit- having said that, TDOR is not going to be a day thats marked in my calender. In fact, unless someone presents it to me again, I will not remember next week about TDOR. Whilst I applaud the spreading of information and awareness to people, its not exactly a day that will go down in history

DakkaDakka wrote:

Howard A Treesong wrote:

Ma55ter_fett wrote:On the same note I do know that I will never be able to knowingly have an intimate relationship with a transgender person.

Why? Because you think it makes you look gay?

I understand where Ma55ter_fett is coming from here. I think I'm probably in the same boat.

Do whatever you want, I don't care if someone is transgendered as far as their rights and whether or not I'd be friends with them, but as far as intimate relationships go knowing that she used to be a man would probably be a deal-breaker for me. Surely, in a thread about tolerance of various sexual preferences, this shouldn't be so harshly judged.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Che-Vito wrote:13 years into having an annual TDOR, the rest of the world is remembering though. Maybe things are different in Australia, but in America at least, TDOR is here to stay.

This is the first I've heard of it.

DakkaDakka wrote:

Thank you for making me aware of this day... I only wish i read this sooner...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Ribon Fox wrote:Here in the UK we do have employment laws that protect transgenders from being fired becouse of their chosen sex, I think most of eruope does. Unfortunetly alot of fellow "girls" still have to put up with the grate unwashed public whom by thier difintion are igronant.
Being a MtF I my self have ended up in the local A&E due to my gender choise. But we put up with it and hold on to the hope that one day we'll be excepted into the world for whom we are
(Please excuse the spelling but I can't be botherd to F7 it )

A&E? is that a hospital? I hope you're ok : ( that sounds like an awful thing to go through

Che-Vito wrote:

Jihallah wrote:
-edit- having said that, TDOR is not going to be a day thats marked in my calender. In fact, unless someone presents it to me again, I will not remember next week about TDOR. Whilst I applaud the spreading of information and awareness to people, its not exactly a day that will go down in history

You are more than welcome to keep whatever days you like on your calendar.

13 years into having an annual TDOR, the rest of the world is remembering though. Maybe things are different in Australia, but in America at least, TDOR is here to stay.

huh? By "Round these 'ere parts" I more meant my local area. My country is backwards as , c'mon, lets not beat around the bush here

And thanks for respecting my calendar and choice bro/sis (? guessing sis before bro, but I'm throwing them both in thar ?)

DakkaDakka wrote:

Monster Rain wrote:I understand where Ma55ter_fett is coming from here. I think I'm probably in the same boat.

Do whatever you want, I don't care if someone is transgendered as far as their rights and whether or not I'd be friends with them, but as far as intimate relationships go knowing that she used to be a man would probably be a deal-breaker for me. Surely, in a thread about tolerance of various sexual preferences, this shouldn't be so harshly judged.

Pretty much, yeah. We can be as open minded and tolerant as can be, but sexual attraction is what it is, and denying it is not healthy. I couldn't be attracted to a woman who used to be a man.

Che-Vito wrote:
Sis. I really don't know much about Australia unfortunately... :/

You're American- Imagine a redneck. Now Imagine that redneck has quite alot of money. Now Imagine that redneck being not only in the country, but packed into the cities too. This is what drives our economy. Rednecks with money.
We call them bogans.

Since the bogans have alot of money, loud voices and form a significant chunk of the population...yeah. Very powerful force politically/culturally. TISM (This Is Serious Mum, Aussie band) have a good song to sum this up- Whatareya? (You're A Yob or You're A spanker) (for the confused, Bogans think of themselves as yobs. In this country, your a yob (redneck) or a spanker )

-edit- I'm loving the dakka edit, changing the w to sp. Spanker... its really not that different

DakkaDakka wrote:

I know a young transwoman in Australia, and she indicates to me there are even less protections for discimination for being trans than any average city in the states. For that reason, she has been unsuccessful at finding any sort of gainful employment outside of sex work, which I gather is psuedo legal there.

Lame. And I love TISM, great band.

Che-Vito wrote:

Jihallah wrote:

Che-Vito wrote:
Sis. I really don't know much about Australia unfortunately... :/

You're American- Imagine a redneck. Now Imagine that redneck has quite alot of money. Now Imagine that redneck being not only in the country, but packed into the cities too. This is what drives our economy. Rednecks with money.
We call them bogans.

Since the bogans have alot of money, loud voices and form a significant chunk of the population...yeah. Very powerful force politically/culturally. TISM (This Is Serious Mum, Aussie band) have a good song to sum this up- Whatareya? (You're A Yob or You're A spanker) (for the confused, Bogans think of themselves as yobs. In this country, your a yob (redneck) or a spanker )

-edit- I'm loving the dakka edit, changing the w to sp. Spanker... its really not that different

Rednecks here have a lot of money...they just tend to spend them on nice cars while living in trailer homes, and nice guns while their children are eating Easy Mac for the first 11 years of their life.

I get your point. Australia sounds like hell.

It’s not too bad though. Where I live though, in the Northern part of Australia, the cashed up bogans is more of a majority due to the mining boom and whatnot. Seriously though, nearly everyone up here drives a pickup truck/4WD, drives like a maniac and working in any sort of customer service role (particularly Fast Food) is somewhat painful.

If you live in a place like larger more relaxed city like Sydney, it’s not as bad IMO. That being said, the issues in Australia at least is more to do with the “outdated” single-mindedness that is still somewhat rampant resulting in issues like job discrimination and whatnot (but this issue in Australia isn’t solely limited to gender identity in Australia). I will say though that cases of discriminatory violence in Australia regarding gender identity would be significantly less as the segregated style of thinking (jock, nerd etc) isn’t as apparent as it is in US culture (at least where I grew up and went to school).

Ma55ter_fett wrote:

Che-Vito wrote:

Key example, that is close to my heart? Ohio.
Transgender persons in Ohio can *never* change their birth certificate without a change of state law.

Now what does that mean?
First off, it means that you'll be "out" to any employer or potential until that law is changed. In 38 states (including Ohio), that gives them open season to not hire/fire/etc. because of it. It delegitimizes your gender preference in a not-so-subtle way. [As a side note: the "not hire" portion may seem odd, but there are more than a handful of stories of individuals getting offered jobs, the potential hire saying that they are transgender, and then the boss rescinding the offer.

I am addressing the bolded bit.


It’s a thorny issue for sure with regards to employment, you could make some (what imo the average American would consider "reasonable") arguments either way. On one hand the rights of the individual are not being served, on the other hand it has the potential to adversely affect the business.

l.In my opinion any potential love interest/life partner has the right to know if you are a transgender individua

I agree with that part completely. When I was about 17ish, a "friend" of mine set me up on a date with a transgender female (mtf) she was really cool, and I had an awesome time, and we remained friends for years after that. But I was a bit surprised to find out I was more or less lied to about it for the friends amusment. She quickly told me, which I greatly appreciated, as Im sure the look on my face was rather telling

Che - big thumbs up to you btw, you seem like your pretty comfortable with who you are, and I commend that,I imagine it can be a pretty scary thing being in situation where that can be a factor