Tag: transgender

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Utah: Transgender Woman Steps In Front Of Truck After Leaving Suicide Note On Facebook

According to Gay Star News, 26-year-old transgender woman Ashley Hallstrom of Logan, Utah, posted a suicide note on Facebook detailing her journey with depression and ‘lifelong struggle with being transgender,’ left her home, and stepped into traffic where she was killed by a truck this past Wednesday.

It seems the police were alerted to Hallstrom’s note, but were unable to reach her before she made her fatal decision.

This breaks my heart.

You can read Hallstrom’s suicide note below.

“These are going to be my final words. I can’t stand to live another day, so I’m committing suicide. The reason why I’ve decided to do this is because I’m transgender. For those of you that unsure of what that means, it means that even though I was born in a male body, I am and have always been female. I’ve known I was female for as far back as I can remember. This caused me to become severely depressed from a very young age. From a very young age I was told that people like me are freaks and abominations, that we are sick in the head and society hates us. This made me hate who I was. I tried so hard to be just like everyone else but this isn’t something you can change.

It wasn’t until I was 20 that I found out I wasn’t alone. I had hope that I would finally be able to live as and love who I am. I finally came out as transgender and began transitioning. For the first time in my life I could say I was genuinely happy. Despite this huge change in my life I never completely got over the depression being trans caused me. Everywhere I’d turn I’d see the hated that society had for us. I had already been poisoned by a society that didn’t understand us and, even worse, didn’t want to even try. I saw the pain it caused to people like me and going though this same hurt myself it has just become to much for me to take anymore. I wanted so much to help those going though what I had to because nobody should ever have to feel that they hate their life so much that they want to end it all just so they won’t have to experience another moment of this sadness. I’m not the first to feel this way and sadly I know I won’t be the last.

I’m writing all of this because I’ve need my story to be shared. I don’t want to be just another number of a tragic statistic. People need to know that I’m not just another face of someone they never met. I was alive. I have a family and friends that I love very much and I’m so sorry to them for the hurt this will cause them. I loved being around those that I love. I loved listening to music and singing. I loved going out to eat with friends and enjoying good food. I was a real person. I still want to help people and I believe I still can. Please share my final words. I believe my last words can help make the change that society needs to make so that one day there will be no others like me. Please help make this change because trans people are everywhere. You may never know who you’re hurting until it’s too late. Please help fix society.”

It’s important to note that Trans Lifeline, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the well being of transgender people in the US, is available via hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. They can be contacted: US: (877) 565-8860, Canada: (877) 330-6366.

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Aydian Dowling ALMOST Becomes First Trans “Men’s Health Ultimate Guy”

I wrote some months back about trans man Aydian Dowling, who was in the running to become the 2015 Men’s Health Ultimate Guy, and in doing so would also be the magazine’s first transgender “Ultimate Guy.”

Today, Dowling shared the news via Facebook that, unfortunately, he didn’t win – this time.

As some of you may already know, I did not get the title of 2015 Mens Health Ultimate Guy. Of course I hold feelings of disappointment for what could have been an amazing opportunity for our visibility as a community. The work we have put in the last 6 months was and is still completely relevant to our movement to full Transgender Rights and Equality. I would like to fully congratulate the winner- Tim, and ALL the other guys who shared this amazing journey with me! For their dedication to their communities and for the new family we have created. I would also like to Thank each and every one of the over 72 THOUSAND people who voted a Transman to the Number 1 spot on the Readers Choice List!

Please do remember that this fight for transgender rights, inclusivity, and visibility is not over! Our community, together with our allies, have made a big mark in the minds and hearts of the main stream media. We joined together and showed that we have a voice that is LOUD and PROUD! Let’s continue this fight and together we will all be embraced for our journey to authenticity.

In the end, the crown went to Tim Boniface, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound firefighter and EMT from Kentucky.

Men’s Health Editor-In-Chief had this to say about Dowling’s finalist status: “Aydian got us thinking about what it means to be a man in 2015. He’s become a leading voice of the transgender community and we feel privileged to share his story and to count him as a member of the Men’s Health family.”

The finalists battle it out on the cover of this week’s issue:

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Trans Man Shares Three Year Time Lapse Transition

In an upcoming episode of a new TV series in the UK – “Born in the Wrong Body” – will feature 21 year old Jamie Raines, a trans man and YouTuber who is documenting his transition publicly.

In one project that Jamie shared, he took a picture of himself every day for three years. Watch his transformation below.

Jamie’s episode of “Born In The Wrong Body” airs in the UK on October 13.

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Transgender Woman Beaten And Murdered In Philadelphia

 Twenty-two year old transgender woman Kiesha Jenkins was shot twice in the back early this morning in North Philadelphia.

Via Huffington Post:

“She was known to the LGBTQ community as a transgender individual,” the spokeswoman said.

Police are treating the case as a homicide — not a hate crime — though that could change as the investigation continues, she added.

Jenkins was jumped by five to six men, physically assaulted, then shot in the back, police said.

A $20,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to an arrest and conviction of the men.

Keisha Jenkins is one of at least 16 transgender women of color reportedly killed in the U.S. this year.

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Hillary Clinton Speaks To Human Rights Campaign On LGBT Rights

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton addressed members of the Human Rights Campaign this morning, speaking passionately about LGBT rights.

From ABC News:

“Ben Carson says that marriage equality is what caused the fall of the Roman empire,” the Democratic presidential candidate said to laughter during a breakfast at the LGBT rights organization’s annual gathering in Washington, D.C.

Clinton then mentioned Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, which drew hisses and boos from the crowd gathered inside the grand ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel, and went on to challenge him to join her at a gay pride parade.

“Ted Cruz slammed a political opponent for marching in a pride parade. He clearly has no idea what he’s missing. Pride parades are so much fun. I was marching in them back when I was first lady. You should join sometime Senator, come on,” she said.

Both Carson and Cruz have said they believe marriage is between a man and a woman. ABC News has reached out to their campaigns for comment to Clinton’s remarks.

“Hillary would have everyone believe she’s been in favor of marriage equality since the fall of the Roman Empire,” Carson campaign spokesman Doug Watts said. “When she’s not lying, she’s spinning!”

“We need to say with one voice that transgender people are valued, loved, and one of us,” she said. “Transgendered people are still banned from serving … that is an outdated rule. I support the policy review that Defense Secretary [Ash] Carter recently announced in the Pentagon. I hope the United States joins many other countries and lets transgendered people join openly.”

She later called out the Republican presidential candidates for ignoring the issue all together.

“See if you are ever in a forum with any of them, if you can get them to say the word transgendered,” she said.

Speaking of The Equality Act, which has been introduced in Congress, which would outlaw discrimination against LGBTs in virtually every corner of society, Hillary said this:

“It’s a noble piece of legislation that deserves to become the law of the land. As president, I will fight for it and I hope many of you will be with me when I sign it into law.”

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Breaking Down The Transphobic Bathroom Myths

Matt Baume breaks down the lies and myths about transgender folks using the appropriate bathrooms.

With so many crazy folk like Mike Huckabee making bad jokes and hitting the transphobic panic button, we need to get to the heart of the matter – what are folks thinking is going to happen?

And what really happens when a trans person uses the bathroom?

Hint: they’re using the bathroom…

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Alabama: Employer Asks Transgender Employee “What Are You?” Then Fires Her

Imagine after a challenging period of time trying to find employment, you think you’ve found a dream job.

Not only a good job, but the company that’s hired you offers to pay to train you.

This was the case of Jessi Dye, a transgender woman living in Vinetown, Alabama.

On her first day at work at Summerford Nursing Home she arrived on time, filled out paperwork, received vaccinations (she would be training to become a certified nurse’s assistant). But come lunch time, Dye was summoned to the office of Robert Summerford, the manager for the facility.

“What are you?” he asked.

At that moment, Dye says she felt “exactly like being punched in the stomach.”

Dye explained that she was born male and transitioning to female.

From there, the situation got even worse with Summerford asking, “What am I supposed to do with you?”

And with that, Dye was fired on the spot.

Via the Huffington Post:

In March, Dye, with the support of lawyers from the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center, filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

On Thursday, the Southern Poverty Law Center announced that Summerford had reached a settlement with Dye. Rather than face a possible fight over Dye’s accusation in federal court, the company agreed to implement a policy that prohibits discrimination against job applicants and employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to conduct sensitivity training concerning LGBT people. (The amount of money paid to Dye in the settlement has not been disclosed.)

Sam Wolfe, a lawyer with SPLC, sees Summerford’s quick capitulation and favorable settlement offer as a positive sign that the climate toward LGBT people in the workplace is shifting around the country, even in states like Alabama, which have no statewide laws prohibiting LGBT discrimination.

“I think the takeaway here is that we have a small company that is represented by competent lawyers and they saw the writing on the wall,” Wolfe told The Huffington Post. “It’s an admission that employers do need to pay attention to their obligations under federal law to not discriminate because of someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation.”

This episode is not unique, and underscores why transgender folks (and gays and lesbians) need the Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed in Congress to protect against these kinds of cases.

For her part, Dye is glad the lawsuit at least brought attention to the very real issue of transgender protections. “I don’t want anybody else to have to go through what I went through that day,” she said.

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Trailer: The Danish Girl Starring Academy Award Winner Eddie Redmayne

The remarkable love story inspired by the lives of artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener (portrayed by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne [“The Theory of Everything”] and Alicia Vikander [“Ex Machina”]), directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech,” “Les Misérables”).

Lili and Gerda’s marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.

The film will have it’s world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.

Opens in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, November 27th, and in additional cities in December 2015.

Watch the official trailer below.

(via press release)

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Pentagon To End Transgender Ban May 2016

USA TODAY is reporting on a proposal that would end the ban on transgender military personnel by May 27, 2016.

The move could affect about 12,000 troops.

The memo, circulated last week among top personnel and medical officials, lays out the road map for ending the policy and highlights some of the potential issues, including a pilot program that would provide leaves of absences for transgender troops being treated with hormones or having surgery.

Meanwhile, Army and the Air Force leaders know for sure of about 20 transgender troops in each service, according to a Defense Department official familiar with the issue who spoke on condition of anonymity because officials were not authorized to speak publicly. The condition of gender dysphoria disqualifies them from service under current policy, but a de facto moratorium on dismissals was enacted last month by Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

Carter ordered a six-month review of the issues surrounding transgender troops with the assumption that they can serve openly unless “objective, practical impediments are identified,” the Aug. 19 memo says. During that period, one of Carter’s chief deputies would have to approve any request to discharge transgender troops.

The memo details a list of issues surrounding the open service of transgender troops, including medical treatment, housing, uniforms and physical fitness standards.

Military leaders are also looking at reconsidering the discharge status of transgender troops who may have been kicked out in recent years. A change from dishonorable to honorable discharge would affect veterans benefits.

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Trailer: “About Ray”

Here’s the official synopsis:

ABOUT RAY tells the stirring and touching story of three generations of a family living under one roof in New York as they must deal with the life-changing transformation by one that ultimately affects them all.

Ray (Elle Fanning) is a teenager who has come to the realization that she isn’t meant to be a girl and has decided to transition from female to male.

His single mother, Maggie (Naomi Watts), must track down Ray’s biological father (Tate Donovan) to get his legal consent to allow Ray’s transition.

Dolly (Susan Sarandon), Ray’s lesbian grandmother is having a hard time accepting that she now has a grandson.

They must each confront their own identities and learn to embrace change and their strength as a family in order to ultimately find acceptance and understanding.

Coming soon to theaters.