Becoming Joanna: The struggles of a Latina Trans Girl

 
Becoming Johanna, is the the story of a 17 year old Latina trans girl and the issues she had to deal with regarding her transition. TLBG youth are extremely at risk, and unlike many kids, a significant percentage cannot count on the support and protection of their families.  Just watching my child negotiate White supremacy in the last 4 years, I know that the ability to come home and be embraced and accepted for who he is makes a large difference in his self esteem, and ability to feel safe.  No child should ever feel unsafe in their own home, and it is an absolute betrayal and denial of parental responsibility to treat TLBG children as if they are damaged. 

Johanna's religious mother, had her daughter committed to stop her from transitioning.  I cannot begin to imagine the harm that this must have caused.  We live in a society where we are taught that a mother's love is unconditional however, in many cases, when it comes to an TLBG child, this is not the case.

The Youth and Gender Media Project have created a series of films specifically to highlight gender non conforming youth.  Their other documentaries include, The Family Journey: Raising Gender Nonconforming Children and I’m Just Anneke.

From the Youth and Gender Media Project: 

The films introduce radical new concepts for many audiences, from the very idea that a young child can be transgender and have the wherewithal to fight against the pressures to conform to a binary gender paradigm, to the new and still very rare use of hormone blockers to delay puberty. However, since the films are structured around universal themes such as parenting and acceptance, identity and difference, growing up and coming of age, tolerance, love and self-esteem, they remain accessible and deeply moving even to people who are resistant to the idea of transgender youth.

This series is an absolute good, and if it helps even one child who is at risk, it is something we should all promote.  Not all children are equally loved or valued, and it is time we stop presenting this mendacious myth to help those who need us.  

Criminal Minds: Gender, Disability and Disableism

Though I know that cop shows can be problematic as hell in many ways, I must admit that I still watch them and occasionally cringe to get through them, or skip it all together if it is triggering.  I know that I am not the only marginalized person that faces this quandary every time we sit down to watch our favourite crime drama.

Last night after putting my little men to bed, I sat down to watch Criminal Minds.  I actually like this show because it is about a specialized FBI unit that travels across the country to take on cases that are beyond local law enforcement. Most cases are solved within an hour using behavioral analysis. Also, to be perfectly honest, Shemar Moore is very, very easy on the eyes (I call dibs).  On last night's episode, a woman went on a killing spree.  It began in a gun store where she shot four people and then continued as she shot cops and attempted to shoot paramedics.  It was made clear that because she is a White woman, she was not initially viewed as a threat.  I was actually happy to see that because it showed one of the ways that White female privilege can be an advantage.

What could possibly make this nice White suburban mom become so violent?  Well it seems that she was in a car accident and her son died.  She felt that the police and paramedics did not do enough to save her child.  I am a very fortunate woman because not only are my children living they are both in excellent health.  Everyday I am thankful for this and I cannot imagine the pain that would come from losing a child.

Once Again Comedy Justifies Racism

I am late to the following story, but it really demands as much attention as we can give it. On March 22, The Dave Ryan Show in Minneapolis decided that it would be fun to use the Eric Clapton song Tears in Heaven to racially attack the Hmong community.  I suspect, that this attack was triggered by White fear due in large part to changing racial demographics.

Race and Ethnicity, 1990-2000 

According to the 2000 census, Saint Paul’s total population grew by a modest 5.5% from 272,235 to 287,151 people.

Between 1990 and 2000, the population statistics for Saint Paul showed decreases, increases, and status quo population data:

• The Caucasian population decreased from 81% to 64%.
• The Asian population, primary comprised of Hmong and Vietnamese, increased from 7% to 12%.
• Saint Paul’s Hmong population is one of the largest contingents of urban Hmong in the United States.
• The African-American population grew from 7% to 11%.
• The Latino population, the fastest growing population in the United States, grew from 4% to 8% in Saint Paul.
• The Native American population remained constant at 1%.
• Multiracial population data, for the first time in United States history, was gathered through the census and 3% of Saint Paul’s population declared themselves as multiracial. 

Act Like The White Folk Do

My best friend and I talk about race quite a bit.  The fact that we are both Black and living in a small town, means that we have have very similar experiences.  He recently embarked on a project that I have nicknamed act like the white folk do.  This means instead of waiting for the inevitable racist response from the bigoted White members of our community he acts in a proactive manner.

While I laugh at each of his antics, I know that they serve the point of teaching people about racism in a way that they certainly didn't expect.  When he got tired of White women jumping into a corner the moment he entered an elevator, he decided to teach them what this felt like.  Now when he enters an elevator, he cramps himself into a corner, clutches himself and looks with fear at the White woman.  Often times this has brought about a deep blush.  Lesson learned.

Shopping for anything in this area is also an opportunity for a person of colour to expose themselves to racism.  After we go through the deeply shaming experience of either being ignored outright, or directed to cheaper items, the cashier makes sure to shame us. I personally have been referred to as a "gal" and been offered layway because my colour indicated I didn't have enough money to pay for the item that I was looking at.  Ironically, I knew that at the time, I made more money than the woman who was showing me the product I sought to purchase. It is nothing to stand in line and watch as cashiers hand change directly to White people, and then put the change on the conveyer belt, rather than touch our hands because we are of colour.  To preempt this, he has begun to demand in advance that all change be placed on the conveyer belt, sending the message that he does not want to touch them.  This of course often brings a look of utter embarrassment, not only from the cashier, but from anyone White who witnesses the exchange. Lesson learned.

The Sun's rays

Itoro Udofia is an artist and writer living in Amherst, MA. Currently, she is attending graduate school to study social justice and education. Her work focuses primarily on the African Diaspora, black womanhood, identity, solidarity, and love. She hopes to continue using art as a tool for social justice. 

Little girl’s trying to chase the sun’s rays

Hoping to bag it ‘fore the lights go out

Someone told her she’s one of the sun’s chosen ones

That the sun makes sure to kiss those it loves

Someone explained.

 “That’s why you’re dark skinned.”

Ever since…

She’s been trying to bag the sun’s rays

Keep it for herself to play

And to fend off those who say she should be other

Than what she is

Fibromyalgia Disability, Miracles and Judgment

Praise the Lord!!!

Miracle in the alcohol aisle.

I was sent the above image with the caption via email yesterday from Virginia, a fellow fibromyalgia sufferer.  I must admit that when I saw the image, I was absolutely enraged.  What is disturbing is though this image and caption are absolutely ableist, I found myself filled with the desire to defend myself, based in large part because gatekeepers decide who is legitimately disabled. Unlike any other label, disability requires the approval of someone else, even though the individual knows best how their body functions.

I have personally been subject to the kind of disableist harassment that was expressed in the commentary for this photo.  The very idea that if you use a mobility device, and suddenly stand or take a few steps that you are faking a condition is pervasive.  For many, it is either full range of motion or paralysis. There is no consideration about the effort ad the cost of those few simple steps, or rising to one's feet.  We are placed into the position to put added stress on our bodies, specifically because society is built for able bodies.  No one even bothers to ask if people who have limited range of motion would stress their bodies, if the TAB made sure that people could negotiate the world? Even as I wrote that, I know that the ability to play super crip is also a privilege, because there are those who don't have the ability to push their bodies beyond certain boundaries.

A History Lesson in Blood Quantum

Dan Waters is a snarky 22 year old queer biracial wonderment who is part White, Portuguese, and Native American (Wampanoag-Kiowa). He currently lives in Massachusetts, and plans to become a Lawyer. That is, if he can survive Algonquin language classes and polyamorous dating right now! He also identifies as Two Spirit, and prefers male pronouns, but cherishes his female body that he was given graciously by the Creator. He blogs at Identity Exposure.

I told myself I was not going to write anything about blood quantum, because I have such mixed views about it and whatnot. But when NPR decided to discuss about benefits, I couldn’t bite my tongue. Take the clue, NPR: THE GOVERNMENT WANTS THE BENFITS TO GO AWAY! And even if they do qualify, here’s the thing: many tribes, and individuals, do not even get those fucking benefits even if they meet the criteria. NPR also seems it relevant to just narrow the focus to strictly being about benefits (and thus ignoring that the government doesn’t want us to have benefits). No, being Native is not about culture, or community, it’s simply us wanting to bleed the taxpayers dry. I got pissed; no one was going to reduce my identity to a fucking number and some petty cash.

Here’s a history lesson as to how the Blood Quantum shit went down:

America wanted to give Indians a “New Deal”. Everyone finally found the Dawes Act a fucking mess, and way too many Boarding School graduates were returning to the Rez to get back to their roots.

“We thought we took care of the Indian problem with the schools!” exclaimed America. Apparently they did not.

Straight People Need Therapy

I'm a 23 year old Sinhalese woman in Minnesota by way of Dubai by way of Sri Lanka. I am a Womanist, and part of my womanism is figuring out how to be in solidarity with my transnational sisters worldwide. I'm a daughter, a sister, a partner and a writer. I'm a brown girl who knows Shakespeare by heart and devours anything Toni Morrison. I believe in radical, revolutionary living and loving.  I blog at Irresistible Revolution.

You heard me: straight people NEED THERAPY.

Let me explain.

Recently, someone very close to me who is gay, confided in me about some aspects of their experience living amid homophobia and heterosexism. As someone who benefits from heterosexual/ cisgender privilege, I was overcome with the usual emotions that I suppose overcome allies: frustration, pain, sadness, helplessness. As much as I love and care for this person, as much as they are a part of me, I can't love or hug institutional heteronormativity away. My person lives in a country where there are NO publicly funded counseling options, much less the chance that therapists can be openly affirming of gay identity. As I was contemplating how I could help them access safe and affirming counseling, I was struck by the invisibilizing of privilege embedded in how so many of us think about social progress.

Irish Anti-Bullying Campaign: "Stand up for your LGBT friends"

The following is a great Irish PSA which deals with homophobic bullying.  A young teen is being harassed for holding hands with a fellow male student.  When the bullies decide to confront him in a public space, the other kids join hands with people of the same sex to stop the bullying.  I think it is a great PSA because it shows we all have a role to play in ending homophobia and its damaging effects.

Talking racism, sexism with Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and Louis C.K.

I am a writer, black woman, bibliophile, music lover, nappy head, geek, eccentric, Midwesterner, wife, stepmother, sister, aunt and daughter. I am a liberal progressive. I believe in equality...of gender...of race...of sexuality...and I believe in working PROACTIVELY toward same. I am anti-oppression. I believe in justice for ALL. (Knowing that, you may label me as you wish.) I am a genealogist and I believe there is strength and knowledge to be found in the lives of our ancestors. Good living, good food, good music, good books, good people and good conversation turn me on. I blog at What Tami Said.

On April 1, through Ricky Gervais' podcast feed, I received a teaser for his upcoming special, "Talking Funny." The show, which debuts on HBO on April 22, features Gervais and fellow comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C. K. and Chris Rock talking about their craft. Following is an exchange from the clip, which can be downloaded for free from iTunes, Audible or Gervais' website. I cannot seem to find this extended clip on You Tube or HBO's site:

    Louis C. K. (talking about Chris Rock's style of comedy): Chris does it in a way that is even more blatant, cause he'll even keep repeating...If the premise is, y'know, women can't live without money...or whatever it is you're...all your chauvinist bullshit things that you say...

    Laughter

    Chris Rock: (Possibly referring back to an earlier conversation): ...black...sexist

    Louis C. K.: He'll keep repeating it...

    Jerry Seinfeld: Women can't go down a lifestyle.

    Louis C. K.: Women can't go down a lifestyle! That's his thing. Women can't go down a lifestyle. Then he'll explain it from 50 angles and he'll say (mildly adopting Rock's cadence), "Women can't go down in lifestyle. They can't. They can't go down..." And then he'll explain...

    Seinfeld: Well, he has to do that, cause that's a richer idea than they're used to hearing from a comedian. So, he has to teach them.

    Louis C. K.: Oh, I think he's doing the right thing, but that's...yeah.

    Rock: And a lot of comedians have great jokes and they don't like...Why isn't this working? It's not working because the audience doesn't understand the premise. So, I'm going to make sure...If I set this premise up right, this joke will always work, but if I kinda go namby pamby about setting up the premise...

    Louis C. K.: (Referring to Rock): One of my favorite bits of his is that when white people are rich, they're just rich forever and ever. Even their kids are rich. But when a black guy gets rich, it's countdown to when he's poor again.

    Laughter

    Rock (Referring to Louis C.K.): He's the blackest white guy I know. All the negative things we think about black people...this fucker...

    Louis C.K.: You're saying I'm a nigger.

    Laughter

    Rock: Yes, you are the niggerest fuckin' white man I have ever...

It's hard to capture the spirit of a discussion simply through a transcript. I encourage you to go to one of the sources mentioned above and see the thing for yourself. And I want to know if this exchange makes you as uncomfortable as it did me.

Let's Talk About Supposed Slurs: Cracker, Paleface and Honky

Slurs can be extremely harmful and are used specifically to hurt a marginalized group.  In many cases, though marginalized people have made it clear that certain words cause incredible pain, dominant groups continue to use them in their every day language, because they either don't care about the pain that they inflict with these words, or they intend to cause damage.  If a White person and a Black person are in a disagreement, the White person can immediately assert their power over the Black person by using the word nigger.  It elevates the White person, while sending a message that the Black person is inferior. There is no word that a Black person can call a White person that has the same effect, or the same historical meaning.

Yesterday in the comment section, there was some consternation over the word paleface.  There were claims of being hurt and offended at the label.  Paleface is a descriptor; it is not now, or ever will be a slur.  If an Indigenous Person chooses to use the term, it is done in reaction to a history of racism, and does not come from a place of purposeful oppression.  Even if said Indigenous person were attempting to debase a White person, the fact of the matter is, that there are no words or phrases, that carries the same sort of impact of any slur a White person could call an Indigenous person.

Famous people in history, being GBLT and the Gandhi drama

This is a guest post from Sparky, of Spark in Darkness.  Many of you are  familiar with him from Livejournal, as well as from his insightful and often hilarious commentary here. Each Tuesday, Womanist Musings will be featuring a post from Sparky. 

 

Ok, there be a drama llama flying around because an author has declared that they believe Ghandi to have been bisexual or gay. Cue massive explosions and meltdowns. So I thought I'd put my thinking hat on - I put this hat on without expressing an opinion on whether Ghandi was gay/bi or not. I don't know and don't have enough information to make a decision.

So, first of all I'm going to maybe surprise people and say, yes this actually matters. I know, I know, it's very tempting to say, especially to the people having screaming meemies, that "gay, bi, or straight, the man was a great man and did great things - why does it matter?"

Teasing A Black Child About Her Hair is Abuse

All Black women have a story to tell about their hair and how it has impact their vision of what beauty is. I know that for quite sometime as a child, I thought I was ugly in large part due to my hair.  I envied the White girls I went to school with and so I was ecstatic when I could finally straighten by hair. I processed my hair until the age of 26 sure in the belief that natural Black hair was not only unkept but ugly.  For me, this was certainly a reflection of my internalized racism.

The feelings I had about my hair certainly did not manifest from nowhere.  They were absolutely a reflection of the fact that my mind had become colonized because I lived in a White supremacist state.  (Breathe easy Canadians, racism is just as bad in Canada, we just hide it better) When I have written about what Black women go through with their hair, inevitably some White person tells me that they can identify of that Whiteness does not care about Black hair.  Of course, none of this is in the last bit true. Little Black girls are bullied constantly about their hair, and it does not always come from other children.

A 'Gender-Free' World Might Default to Male

Matt Kailey is a transman living in Denver, Colorado, and an author, public speaker, and trainer on transgender issues. He blogs at Tranifesto. In his ideal world, no one would be equal to anyone else – everyone would just be equal.

In response to Monday's post about the need to transition in a gender-free world, some readers questioned what such a world might look like and whether or not it could actually exist. I personally have no idea, but that has never stopped me from writing about something before.

My theory, which was always kind of a formless collection of thoughts, but which has taken on more structure in my mind after contemplating Monday's discussion, is that a socially constructed "gender-free world" would not be gender free at all – at least in Western culture, it would default to male.  

My thinking is not based on scientific fact (it rarely is – my sister, not me, is the one who reads books about quantum physics and string theory for pleasure). It's based on a series of random observations.

The Most Interesting Black Man in The World is Certainly Not Gay.

I think a well done spoof can be really fun.  I recently came across a spoof of the Dos Equis beer commercials. Now, lets just be honest and say that the celebration of masculinity in these ads is ridiculous and they aren't even amusing to boot.  The following spoof stars Billy Dee Williams, so I was really expecting much better.

The Most Interesting BLACK Man in the World... on 'Homosexuality' - watch more funny videos

More Subway Strife: Black Women Defend Themselves

Okay, Last week I posted a video that showed a subway altercation.  What I found shocking, is that some commenters seemed to feel the need to give the White woman the benefit of the doubt.  Let me just say straight up, fuck that noise.  I ain't even trying to hear that shit. If a Black woman cannot get the benefit of the doubt after being called an animal, then when can she?  The bottom line is that when Blacks and Whites share a space, Whites still feel that they have the right to assert their authority at will.  This is not helped by Blacks who think that calling people hoodrats  is acceptable, while looking upon them as though standing up for yourself is shaming the community.



Of course the video starts off with the Black women yelling.  God forbid we get one of these things that shows the beginning of the disagreement.  From what I can surmise, the two young women were attempting to defend their aunt because of something said by a White woman, when two White men decided to intervene.  Heaven forbid a wilting White woman be left to deal with her own issues.  This btw for those of you are curious, comes down to White female privilege.  Tell me the last time you saw a White man come to the defense of a Black women.  Nope, we are tough and not feminine enough.  This is the perfect example of sexism against women, can in certain cases become a benefit for White women.

Drop It Like It's Hot

Hello folks, thanks for another great week of comments and engagement.  If you would like the opportunity to guest post here at Womanist Musings please send in either an original post or a link to your blog.  Please include an image that represents you and a three line bio.

As usual, below you will find a few posts that I found interesting this week.  Please show these bloggers some love and check them out.  When you are done, don't forget to drop it like it's hot and leave your link behind in the comment section.


DSHS Get as 'F' For Service
Bill Maher: Feminist Troll
On Being an Outcast
Teaching Boys Feminism 
Princess Ka'iulani 
Octavia Butler: Celebrating the Writer who Changed my World 
How to Successfully Derail Any Conversation About Race
Colored News Network: Why can't CNN seem to get black news right?
We Support SlutWalk Toronto
Memo to White America: No, You Can't Say The Word Nigger. And Here's Why
Uterus? You Hardly Know Us
More Black Men Now in the Prison System than Were Enslaved
Breaking the cis filter  
What if Reconciliation? Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe's response to the residential school apology
Final Public Comment for New Standards to Address Prisoner Rape Ends Soon

César Chávez and Migrant Farmworker Rights
Dispatch From El Salvador: Obama's Drug War Feels Eerily familiar
Bernie Sanders' Guide to Corporate Fee Loaders
Indiana GOP Rep: Women will claim rape or incest to get abortions
Racebending And Other Asian-American Groups Speaks Up Against akira Whitewashing
Ain't You Over It Yet?
The Poverty of Privilege
"Happy" kids or "productive" kids? The question is flawed.

It's Friday and The Question Is.........

 

I am a huge fan of the show The Big Bang Theory.  For those who are not familiar, it is a comedy about four scientists who are into video games, and comic books.  They are socially awkward and are absolutely a disaster with women.  At any rate, last night I had a small epiphany.  The show is essentially about 4 male geeks, who with the exception of one person, all have a PhD.  Well it turns out, that the only real scientist on the show is Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy Farrah Fowler. Dr. Balik earned her PhD in neuroscience.  

For this week's question, I think it would be great to highlight women who are doing great work that do not get the attention or the  recognition they deserve.  Pick someone from any field and share why you think what she is doing is important.

Hollywood Is As Important To Trans People As Washington DC

This is a guest post from the ever fabulous Monica of TransGriot

One of the recurring things I gripe about on TransGriot is the fact that United States based trans people do not get to portray ourselves in film and television roles similarly to what has happened for over a decade in cinematic productions in other parts of the world.

While we've had the occasional film such as Stealth and Bella Maddo pop up for discussion on these electronic pages that has either a trans lead actor or actress or in Bella Maddo's case its all trans cast flipped the script and were playing cis people, the fact remains that many of the films I have talked about in the five years I've compiled TransGriot with trans leads actors are foreign films.

I've discussed films such as the Brazilian one Paulista and the Indian Tamil language film Paal that had transwomen playing transwomen.    In the States, it seems as though the pattern has been anyone except a transwoman should play a transwoman. 

Why Environmentalists Hate Native Americans

Dan Waters is a snarky 22 year old queer biracial wonderment who is part White, Portuguese, and Native American (Wampanoag-Kiowa). He currently lives in Massachusetts, and plans to become a Lawyer. That is, if he can survive Algonquin language classes and polyamorous dating right now! He also identifies as Two Spirit, and prefers male pronouns, but cherishes his female body that he was given graciously by the Creator. He blogs at Identity Exposure.

Jessica Yee brought up an interesting fact (see point 2, bolded). Within the Green movement, there is a lot of contention and condemnation that happens. Hell, people want to discredit us all the time. I think one of the most teeth-grinding things that bother me is that environmentalists, basically big-shot scientists who are majority white and upper class, feel it’s necessary to tell us we should ‘care’, ‘do more’, etc. It’s not our fucking fault white people brought over factories in the first place, noooo. A lot of what the Green Movement proposes (minimalism, less consumption, be aware of what you are eating, etc) is basically common sense, at least to most Natives.

A local (like, real local. It’s right next to me) issue that sparked a lot of contention was the Cape Wind Project. Basically, many animal rights activists felt the life and habitat of many wildlife would be in jeopardy, the Wampanoag felt it would hinder their religious ceremonies of greeting the sun (we are, after all, people of the Dawn Light), and fishermen valued the spot due to the quahogs and other fish gains.

The biggest reason, I feel, that Cape Wind did get approved was this: none of the groups could fucking stand each other. So instead of a unified voice, it was separate, “bothersome” tufts of people.

Why do animal rights people hate Native Americans? Well, I am not sure, because I myself am Native American and animal rights. However, in Native lifestyle and tradition, humans are considered part of the food chain. I will not disagree that factory farming is indeed a threat and not conducive to Native tradition, but many animal rights folks disagree with hunting and whatnot. Many arguments about how the Arctic Circle is affecting Inuit/Aleut people went unspoken because, in reality, it’s a “lot easier to sell fluffy polar bears than it is to sell a people that eat whale blubber.” (Quote taken from real-life conversation).

Change of Political Postion

Once a year I like to actively think about where I stand politically.  I have come to realize that as a Womanist, I am not doing enough to move the project forward of women's equality and I have decided to take on the feminist label.  For the longest time, I took issue with the racism, transphobia, etc., that I have seen in mainstream feminism, but if swallowing a little bit of oppression to help women finally achieve equality is necessary, then I am prepared to do this.

I am going to have to change the name of the blog.  Interested parties can leave suggestions in the comment section.  It might even be worth it to get some business cards with the new name. I know that there is no such thing as a good oppression, but I have been wondering if the blog has been watering down the role of women by focusing on so many side issues.  After all, gender effects all women, and isn't that what we should all be focusing on?  There really are other spaces that deal specifically with race, or sexuality etc., and Womanist Musings is wasting its time tackling all of these issues.