Thick: The Art of Cauro Hige

Christopher Harrity

www.advocate.com/art/2015/11/07/thick-art-cauro-hige

Open Question: Muslims, how would you act towards a fellow Muslim that was gay/lesbian etc?
Salam, if you found out a practicing Muslim was LGBT, would you still treat them as a brother / sister?

Or would you make them feel unwelcome, like they’re not a proper Muslim, hate them etc.

Remember it’s not a choice.

answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20151106233800AAdAmhm

Hillary Clinton Talks DOMA, Candidates All Tout Inclusion at Dem Forum

Friday night’s Democratic presidential candidates’ forum, conducted by Rachel Maddow, had some noteworthy moments for LGBT Americans, especially in Hillary Clinton’s defense of her controversial justification of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Clinton stood by her earlier statements that DOMA, signed into law by her husband, Bill, as he was up for reelection in 1996, was a way to head off something worse — a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Several activists and pundits have taken issue with that assertion, saying a constitutional amendment wasn’t on the table at the time. But there were “private conversations” about an amendment, Clinton told Maddow.

“The important thing now is that DOMA is gone,” Clinton added regarding the law, which prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages and allowed states to opt out of recognizing those performed in other states. A 2013 Supreme Court decision struck down the first part, and this year’s marriage equality ruling by the high court took care of the rest.

Clinton further noted that it’s important to take care of the anti-LGBT discrimination that still exists, as in many states it’s still legal to fire someone or deny them housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This week’s voter repeal of the LGBT-inclusive Houston Equal Rights Ordinance shows the need to keep fighting for equality, she said.

Of the Houston situation, she noted, “What the far right did very successfully was to engender a lot of fear,” with a campaign focusing on fears that allowing transgender people to use the restrooms comporting with their gender identity would somehow enable predatory behavior against women and children — a theory that has been thoroughly debunked.

Clinton and the other two candidates interviewed by Maddow tonight — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley — all have strongly pro-LGBT records, although they’ve highlighted their differences on who came to what position the soonest or in the strongest fashion. Sanders and O’Malley also made some supportive statements in tonight’s forum, which was not a debate; instead, Maddow interviewed each candidate individually onstage at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., in the broadcast on her home network, MSNBC.

Sanders spoke of the need to get white working-class voters to return to the Democratic Party, saying that by voting Republican, they’re going against their own economic interests. These voters need to know that their enemies aren’t gay people or immigrants, but are the monied special interests seeking to keep wealth concentrated at the top of the economic heap, he said.

O’Malley touted his accomplishment in enacting marriage equality legislation in Maryland, and he said young people make him hopeful about the future of the nation, because they don’t want to bash immigrants, deny climate change, or deny rights to same-sex couples.

Maddow engaged the candidates on numerous other issues, all in her trademark manner — as a policy wonk with a sense of humor and a tough journalist who asks pointed questions while remaining respectful.

All three candidates delivered messages of economic populism, which they said would be key to strengthening Democratic support in the South and also address the concerns of marginalized populations. “Our party is the party of opportunity for all,” said O’Malley. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, called for an end to “our disastrous trade policies” and offshoring of profits, and spoke of the need to persuade companies to invest and create jobs domestically. Clinton said, “People rightly believe that corporations and the powerful have stacked the deck.”

Clinton has come under criticism for her ties with those same interests, with Maddow noting the former first lady, senator, and secretary of state had taken some generous speaking fees from Wall Street firms. “Anybody who thinks they can influence what I do doesn’t know me very well,” Clinton replied. She also said, “I want to be the president for the struggling, the striving, and the successful.”

Sanders, for his part, emphasized that his campaign is funded primarily by small donations from individuals and that, unlike Clinton, he has no super PAC working on his behalf.

Maddow questioned, though, how much Sanders differs from Clinton in his policy positions. He recently told The Boston Globe’s editorial board, “I disagree with Hillary Clinton on virtually everything.” When Maddow queried him about this, he replied, “Virtually is the operative word,” but added that campaign financing is a major difference.

On foreign policy, the candidates all agreed that the Iraq war started under George W. Bush’s administration was a huge mistake. Sanders, when asked how he’d deal with the terrorist group ISIS in the Middle East, said he wouldn’t want to send in U.S. ground troops but would like to see a coalition of Muslim countries take ISIS on, backed by nations from around the world, not just the U.S. “This is a war for the soul of Islam,” he said.

When Maddow asked Clinton about her image as the most hawkish of the candidates, Clinton responded that she favors diplomatic solutions to international disputes but can’t rule out the use of force.

Maddow pressed O’Malley at his low ranking in the presidential polls — his support hovers at about 2 percent. “I kind of like a tough fight,” he replied, noting that he’d faced similar uphill battles over the course of his career. He touted his record of accomplishments at the executive level in Maryland and in Baltimore, where he was once mayor, as reason to support him.

Also, like his fellow Democrats, he emphasized inclusivity as a measure of difference from the Republican field. “The symbol of America is not a barbed wire fence, it’s the Statue of Liberty,” he said in a pointed rebuke to Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant views.

Gun control, police overreach, and the Keystone pipleine were among other matters that came up with the candidates. In between dealing with serious issues, though, Maddow asked each candidate some questions on the lighter side in the middle of her session with each. She asked O’Malley to name the most impractical item of clothing he owns, which he said is a kilt that had been given to him.

Sanders wondered if she’d want to ask about his underwear or if he’s really actor Larry David, referring to a recent Saturday Night Live sendup. Actually, she asked him what his dream job outside of politics would be president of CNN. “The way media deals with politics would change,” said Sanders, who had expressed disdain for the media in general, Maddow excepted.

Maddow asked Clinton, if she had to pick a running mate from the current field of Republican candidates, who she would choose. “There are Republicans I could pick, but not one of them,” she replied.

Watch clips of Maddow with each candidate below, and find more on the MSNBC website.

Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/election/2015/11/06/hillary-clinton-talks-doma-candidates-all-tout-inclusion-dem-forum

Open Question: How do I tell my anti lgbt mother that I'm gender dysphoric?

answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20151106221138AAM3jcm

For years I hid behind a façade of femininity to conform. Now I'm out and proud and have never been more comfortable with myself.

submitted by b-Mpc
[link] [4 comments]

For years I hid behind a façade of femininity to conform. Now I’m out and proud and have never been more comfortable with myself.
by inlgbt

From Eddie to Madison: Trans Journey

Eddie in Atlanta, early 90’s

I met Eddie in the early 90’s on a dance floor of a gay bar in Pensacola, Florida that had been converted from a scuba shop. Looking back, it was quite cinematic with the late night joke being “Who would get thrown into the training pool?”

Eddie was tall with long blonde hair and a radiant energy. I was tall with long brown hair and a dry sense of humor; it just so happens my name is Eddie too. We quickly formed a comedic duo with our opening line being “Hi, I’m Eddie” and “Hi, I’m Eddie” which took us past every club line and into every VIP lounge from Atlanta to Miami to New York City.

I had found the Yin to my Yang and my ultimate BFF. We both went into our own directions but kept in contact and then I received the call. Eddie called me to inform me he was not gay. I remember thinking that this was obviously a lost Queen and there was no way possible he was straight. My world got rocked; “I’m not gay because I am a woman.” My mind flipped through all our times together.

I had a few days where I wondered if my alter ego was really a woman then maybe I was a woman. I tried to be strong and accepting. I am not sure if I ever told him but I cried several times at the thought of losing my “Eddie”. So, now we had to begin the journey of gestation for “Madison.” The sense of humor was still there. The Yin to my Yang was still there. Her big feet did not get smaller; therefore, I had some frames of reference to guide me through this transition. We have never been to therapy together but as life long friends; I asked her to do an interview.

EP– Madison, to get started, can you explain what it was like to not think of yourself as a gay male but as a woman?

MW– I never really thought of myself as a gay male, or male at all-that was the problem. My brain thought my groin had a vagina. Almost like it was sending every signal out to a female part and the part it reached was male.

EP– To keep this from being a long read; give us a quick breakdown of your transition process:

MW– I was in some sort of denial until I was 21 and living with my first boyfriend in Gainesville, Florida. One night out with friends, I saw a post-op transsexual performing in a drag show; something “clicked” as I wondered why she would have struggled so hard to change her social and sex status. It was a “ton of bricks” moment as I realized she probably felt the same way I did inside.

My realization was the beginning of a long, scary, lonely process of transition. I met doctors and psychologists who didn’t know anything about my situation and some who had knowledge but didn’t want to take on my case. Eventually, I was able to “prove” myself to a sympathetic MD who had retired to Destin, Florida from Seattle.

He started me on estrogen which was a blessing and a curse. Estrogen affects the body tissues nicely but also brain tissue which for me caused depression.

One employer refused to let me transition on the job which was devastating. In my next job, I found wonderful people whom I will never forget. They took risks to let me transition since there were no laws protecting me from discrimination. It was during a time when my only resource for help at the library was an autobiography by Renee Richards. Her strange journey through transition only scared me since I didn’t identify with her story.

Eventually, I adjusted to hormonal changes, passed all the tests, did the required year of therapy, saved up tens of thousands for surgery and started feeling “right”.

EP-We both came from the Panhandle of Florida at a time when people were being beaten outside gay bars, military members had to catch a ride to the bar so their base stickers were not recorded and generally life was touch and go. I remember my turning point was when my therapist said “It is not your job to educate people….you are old enough to strike out on your own and build a life for yourself outside this community” and then the time when a woman came to me in a 7-Eleven and said there were two men waiting outside to beat me down. As I turned to the clerk and asked him to call the Police, he simply said “No, there ain’t no crime happened yet”. What was your turning point to leave?

MW– I yearned to get to a city where I could find help, guidance and the community I needed but didn’t have the financial ability to leave. I was horrified of ending up on the streets of Harshtown, USA. So, it took me a few years to finally make a move out West successfully.

EP-The South and the Nation has changed so much since our rebel years. Do you feel like a trail blazer or a survivor?

MW– Both…definitely.

EP-My favorite Madison quote is when we were in an elevator of “The Embassy Suites” Atlanta. A cheap suit, convention man had the nerve to start murmuring “feminine” while we were escalating. Without skipping a beat, you began to chant “masculine” to which he was shocked at the push back. When he stepped up to you; you said “I am more man than you will ever be and more woman than you will ever get”. How do you find this strength?

MW– I think I felt like I had nothing to lose. When in reality, it could have gone very bad. My instincts were and still are to stand up to ignorant bullies. They might learn something from it.

EP-Can we talk boobs? When you came to my 30th birthday party all my female friends were jealous of your chest. I had to hear all weekend “If I had gotten my boobs at 30 then they would look that good.” The straight males were so confused. After all the #freethenipple movements from celebs like Miley Cyrus to Cara Delevigne; how important are boobs?

MW– Yes, I got lucky in the boobs department. My genetic mapping was triggered by the estrogen I took and since I was relatively young with large breasted female relatives; they blossomed. I’ve only met a handful of trans-women who were as lucky. Mine are paramount to me. Sometimes they are all I have in the world to hold onto, lol.

EP-Freestyle Madison…what do you want to say?

MW– As hard as it was for me to go through this change, I don’t want to leave out all the amazing friends who helped me. You are one of them!

EP-I love you Madison…

MW– I love you too, Eddie.

Madison and Eddie, now

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Open Question: I am 14 very depressed I gender fluid and my dad is trans phobic i sm not allowed to see a counselor therapist what do i do?
Hi my name is Lexi I was born male I was always had trouble with gender when I was 5 I wondered why I could dress like a girl I realized I was weird and i hid it away when i was 12 I learned about transgender I though how nice it would be t0 be a girl for a bit. I hid that away too. Now I stated to want to be a girl aguin I always felt bad being in a male body I rather be a slightly masculine female tihan a very feminine male I want hormones but My dad is trans phobic coming out would be dangerous my dad already dose not like me I did not turn out how he wanted. He constantly cusses me out calls me stupid and a waste of space and other very offense things I don’t want to say. He takes my stuff all the time I felt like killing myself earlier this week and my friend had urged me to call a LGBT suicide hot line but before i could my dad took my phone. I ended up cutting myself that day. In the last hour I took his girl friends tablet so i could call using an app and get help that I needed I felt bad for taking it but she has caused problems too. She went looking for it and my dad found it in my room. I felt humiliated he cussed me out and said that I was being a b**ch and I said I wanted to leave I could not take it anymore he told me all my problems were fake. I don’t even call this place home anymore I want to leave but then i would be a runaway Mabey i could live with friends I can’t even see a school counselor since by law they are required to tell him what I said I am 14 very depressed I gender fluid and my dad is trans phobic i am not allowed to see a counselor therapist what do i do?

answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20151106200347AAaJ2tQ