Models of Pride 18 – October 9, 2010

This year’s Models of Pride – a youth Pride event with workshops, resource fair, entertainment and a closing dance was attended by over 600 young people ages 12-24. This year’s event was hosted by Friends of Project 10 and the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s Lifeworks project.

This year there was something new - a workshop for parents of LGBT youth. Kim Pearson of TYFA and many other notables were hosting panels on various topics throughout the day and providing lots good information. I sat in on one session called “How can I Work Within My Faith Community To Accept My Family”.

The panel, hosted Harold Kameya of PFLAG in Pasadena, consisted of (left to right) Rev. Abel Lopez from All Saints Episcopal in Pasadena, Rev. Eric Lee of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Fr. Geoff Farrow - a Roman Catholic Priest. These all have taken very notable and public stands in favor of marriage equality and human Rights for all. They had a lot of very encouraging things to say to parents of LGBT youth, many who are struggling to accept their children as gay or transgender.

I have volunteered at MOP every year since coming out and this is my 5th time. Even though I over-taxed my partially healed foot early in the day and had to cut out before the last session and the entertainment I did get to meet a lot of the youth and experience the wonderful spirit there as many of them for the first time in their lives got to be out in public simply as themselves. As always I encourage every one of you to get out and be a role model for our youth and support them in any way you can– they are our future!

Check out the Models of Pride website at modelsofpride.org to see the workshop listing and other details of the event.

Pictures included here are of the Drum Circle. (More photos available at:

http://www.4shared.com/dir/ra71b5Pp/Models_Of_Pride_18.html)

See you next year at MOP 19!

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!

SUMMARY OF YOUTH SUICIDE RESOURCES

This list was compiled by Friends of Project 10 in Los Angeles

www.FriendsOfProject10.org

American Association of Suicidology www.suicidology.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org
Signs of Suicide (SOS) www.mentalhealthscreening.org
Teen Screen Program www.teenscreen.org
Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov
National Suicide Hotline: 800.SUICIDE
TEEN LINE www.teenlineonline.org
The Trevor Project www.thetrevorproject.org

Stomp out Bullying:
Phone: (888) 347-KIDS
STOMP Out Bullying (a signature program of Love Our Children USA) focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyber bullying, sexting
and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism and truancy, and deterring violence in schools, playgrounds, online and in communities
across the country.
Website: http://stompoutbullying.org/index.php


Welcoming Schools:
The Welcoming Schools Guide offers tools, lessons and resources on embracing family diversity, avoiding gender stereotyping and ending bullying and name-calling. Start changing Minds early with these ideas for activism (Grades K-5)
Website access only: http://www.welcomingschools.org/
(Submitted by Jennifer Meneray)

*Article
Responding to Teen Suicide: What You Need to Know

*Report
Suicide Prevention and Intervention

Resources for adults:

Bullying Training Guide, the Los Angeles Unified School District

Safe Schools Coalition, addressing LGBT Issues in schools, headquartered in Washington
California Safe Schools Coalition

*Resources for the classroom:
Look, Listen, Link and Help Every Living Person, suicide prevention curricula for middle and high school, respectively, from the Youth Suicide Prevention Project

Let's Get Real .. film and discussion guide from Groundspark about bullying for middle school

Lipstick and Who I Am ... films and discussion guides from Scenarios USA written by youth, performed by pros & discussion guides, about friendship, coming out, and more for middle and high school

*Free Speakers' Bureau in the Los Angeles Area
GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality)

*GLSEN'S SAFE SCHOOLS KIT
This kit is downloadable on GLSEN's web site at www.glsen.org. Click on "tools and kits" students.

*MODELS OF PRIDE CONFERENCE FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND OF COURSE, STUDENTS --Saturday, October 9, Occidental College in Los Angeles.
www.modelsofpride.org

*Make It Better Project "It Gets Better" video


The GSA Network will be promoting a nationwide Make It Better Week of Action for October 5-11 in partnership with grassroots activists and other organizations.

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND LISTS.

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!

Talk About Procrastination…

By now you know I am very good at it! Since May I have been putting off writing much of anything. Back then I was busy and didn’t have the time to write much and lately I just haven’t felt like it. During this time of very much reduced activity I just haven’t wanted to hear myself talk much I guess (and still don’t), but I either have to quit promising to post about stuff or just do it. So I will just do it because if I wait any longer I will never get around to it.

On May 23 I was invited to speak at an Ordination Service at Safe Haven Community Christian Church. This was a very historical moment for Safe Haven. Krystal Louise Kelley-Davis is the Church's first Seminary Graduate and Candidate for Ordination. This Ordination is quite special for other reasons too. Pastor Krystal is not your usual Pastor - she is one who is "differently abled" and has a unique sort of challenge ahead of her. Also she is legally married to a trans-woman and so has many ties to the transgendered and LGBT community as well. The Ceremony was officiated by Rev Renee Painter of Safe Haven with the assistance of Archbishop Mark Shiralau of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and Rev. Jane Quandt of the First Congregational Church of Riverside. I hope to have some video clips to post one of these days, but for now this still will have to suffice. (Behind me in the procession is Pastor Krystal and then her wife Jenny).

June 5th was Trans-Unity Pride at the LA gay and Lesbian Center. (Sorry I don’t have permission to post pictures of several friends that were there – some had either family or employer issues - and so I had to crop this one down). There were lots of booths – transgender artists & business people, local resources and many good workshops too – including a presentation by Satori World Medical – an International Health Network that now provides Transgender services in Thailand and also now in Canada working with several highly acclaimed surgeons. They also help with grants and financing to cover lots of procedures.

Contact k.poling@satoriworldmedical.com or visit their website - www.satoriworldmedical.com

Then on July 12th was LA Pride. I didn’t have a camera with me but needless to say it was a huge event there in West Hollywood. The whole city of WeHo was like an extension of the festival too that weekend. Lots of stuff going on and parties everywhere. I worked as a volunteer for a 4 hour shift along with several folks from Rainbow Pride Youth Authority (a LGBT youth group from San Bernardino) and thus earned admission to the event.

Then on June 15th I attended an LAPD Forum at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. I find it amazing that the LAPD has been on the leading edge in the struggle for acceptance and support for transgender concerns. Here is a possibly useful tidbit of information for residents of LA. If you are trans and feel uncomfortable reporting a crime – either one you have witnessed or one you have been a victim of because you feel intimidated by the system you can contact Officer Patricia Luevanos in the LAPD community Relations Division (213) 486-6000 for help with reporting or you can contact Jake Finney at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center. The LAPD really is interested in serving our community while respecting our needs and so you need not be afraid of contacting them! Things are not at all like they used to be in LA.

I made some rally good connections at this forum and came away with a referral to meet with the new Chief of police in Riverside who just took office in July 1st. Out in Riverside Chief Diaz is planning to start working closely with many different sectors of the community to begin to resolve many of the long standing problems in that community, much as the LAPD has done very successfully in recent years with the LBGT and other underserved groups. I will be working with UCR’s LGBT center, Rainbow pride youth Authority, “Trans&Gender Force” and other Inland Empire groups to put together a panel to discuss Transgender issues, LGBT youth issues, and Hate Crimes – the recent activities of local Neo-Nazis and one notable hate crime recently on the UCR campus had sparked a lot of interest on campus in working closely with law enforcement out there. I did personally mention to Chief Diaz that the local jail system has no provision for dealing with transgender individuals and was promised that the situation would be looked into with the Sheriff (since they run the jail).

In July I was house sitting in Riverside for the month with a few days away in San Diego for the United Church of Christ’s LGBT Issues Coalition’s national Gathering. I posted about that over in the right-hand column.

Finally, I am caught up. See y'all soon.


Hugs and Blessings,
Eva-Genevieve!

Frankenstein’s Boot

I am so glad that my foot surgery went well, but recovery? – this is harder. If I go anywhere I have to wear Frankenstein’s Boot. It is way to heavy and very cumbersome, though I suppose that is a good thing because if it weren’t I would be out walking and doing stuff – the very things I am not supposed to be doing. I hate being cooped-up and dependent on others! I am somewhat crankier and humbled (but not all that much) by this. My surgeon tells me that my bone density is the hardest he has ever had to work on, so maybe this helps explain the hardness of my head.

Though it is hot weather and I have good A/C and my stash of snacks and drinks right at hand I would much rather be out doing… something, anything!! I used to walk off my depression, anxiety and frustrations but now I can’t – I get to lie around and then for a change of pace I rollover on my side and lie around. I stare at my knickknacks – among which are Genevieve, she’s my favorite doll and Thing One and Thing Two

threatening some Seussian prank from the top of the speaker – and I listen to my music and read. This includes re-researching various SRS procedures' benefits and risks, for I am soon, going to be applying for a grant to help with the costs. Sometimes I gimp-it down the stairs to the kitchen and there I overdo it cooking and eating too much. I just now came back from the Doctor where we discovered the first complication - infection and unexpected swelling where the bunion was removed and so I have added strong antibiotics to my daily routine. Hopefully next Sunday I will be up to going back to Church and seeing my wonderful family there again.

I keep promising to update this blog and account for the past couple months – and this is coming too – as I remain a captive here it has to be, but I want to whine and snivel some first. Actually I am doing well, all things considered.

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!

Pennies From Heaven

Hi all,

I generally don't promote fundraisers here but this one is very important - TYFA is a well established and trustworthy trans youth advocacy organization. Please consider helping any way you can. Even prayer and directing good thoughts or energy toward this helps too.

Hug,

Eva-Genevieve!

Pennies From Heaven - PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY

Those of you who follow my Facebook may be aware that I made an emergency trip to Kansas this week. A school there was refusing to recognize a 10 year old transgender girls gender identity. They were requiring her to attend school as male and wouldn't budge.

I met with a school across town and they were happy to have her and wanted to learn how to make her school experience safe and productive. We registered her and expected that she would start school later in the week. I flew home to AZ.

Now the district administration has become involved and informed the parents (two moms) that their child will not be accomodated at ANY SCHOOL in their district. The child must present male or gender neutral, must use a male name and male restroom. The reason given is that to do otherwise would "interfere with the learning environment".

We are going to file suit against this school system . TYFA has retained the best attorney in KS with experience in GLBT discrimination. We need to raise an estimated $25,000 (or more) to litigate this case. I am calling this fund raising effort "Pennies From Heaven". Make any donation amount but end it with .01 (example 20.01) so that we know you are donating for the KS Defence Fund. Are you with me here?

It is time to take back our schools for gender variant students everywhere and we are going to start in Kansas.

MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW:http://imatyfa.org/permanent_files/donatetest.html

Kim Pearson

Kim Pearson
Executive Director
TransYouth Family Allies, Inc.
928.486.7824
www.imatyfa.org
kimp@imatyfa.org
http://www.causes.com/tyfa
http://www.twitter.com/havasumoma
http://www.facebook.com/havasumoma

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2009 Revisited

Just a note to anyone who has recently tried to view the post about the TDOR service I hosted at Safe Haven Community Christian Church last November. The original Video Server has dumped the files so the video has been unavailable for a while. It is now back up using Blip TV - here is the link to the updated post.

http://livingtransgender.blogspot.com/2009/11/tdor-service-video.html

Some of my very first videos are also available on the Blip TV site too. I was so nervous to be on camera I could hardly speak, but the people I interviewed had great things to say.

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!

A Prayer for Harvey Milk Day, Every May 22nd

Eternal One, You created us b’tzelem Elohim , in Your image, filling us – as You are filled --- with hope, hope that we might yet bring to fruition Your vision of cooperation and harmony, of wholeness and peace. You imagined such a world, Holy One, and then instilled within us the ability to imagine it too. You hope even now for such a world, Holy One, knowing You created us with the desire to give each other hope like Yours, hope that tomorrow will find us finally ready, finally able, to bring Your imagined world into being. Blessed are You, Hopeful One, creator of hope and of those who bring it to the world.

- Created by Rabbi Lisa Edwards, Beth Chayim Chadashim, Los Angeles

In the Windchest

This was a really cool day at my Church First Congregational (UCC) in Riverside - I got to tour the workings of our Austin pipe organ during our History day a couple weeks ago. I never imagined that I would actually get to go inside what amounts to the bellows while the organ was being played.

Here I am inside the "Austin Universal Air Chest."

John Austin filed an application for the patent of his "new" style of windchest design on April 4, 1893. He developed the idea of this new kind of chest in which all of the parts could be seen and repaired even while the organ was turned on and the mechanism was in operation.

The unit gets pressurized and as the organ keys are pressed the little solenoids open valves that let the air go out into the appropriate pipe. If you are inside it makes your ears pop when the pump starts, but it isn't painful or even loud when played. The pipe simply resonates with the air moving out of the chest through it and all you hear inside is just a soft whistling of air blowing out, but outside where the pipes are hold on to your hat! Because in the space where the pipes are mounted it is very loud and sounds awesome!! There are two of these Air Chests, one on each side of the chancel with different banks of pipes for different kinds of sounds.

Just for kicks, here is a link to the American Theatre Organ Societies internet radio station:

http://www.atos.org/radio/atos_radio-player.html

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!

A Letter to the Mother of a Young MtF

I just wrote this reply to the mother of a young (MtF) girl. She was having trouble using her daughters name and spoke of it in one of the groups I belong to.

"Hi [mom],

I was 51 when I came out to my mom - she was 81 at the time - and she had a lot of trouble with my new name but she tried and she cared and that is what is really important. For 51 years I was her son Evan and life long habits do not break easy of quickly. Sometimes as a child she called me Ev for short and so we agreed that it was still appropriate to call me that instead of Eva. After about a year she started addressing letters to me in my full new name and has started using Eva more often with me on the phone. This has taken about 4 years for her to change and she certainly has the right to go at her own pace. You do too [mom] - so don't beat yourself up if you slip up once in awhile.

To your daughter I urge patience. I know that it is easy for me at 55 to say and it is hard to be patient in your youth, but remember little sister: time is on your side!

Sometimes we trans folks get impatient about our families catching up and using our new names. We want them to instantly understand and fully grasp all of our changes and be happy for us. But we must always remember that though we knew from early on we were different and have always lived with the inner image of our true selves, to others our change seems sudden and drastic and often very disconcerting. We have to give them the space to adjust too. We have to be accepting of them as they are, slow to comprehend as they may be and let them act according to their own perceptions if we expect them to accept us our way too. It is a long process for them to understand us. We must nurture them into understanding just as we need and want their love and acceptance."

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!

Ticked-off Tra**ies With Knives?

I am commenting on this article in the Advocate - if you are not aware of the controversy please take a look this link for some backgound:

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/04/22/Ticked_Off_Trannies_With_Knives_to_Alter_Marketing/

I haven't seen the movie and I probably won't (because I avoid movies that glorify violence and violent revenge taking), but I don't think a couple of asterisks solve the inherent problem. Any movie that glorifies violent revenge taking is a problem and the title, standing alone, reeks of violence and anger and revenge. We who have been the victims of violence and abuse need to be setting an example of being peaceable if we want to gain acceptance into the mainstream of society. An eye for an eye went out of style a long time ago. Fighting violence with violence resolves nothing and the violence only escalates when it is exploited in the media. Two asterisks just do not, in my opinion, counterbalance or negate the violence implied in the title nor do they disguise the fact the movie shows trans-folk as violent and vengeful. Hopefully we all try to avoid being defined by those terms. Hopefully we all seek to rise above the base, raw, emotion driven spirit of violent revenge. God knows I want to lash out at those that abuse and hurt us just as much as the next T-person but surely we can find a better way to combat the ignorance, bigotry and violence than by exploitative violence in films or even implied in a film title.

Hugs and Blessings,

Eva-Genevieve!