Nouveau Girl Blog

Forward March!

Posted on March 1st, 2007 by April.
Categories: Ignorant, LGBT, Transgender.

About a week ago Largo FL. city manager Steve Stanton announced his decision to begin transitioning to Susan Stanton.

After holding the position for 14 years and earning the respect of the citizens and fellow city officials, he’d hoped to find support and be allowed to keep his $140K job working for the city he loved.

Sadly, it was not to be.

Last night, city officials voted to begin the process for removing him from office.

 "If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he’d want him terminated," said Pastor Ron Saunders of Largo’s Lighthouse Baptist Church. "Make no mistake about it."

With all due respect Pastor, you are wrong.

At times like these, it can feel as though the transgender community will never be given the respect that is do everyone in a just society.

But a society that allows the discrimination of any group of people also fails every member within that society.

 "We think this is a really clear example of the type of employment discrimination that transgendered people face every day," said Simon Aronoff, deputy director of the National Center for Transgender Equality in Washington, D.C. "By all accounts, he was doing a good job. The only reason he was fired is because he made the brave decision to live openly."

I feel sorry for the citizens of Largo.  They are removing someone from office that worked tirelessly for the city and the city is a better place because of Stanton’s hard work.  Their bigotry will cost them the dedicated work of an outstanding city manager and will only be to the city’s detriment.

 "I’m going to be embarrassed if we throw this man out on the trash heap after he’s worked so hard for the city," said Mayor Patricia Gerard, one of a few Stanton chose to share his secret with before last week. "We have a choice to make: We can go back to intolerance, or we can be the city of progress."

Shame on you Largo Florida.

We must take events like this only as a sign that work still remains to be done and not let the feeling of defeat take over,.  Do not allow the ignorance of others to dictate a second class status to those whom deserve nothing less then the same rights and privileges of all peoples.

While the fight is just beginning in Largo, we can not loose sight of  battles fought and won.

To counter the sad news from Florida, I’ve highlighted some recent positive events in the fight to gain what is just and right:

 

Positive Change for
Transgender Legal Rights

House passes anti-bullying legislation

"DES MOINES — The Iowa House on Thursday passed an anti-bullying bill that provides specific protections for gay and lesbian students.  The measure, approved by the House and Senate, bans harassment of students based on a number of factors, including sexual orientation, gender, age and race."

Transgender equality at the University of Florida

If approved, a referendum added to Tuesday and Wednesdays Student Government elections will amended the Student Body constitution’s nondiscrimination clause to include the terms "gender identity and expression."

Lawmakers Considering Bill Prohibiting Transgender Discrimination

HARTFORD, Conn. — State lawmakers are again considering a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

ABA expands bias policy, includes TGs

American Bar Association expands its Model Code of Judicial Conduct. The new model code now states that judges shall prohibit bias against attorneys and parties based on gender identity and transgender status.

 

Attention Shoppers

Loehmann’s Transgender Shoppers Can Use Proper Fitting Rooms

"Discount clothing chain Loehmann’s reached an agreement this week with Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) that results in the store allowing shoppers to use fitting rooms, restroom and other store facilities that are consistent with their gender identity or gender expression."

"Loehmann’s also agreed to add “gender identity and gender expression” to its corporate non-discrimination policy."

 

Fighting the Good Fight

Samuel 16:7 The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

 
 
Ordained Baptist Minister is Fighting Dismissal

"A professor at Spring Arbor University has asserted in a discrimination complaint that the Christian institution unlawfully removed her from a deanship and is now trying to get rid of her altogether because she told administrators that she planned to become a woman."

"John Nemecek, who now goes by Julie, says the university in Michigan removed her as assistant dean of adult studies last June, demoted her to a non-tenure track faculty position, and slashed her salary by 20 percent, to $44,977. The university, which is affiliated with an evangelical group of Methodists, also gave Professor Nemecek a contract that required her to work primarily from home and that forbade her to dress like a woman on the campus or to talk to other university employees about her decision to change genders."

 

A Positive Roll Model in Education

Transgender woman to speak at MSU

"David Nielsen, a former media specialist at Southwest High School in Minneapolis, left work on a Friday in 1998 as a man and returned Monday as Debra Davis, a woman."

"One of the first transgender people to work with high school students, Nielsen retired several years later and has since been educating people about gender issues and equality. Her next stop is the United Church of Christ in Mankato during a presentation called “Reading Rainbows: An Evening With Transgender High School Librarian Debra Davis,” sponsored by Minnesota State University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center, Women’s Center and CADA Inc."

 
 

Related Links

Sun-Sentinel: Largo to oust transgendered city manager
Bradenton Herald: Fired city manager gives transsexuals a champion
Tampa Bay News: Stanton tell employees he’s transgendered

News: Student Rally backs transgender prof
Ex-Gay Watch: Can one be a transgender Christian?
Chronicle of Higher Education: Transgender Professor Runs Afoul…
Boing Boing: University fires prof over transgender identity
Workplace Diversity: University firing transgender prof
Bible Gateway: Samuel 16:7

Gender Education Center: Debra Davis

 
 
  -April

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Movers and Shakers

Posted on February 25th, 2007 by April.
Categories: Celebrity, Music, Transgender, Video.

Sony Taking Transgendered Band Mainstream

 
A girl band of transsexuals who model themselves on the Spice Girls are hoping to change social attitudes and achieve pop chart success in Thailand.
 

Venus Flytrap

 

Hot, Cool, Posh, Naughty and Sweet
hope to be an inspiration for young ladyboys
and anyone confused about their sexuality.

 
 
"I hope audiences do look at us for our work, rather than just for being pretty" -Posh Venus

 
I stumbled across a news story about this group yesterday.  As I read about these women, the more I became interested knowing their full story.

Well a little Google here, a little Google there, quick search of YouTube, and POW!  I had a pretty cool story to share… and a decent new pop song as a bonus.
 
Thailand is believed to have one of the largest transsexual populations in the world. Academics estimate at least 10,000 live in Thailand, though some put the figure 10 times higher.

Even the conservative number would mean that per capita, Thailand has many more transsexuals than most developed countries.

Executives at Sony seeing a prospective market niche and potential to attract a mainstream audience, launched a development project to create the next female pop group sensation. 

Mirroring the creation of The Spice Girls or Pussycat Dolls but with an added twist… a female pop group with all transgendered members.

The company auditioned over 100 performers before selecting the five women who’d become the worlds first transgendered pop group signed to a mainstream record deal.

After signing on the doted line, the women spent the next twelve months undergoing intense singing, acting and dance lessons.  In addition to sharping their skills as entertainers, a great deal of time was spent creating an image for the group. The group was being fast-tracked; their debut required style and polish equal to any seasoned mainstream pop group.

In the fall of 2006, the group began a public relation campaign in the months leading up to their debut album release.  TV and radio interviews, public events, award show appearances, and a high-profile Marie Claire cover photo and feature article helped build the public’s anticipation.

Their first album, "Visa for Love," was released in December and Sony’s director for artists and repertoire Amonrat Homhoul says the company is pleased with the groups success.

"The response has been good, even if their songs aren’t in the charts yet."

The groups first single and music video has been in heavy rotation and continue to gain interest.  A growing fan base has also earned the girls a lucrative concert deal, and recently they’ve enjoyed repeat play on Bangkok’s SkyTrain rail network.

For Sony this is a purely commercial venture by a company looking to exploit a niche market in Thailand.

However, for the group members, they have broader goals and see a more important impact they could have on society in Thailand.

In a Buddhist society which prides itself on tolerance, ladyboys, known as "katoey" in Thai, enjoy wide acceptance.

Many Thais believe being a ladyboy is the result of bad karma — paying in this lifetime for misdeeds in former ones — and that ladyboys deserve pity, not blame.

While many transgendered women in Western nations might see the acceptance given to their counter-parts in Thailand as a kind of nirvana, the reality is far from perfect.

Transgender people are often represented in the media and in public Thai life, but they can still draw negative attention.

Social mobility is severely restricted and employment opportunities are generally limited.  More often than not their only option of work is dancing as exotic entertainers in cabaret revues.

Laws in Thailand are also heavily stacked against transgender people. They are not covered by rape laws, and are not allowed to marry.

The women want to sweep aside the common image of ladyboys as cabaret queens or tourist curiosities and join the mainstream of international pop.  Being seen as roll models is something each take very seriously and are dedicated to promoting tolerance and inclusion of transsexuals in Thailand.

The band’s dream is that the music’s appeal will extend to beyond the cabaret clubs tucked away in seedy red-light districts.

"I hope we are paving the way for other ladyboys. I hope society will be more open for them so that they can work, because they are able to work," said Krerkkong Suanyot, or Posh Venus.

Krerkkong, who has degrees in food science and humanities and is studying for a masters in political science, said she hopes her experience with the band will help earn recognition for other transsexuals.

The group does have a nagging concern that their rising celebrity might be based more on who they are, rather than how they sing.

"I hope audiences do look at us for our work, rather than just for being pretty"

 
Ladies and gentlemen… performing their hit single, ‘Visa for Love‘, and making their Nouveau Girl Blog debut, please join in giving a warm welcome to… Venus Flytrap:
 
 

 
 
OK, what did you think?
 
Maybe I’m having an 80’s flashback induced by the song’s vaguely familiar hook, but it’s not too bad. Kinda catchy… I bet after a few listens it will get stuck in my head… visa for love… do you want me to stay… da da da… visa for love… too late.  
 

Related Links

Offical Site: Venus Flytrap
Fan Site: Venus Flytrap [lots of pictures & videos]
MySpace: Venus Flytrap [unofficial]

YouTube: Music Video - Visa for Love
YouTube: Music Video - Cause I’m Your Lady
YouTube: TV Performance - Medley at At Ten

Book: Personal Narratives of Thailand’s Transgendered Youth
Personal Home Page: My life as ladyboy in Bangkok
Wikipedia: Kathoey - Thailand Ladyboy

Reuters UK: Thai ladyboy band hopes to hit the high notes
Gay New Zealand: Thailand: Transgender band’s record deal
Yahoo! News: Spicy Thai "ladyboy" band aims…
Pink News UK: Thai Spice Girls Preach Transsexual Power
UK Gay: Ladyboy-band sign to Sony

 

 
 
  -April

2 comments.

Nothin’ Funnier Then a Beating

Posted on February 24th, 2007 by April.
Categories: Celebrity, Ignorant, LGBT, Transgender, Video.

I sent the following e-mail to George Takei regarding an episode of the Jimmy Kimmel show that aired after showing Mr. Takei’s PSA video:
 
 

Hello Mr. Takei,

I want express my appreciation for the fantastic PSA video you did regarding Tim Hardaway.  You stood up to the bully and his ignorant statement, spanked him on national television, and made Hardaway look ignorant and silly.  You’ve become the clear winner in the court of public opinion.

The PSA video clip I’ve seen was cut from a segment of the Jimmy Kimmel Show.  I’m not sure if you produced it in conjunction with the show or not, but if you did I’d like to know if you’d address something from an episode following the airing of your PSA video.

On February 21st, Jimmy Kimmel had Rebecca Romijn as a guest to discuss her new roll as a transgendered character on ABC’s ‘Ugly Betty’.  During the interview he mocked transgendered men and women, made jokes while showing photos of several transgendered women, then wrapped up his "jokes" by reading from a book where a transgendered woman is hit with an ax.  All for laughs… real funny.

As a transgendered woman, I’ve faced the threat of violence and didn’t find the humor Mr. Kimmel thinks is there.  Mr. Kimmel’s "joke" hits close to home, even here in the tolerant San Francisco area, Gwen Araujo was beaten to death by a group of men… just like his "joke".

If you have any contact with the producers of the Jimmy Kimmel show, I’d appreciate bring attention to the fact that violence toward anyone is not funny - and that includes the LGBT community.

Here’s the segment from the 2/21/07 Jimmy Kimmel Show:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhf_uF3pgnU

All the best,

 -April

P.S. "Naked Time" is one of my favorite StarTrek episodes!

 
 
(h/t Pam’s House Blend)
 
 
 

Links

Pam’s House Blend: Jimmy Kimmel Jokes About Violence…
Shakespeare’s Sister: Know what’s hilarious?
After Elton: Best. Gay. Week. Ever.

George Takei: PSA: Tolerance

Gwen Araujo: Justice for Gwen Araujo
Transgender Law Center: Gwen Araujo

YouTube: Jimmy Kimmel, Mocking & Beating the Transgendered is Funny
ABC Television: Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Wikipedia: Gwen Araujo
Wikipedia: Jimmy Kimmel

Home Page: George Takei

 
 

  -April

0 comments.

Team TransWorld Official Seal Project

Posted on September 3rd, 2006 by April.
Categories: Poll, Transgender.

Deirdre (Deedee) and I have been thinking about an "official seal" for the TransWorld Rosetta@home team. The seal could be used for the team logo, t-shirts, Yahoo!360 profile avatars, etc.

We’ve just started putting together a few design ideas and would like to get all the team members involved. If you’re feeling creative or would like to offer some feedback on the current ideas, we’d love to hear from you.

You can view all the current design ideas here:

http://aprilsfca.googlepages.com/transworldteamseal

-April

Editors Note: This article was originally published here.  It has been republished on this site to preserve continuity.

0 comments.