So last month’s poll was interesting. The majority of people (77%) said that gender shouldn’t be required for TSA while 23% said it should. Rather interesting and I’m curious as to those people who felt it should as to why it should. As someone who’s spent a better part of his computer career learning how to break into systems as well as how to protect them, identifiers like gender really aren’t really true security mechanisms (more like security through obscurity) and could cause more challenges than not. Perhaps, for some, it creates a sense of security but for others it opens up a bunch of wounds about past realities. It also opens up the possibility for someone to be unfairly discriminated against. Not all TSA members would do this and I’d bet that the majority are honest but all it takes is one. I’ve been pretty lucky thus far not to have to face this or address this — yet. Anyways, more to ponder on this one.

I was watching Kathy Griffin the other night on My Life on the D-List and was interested in the bucket list she had her mom do. It comes from the movie The Bucket List and the idea is that you create a list of the things you want to do before you…erhm.. kick the bucket. So I thought I’d create my own but was curious if others have one and, if they are inclined, what do they have on it?

My bucket list:

1. Get top surgery

2. Get hysto

3. Get Master’s Degree in Computer Forensics or Virtualization (if it exists)

4. Learn how to program in C.

5. Become a dad

6. Get my own puppy

7. Bike across Canada

8. Bike across the USA

9. Bike somewhere in Europe, Africa and Asia (once in each continent)

10. Become debt free (HA!)

11. Buy a house

12. Get my driver’s license

13. Get my motorcycle license

14. Build my cigar man-cave (see item 11. first)

15. Go to France to see ancestral home/village

16. Buy a car (ideally a mustang, Challenge, Dart or something like that — earlier versions would be fun to work on)

17. Get Green Card and eventually US Citizenship

18. Write a book

19. Publish a book

20. Be happy (oh, wait.. I am doing that last one )

20 Reduce: see Kathy Griffin live.

The cats have it. Last month’s poll on favourite furrkid put the “purry” furrkid way on top. I will admit that cats are a nice option, especially if you’re on the road alot or want a not-so-difficult-to-look-after furrkid. It does make them an easier option. I was rather amazed as to how much they’d blow the rest of the furrkids out of the water (over 50% for cats while the remaining furrkids got little slices of 5-7% each). The most important thing to remember is that furrkids of all kinds give us so much without asking for a lot.

I still want a puppeh (either a pug, bulldog, boxer or a duck toller.. oh, wait, a retriever! hrmm..).

This month’s poll is not so fun. The whole thing on the gender identification for TSA is annoying me. But that could very well be just me. I’m curious if anyone else thinks that it really isn’t as necessary as we think. So, what do you think? Do we really need to identify gender to find terrorists or is it, as John says, an illusion of security?

March’s poll results were interesting. 85% of you said that T should remain part of the GLBTQ family. This was what I had expected. It is a double-edge sword for most trans individuals. We need to be recognized and a few of us (not all) originally come from or end up going to a same-sex relationship. Much of the trans-movement came out of the the LGBTQ and vice-versa. Whether this will continue in the long term is hard to say. Days like International Transgender Day of Visibility are showing more and more that trans folk want to be heard and not ride on the “coat tails” of the LGB movement but rather stand on our own. I still believe that we benefit more, at this point, by being part of the larger voice but it’s frustrating when that voice demonizes us as well.

Certainly there is a distinction between sexual orientation and gender orientation but there is so much cross-over of the two that they really can’t be fully separated. It doesn’t mean that one should have preference over the other as far as rights are concerned. In reality, it should be about everyone’s right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, whatever that may be. For most people, this is actually what happens. The problem is that the media and society only portray the worst of us rather than balancing things out (contrary to what Fox News claims, they are not the most balanced news out there). Learning to be open to all sides makes a difference, in my opinion, as to how wonderful life can be.

I was talking with a friend recently and we both commented on how people we expected would be more open are less so and vice-versa. It has been an interesting eye-opener for me. I’ve been taught, so to speak, from various “trans family” members that the whole of society is out to get us and doesn’t want us (for whatever reason). Part of this is why people go stealth (there are other reasons including — but not limited to — final transition to “true gender”). But it did make me wonder if perhaps I was being taught FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) about cis-individuals when there really wasn’t an issue (I will state forthright that I am white and I suspect that some of this may be white privilege — I know from discussions with some POC trans individuals that their experience is different; it’s hard for me to speak to that experience as I haven’t experienced it and I dearly hope that they never have nor have to either experience it).

“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.” — Kurt Cobain

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a real risk out there. And nor does it mean that there isn’t, for the most part, an acceptance as to who you are even if you are trans. I come to the following conclusions (your opinion may vary from mine):

1. we’ve come a long way in the last 40 years. Because of trans activists who put their lives on the line (literally) society is a little more “accepting” of trans individuals
2. non-POC trans individuals and trans individuals with privilege get more acceptance than POC and/or non-privileged trans individuals
3. “society” (generalist statement) sees the word “transsexual” and the following words come to mind: MTF, transvestite, pervert, pedophile, rapist, sissy (human being and/or person is never included)
4. violence and discrimination against trans individuals still occurs but seems to occur more often due to class/race (doesn’t make it right; just means it’s the same shit being tossed at an “easier” target)
5. there’s still a lot of work to be done

So to that end, I was pondering how to word April’s poll. I figured it might be best to split this in half. For April I want to ask how many trans individuals have actually faced direct discrimination (or indirect if you found out afterwards that the discrimination was due to being trans)?

February’s poll on health care gave rather predictable results with all those that responding to the question about coverage for Trans Health inclusiveness into Universal Health Care being 100% and only 2 out of 15 people saying that there should be no Universal Health Care in the US. The results are, I strongly suspect, the result of who the readers are. Having grown up in a nation where health care is a universal privilege, it’s weird to be in a nation where it’s not. But realistically impletementing it here will be difficult. One of the first things that will help is strong, secure and trustworthy universal health record keeping. I’m not sure how realistic that will be given the nature of some here. It will be interesting to see what happens, if anything, in regards to this. It’s a monsterous feat, to say the least, to implement in a population of the size of the present US population.

One of the things that I’ve seen a lot of lately are questions about LGBTQ friendly health care and that got me thinking about a topic that is often discussed both within the overall LGBTQ community and the trans community specifically: should the T remain part of the LGBTQ? I’ve talked about this before but there are times when I really question whether it’s worth it and whether we really belong. The T part of LGBTQ is about gender while the other parts of the “family” are about sexual orientation. Then again, you wouldn’t have this whole thing on sexual orientation without the perception of what gender is and isn’t. I was reading Miss Monica Roberts blog TransGriot and noticed this blog entry. I’m ashamed of what this gentleman did, said and conveyed. He certainly doesn’t express my view as a white man, gay or otherwise.

At the same time, however, he’s not the first. I’ve seen others from the lesbian camp sprout the same (or worse!). I’ve been told I’ve betrayed who I am (uh..  no.); that I’m a fraud; that because of my choice I’m no longer welcomed (I’m perceived as a white “straight” male — not quite) etc. It’s stuff like this that makes me question whether we really should be part of the overall group. HRC has no issue tossing us under their trampling feet as they rush for ENDA, whether it will pass or not. And then, on the other hand, I have so many close and dear friends (and chosen family) that are LGBTQ. I feel a connection with the overall.

That is me, however. I am curious as to what others feel or think. When you answer this poll, if you want, please comment. Let me know the whys and why-fores, as it were. I only ask that you be respectful.

So it was interesting to see the results of last month’s poll. Apparently most of us are going to pay off debt (6 votes) and/or get more spiritual (6 votes). This was followed by losing weight (5 votes) and finishing transition (5 votes). When I look at these, it strikes me that this year is a year of change. As Arwen has mentioned to me previous, great change can mean great growth. We’re in a time of great change with a weak economy. But the human spirit tends to still move forward and find new paths. I suspect that the items voted for — debt reduction, spirituality, weight loss and finishing transition — all intertwine into the concept of self-reflection and improvement. It was interesting that “new job” was only 4 votes; although a new job could result in the other items moving forward.

On the other end of things, only one person had no idea what to resolve and another didn’t believe in resolutions. I did expect a bit more of each of these but it will be interesting to see what happens this year. Perhaps everyone wants to grasp on to some hope in an age that feels scary and shaky. This month will actually have two polls and they are kind of tied together. For many trans individuals, as well as members of the LGBTQII, this year feels like a year of growth, hope and moving forward. One of the biggest issues is health care. Many have no coverage at all and even those that do still run a risk of ending up bankrupt from health costs that aren’t covered. One of the weaker areas is SRS coverage. The AMA declared medical benefit coverage a necessity but few, if any, benefits programs are stepping up to the plate to cover these things — even on a partial level.

So that leads to our two questions:

1. Should their be universal basic health care? (by this I mean coverage of basic visits to doctors, clinics, emergency care, etc. — elective or cosmetic surgery not related to a medical issue not covered).

2. Should SRS be covered (whether partially or fully)?

Today appears to be a historic day in the US. As I read through blogs, twitter message and the like, there this huge sense of pride and patriotism towards being an American and voting today — more so than any other recent point in history. It’s the first time that, potentially, a POC will be elected as a president of the US. A notable thing in itself. And even more important since it will mean somewhat of a policy shift (US politics, like many other nations, it is the wealthiest that get elected — and primarily their interests — that the political process is all about). If the polls are correct and Obama wins, he will likely be the most criticized and watched president yet. There is a lot about the US culture that has skepticism about a non-white president or other political leader. And it’s a fight against historical stereotypes.

Hopefully, regardless of who’s elected I can only hope that this election generates hope and belief in the future for the US. The past 8 years have been trying for the US and for many the future has seemed rather bleek. Regardless of the stock market, if the citizens have hope for what is to come the future tends to go better. Everything is pointing to Obama winning and if he does, it will represent a bit of a watershed as to where US politics will go. It doesn’t mean that discrimination will end nor does it mean that white privilege has stopped. But it does mean a step forward at potentially eliminating both of those.

For me, I’m hopeful that if Obama gets in, the market will shift towards a more positive outlook, that more options will be opened for those that come here looking for dreams and love, and that transgender/transsexual individuals will have more protections. Either way, this is a historic day and it definitely feels like it. I wonder if the turnout will be a record one, particularly in comparison to Canada’s recent election where only about 60% voted. At some point down the road people will ask: where did you vote in 2008 to elect… ?

Thanks to everyone who participated, ya bunch of nosy nellies! LOL.

Seriously, I see that everyone wants to know about my transition and what it’s like. It’s not a bad thing. I’m an educator by nature and trade, and I have no problem showing the world what it’s like to go through this with the experience of half of a life already lived. I’m not like other transgendered/transsexuals who always knew they were born in the wrong body from age 2. I’m more like the country mouse who is in awe of all the things that are different and available to me now that I do know. And I guess that makes it interesting.

The second topic of interest is veganism and vegan recipes. Hey, I have no argument there. I do love to cook and I love to eat (as shown by my expanding waistline — why couldn’t muscles just grow from eating so much!?). Anyways, based on these results I’ll continue to primarily talk about the transition process based on my experience with a few posts on vegan issues and vegan recipes.

That said, given that transition was really big I am looking for some advice. Clean shaven? Beard? Moustache? You decide!

So basically, I’m looking for input from you, the reader, as to what topics I cover that you like most. This particular blog is my personal blog and I usually talk about a range of topics, whatever usually catches my fancy or that I think is worth yapping about. Anyways, let me know by voting in the poll. You can select multiple topics if there is more than one. The poll, found in the right sidebar,  will close at the end of the month and I’ll put a new one in then as well as review the results of the poll.