People being angry about ~dem gays~ on Target’s Facebook.
I just want to give my two cents on this and tell you a story.
A couple weeks ago, I was hired at Target. I have a job at Target. Not a big deal right?
It is a big deal because i’m a transman.
It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that it’s hard for me, my brothers, and sisters to get a job. There are legal restraints regarding the job and if you don’t pass, it’s hard to be taken seriously at a job interview.
Right on the application, it asks what your preferred name is. It also asks if there is anything that target should know. I put the fact that I am a transman, expecting not to get a call because usually when you put that down, people will throw out the application. I got TWO interviews.
At the interview, they asked me about it. I told them I am on hormones and they told me that they didn’t care. Not in the sense that they don’t emotionally care, but that it didn’t matter. I was male and that’s all that mattered. They also told me that they give sex same couples benefits in states that do not recognize them as a married couple.
At my job orientation, I was not misgendered once. Even my supervisors who weren’t sure of my gender avoided pronoun use, which I found only happens when you’ve had pronoun training. They gave me a name tag with my preferred name and didn’t ask questions. I felt safe and respected, which is huge for a trans* person.
TLDR: Target is amazing not just for the LGB, but also the T. Shop there for the rest of your life.
Target has had its share of problems, but their willingness to hire LGBT folks has always impressed me. I live in an area with a large LGBT community - all four of the letters well-represented. And the staff at my local Target reflects that. It’s so nice and sadly unexpected to see large companies stepping up like that.
The Rainbow Crosswalks Of Sydney, Australia
A popular rainbow crosswalk has been suddenly removed from Sydney, Australia’s gay and lesbian district because the city claimed it was a traffic hazard. The crosswalk was created to honor the 35th anniversary of the gay and lesbian carnival, and supporters want to keep the crosswalk because they say it serves as a symbol of the city’s tolerance.
In response to the city removing the crosswalk, people have started creating their own rainbow crosswalks.
I want to spread rainbows, too 8)
yes yes, yall! same sex marriage is all fine and good, but there is also the subject of PEOPLE’S LIVES AT STAKE that has unfortunately taken a backseat to marriage equality for TOO LONG, and its NOT okay and we are doing a DISSERVICE to our queer youth, our fellow LGBTQIA PoC comrades, and our trans-identified family. marriage is easy to support, but do you know about the importance of using the preferred pronouns of trans people in your neighborhood or workplace or church? do you know the importance of not passing judgement on queer youth who resort to sex work to keep themselves fed and sheltered? do you recognize your own privilege as a non-PoC in the community and how that affords you safety, acceptance and benefits that many queer PoC do not have? these things are important, because, unfortunately, support for marriage equality does not equal support for all LGBTQIA identified individuals. this fight, although necessary, is not manifesting itself in the order that is best for humanity; it is backwards as shit. but i will take it! i will! i just urge everyone to understand how complicated these puzzle pieces are to put together, and to not forget about the thousands, perhaps millions of people who are a part of this community whose needs will not be met with the passing of a marriage equality bill. </rant over>
For context, I got permission from the person who sent this to answer it publicly, because I have received a lot of questions like this, or supportive messages from people in the *trans community in response to the very transphobic harassment I’ve gotten from Bronies. (Who are erroneously convinced that I am a MtF trans person. TW: for slurs)
To clarify once more: I am not a MtF *trans person, this was a rumor perpetuated by hateful Bronies who had no real ammo to hold against me and thought it would be a good way to degrade my image. It didn’t work, because being *trans is not a bad thing. All it did was garner support for me from the *trans community, and prove just how nasty and bigoted many Bronies are.
That being said, I feel terrible that so many *trans people saw the harassment and thought I was a fellow MtF *trans person being attacked. Many of those hateful comments wounded them a lot more, because it was attacking THEM, not me. It’s not my responsibility to apologize for the vitrol thrown at me and plastered all over my dA profile, but I am still sorry that other people were triggered by something meant to hurt me. The hateful Bronies threw those members of their own community under the bus (an unfortunately common experience for *trans people) in order to get to me, and that’s just unacceptable.
Anyway. On the the ask.
I’m very sorry to hear about your situation! In a way I can understand where you’re coming from. I have never felt “genderless,” but I recently learned the term “androgyne” and I found it very closely fits how I have always perceived myself. =)
Ever since I can remember, people have mistaken me for being a guy, especially in bathrooms, where women will often glare, ask me to leave, or even attack me with their purses. I don’t mind being androgynous (I love it, actually!) but nobody likes being harassed, especially when you’re minding your own business and not doing anything wrong. Some people are ignorant and some people are just cruel. Unfortunately, the world is full of them, but there are also many, many people who aren’t assholes, and also many people just like you! And you will find them, and they’ll give you strength.
When I feel upset over stuff people say about me, I turn to my friends. They are the best armor against the barbs of the world. Whether your friends are online or in person, it’s good for you to be reminded that you are not alone and people care about you! I don’t even know you, and I care about you!
Taking your mind off it by doing something you enjoy or removing yourself from the situation (if possible) is good for you, too, even if it’s as simple as taking a walk or spending some time at friend’s house. When I am stressed, I throw myself into my work (Unless it’s my work giving me stress!) or I draw for fun, watch a movie/cartoon, play with my pets, etc.
Here’s a link I found that might get you started on finding more people to talk to about it: http://transdirectory.tumblr.com/nonbinary
I hope this helps!
Signal boosting this for my friend who doesn’t have a Tumblr! Please spread the word, and if you are trans*, consider participating! =)
In Psychology class we were talking about handwriting and what it supposedly tells you about your personality. After many years of studies, psychologists concluded that personality tests using handwriting as data were terrible at predicting who you are/what you’ll perform/act like. The only thing it COULD seem to tell you was what gender you were. This got me to wondering about transgender people and how their handwriting would show up in the test (as I, too, am transgender).
The teacher said I could do my term paper on this, and I need anyone who is transgender who would like to participate to do the following:
In your regular handwriting, on regular paper, write:
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.
Scan it or take a clear photo of it and send it to my e-mail:
handwriting-studies@hotmail.com
Please also include (not on the paper, but in the e-mail) your status: FtM, MtF, ??
Thank you!
13 Photos From Taiwan’s First Same-Sex Buddhist Marriage
Huang Mei-yu and Yu Ya-ting wed Saturday in a traditional Buddhist ceremony. Their union still isn’t recognized by the Taiwanese government, though support for gay marriage is mounting across Asia.
By Jessica Testa on Buzzfeed
Buddhist Master Shih Chao-hwei performed the ceremony, giving the women his full support: “I am certain you will lead a life of happiness together, especially after you have overcome so much difficulty and societal discrimination,” he said. “You have blessings not only from the Buddha, but also from those whom you may or may not know who are in attendance.”
This weekend, activists in Uganda - a country where homosexuality is punishable by death - held their first Pride.
This is the epitome of courage. I have no other words.
At its core, the premise of Sailor Moon is about women banding together and determining the fate of the universe. It’s about women literally drawing power from community with other women and being the most powerful in the galaxy and growing up to lead the world into peace and happiness. The celebration of women and showcase of girls developing, growing up and forming their own identities is enough to make the series great, especially considering how it influenced other media to take a closer look at female heroism and relationships. But I actually want to focus on what Sailor Moon means for queer women (and other queer people) in particular and what I feel the rebooted anime should do about queer representation.
This is an EXCELLENT article, I highly recommend reading it. (Especially if you are a queer or POC fan of Sailor Moon.)
