Gender Identity Center Journal |
Online Edition |
August/October 1998 |
Welcome to the online edition of the GIC Journal, the newsletter of the Gender Identity Center of Colorado. Here, you'll find a sample of articles and features from our print edition. For all the news, vendors, photos and more, subscribe, or better yet become a member, of the GIC.
By Robynne P.
This year we not only had a better parade position, we had 14 people marching in the parade, the largest contingent ever showing our transgendered pride.
For the first time, our parade unit included several Transmen, led by our own FTM Group Leader, Matt K. It was noticed! Oh, yes it was! After we left PrideFest, we decided to end the day at one of our favorite watering holes, Racines, for some supper, a cold brew, and some discussion of the day's activities.
Several people from the GBLT community stopped by to congratulate us on being in the parade, as well as our part on the Community stage. The greatest compliment, by far, came from a Transman from San Francisco, who happened to be at Racines the same time we were. He congratulated us on looking good, and especially on having an FTM group with us in the parade!
The G.I.C., for many years, has been considered by many to be for girlz. The Center now has made a giant step forward with the boyz, thanks to the hard work of Matt. K.
Now if we can just get Transyouth and our spouses, our families and our friends involved!
Some of us shyer, but still adventuresome sorts, decided to venture out on stage to perform with Miss G.I.C. runner-up, Deidre, performing AColors of the Wind,@ with Robynne P., Joanne Z., Jessie S. - Miss G.I.C. 1998-1999, Ginger P., and Carolee L. all representing the rainbow colors of red, orange, yellow, green and blue. This performance happened when the G.I.C. was invited to participate on the Community Stage during PrideFest, the first time we have ever been asked to do so. The work we have been doing with the greater GLBT community on outreach is getting noticed. And while we spend so much time working with MGLAC, Metro Pride Network, Equality Colorado, PFLAG, and CLIP, among others, it was thrilling to show that we can also play.
The heat cut down on the cool cash and donations were only $40 for a day's work at the booth we had at PrideFest and $51 in merchandise sales. This is down substantially from last year's total of $52.08 donations and $203.00 for merchandise.
The Colorado Springs PrideFest celebration this year is Sunday, Aug. 30th, in Acacia Park. We look forward to meeting Colorado Spring's G.I.C. members, both at the booth and hope you will march with us.
by Susan C.
Don't ask, don't tell. Is it a military policy or a lifestyle? I ask this question because I sometimes wonder if we're doing our job right.
I understand the need for TG people, particularly people who are living full-time in the opposite gender, to blend into society, not to be noticed. I admire them for the choices they have made and the success with which they are living their lives.
I also understand those who take the activist's path. Those who fight to make this world a better place for people, especially transgendered people. I also admire these folks for the choices that they make and the efforts they put forth.
The ones I do not understand are the ones who trade one closet for another. The ones who still live in fear that people will find out "the secret." I feel sorry that this group of people hasn't yet become completely comfortable with themselves.
I know people in all three of these categories and call them friends. I'm there to fight with the activists to the best of my ability. I cheer those who have made successful transitions and choose not to be "out", but will not deny their past if they are asked directly.
Sadly, I worry about those who have traded closets. They still avoid crowds for fear of being "read", some as long as three years post operatively. Can these people really be leading happy lives?
Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to put these people down. I believe that everyone must make, and live with, their own choices about their lives. But as I fight with the activists to try to educate people and changes laws to make lives easier, I wonder if we will ever be able to help this group of people.
my point eXactlY by Matt K
Is F?, M?, or N/A The Answer?
I got my name changed the other day. I say it like it's no big deal, because it wasn't, really. At least not in Denver. It was easy. I went in, filled out five minutes of paperwork, plunked down my hard-earned $44, went in front of a judge and promised that I wasn't trying to escape my creditors (with all the money I owe, they'd find me anyway). I had written "gender reassignment" under "reason for name change" on my paperwork. The judge didn't question it. I walked out a few minutes later with an official order that stayed official as long as I published it for three consecutive weeks and sent proof to the court (in other locations, the procedure can be different).
Next stop, the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. The young woman who assisted me didn't bat an eye when I showed her the required letter from my doctor and my court papers. She just said, "Oh, we'll have to change that F to an M," did so, and then said, "Step over there, Matthew, and get your picture taken." At the Social Security office, the woman examined my papers carefully, punched something into the computer and said, "Okay, sir, your new card will be in the mail in about two weeks."
Friendly, friendly people. Trans-friendly people. But it's easy to be trans-friendly when the proof is right in front of you. No matter how sensitive these employees were, they were still thinking, as most all of us do, in terms of two genders. And they had legal paperwork to tell them which one of the two I was.
There have been other situations in which I haven't been so lucky. Nothing makes a trans person cringe quite as much as being "ma'amed" when s/he should have been"sirred" or vice-versa. After being ma'amed" on several occasions when I thought I was passing fairly well, I have vowed that if I am ever in a service situation where I must greet an individual ("Can I help you, ma'am?" "Thank you, sir."), and I am unsure about the gender they are presenting, I will leave off the ma'am or sir entirely. There is truly no need for it, other than as a sign of respect, and true respect for a trans person is either correct gender acknowledgment or none at all. I propose that employees of every company be trained in these types of issues so as not to offend paying consumers of their products and services.
Another, even more important, aspect of trans life is the dreaded public restroom. I sweat more now that I'm on testosterone, but I never sweat so much as when I have to use the restroom at a mall or restaurant. A true trans-friendly business should have a unisex restroom in addition to their traditional men's and women's rooms meant for those stuffy people who define themselves by their genitalia. I would have appreciated this very much when I was passing, but my driver's license still said "F". I would still appreciate it on those occasions when I'm not feeling so sure of myself and I can no longer legally use the women's room.
By Carolee L.
Some officers new to the job were elected on July 19 by the Board of Directors for the 1998-1999 year.
Susan C. ran for president unopposed for her third one-year-term. Not bad for someone who joined the G.I.C. six years ago, wanting to somehow be useful and to lend a hand!
Jessie S. was voted vice president to fill the position vacated by Aaron H. Opposing Jessie was JoAnn Z. Jessie had been our recording secretary for the past term and ran again. (According to our By-Laws, Jessie could have held both offices). She turns the pen of power over to Kathy H., who is a new member of the Board, although Kathy definitely is a familiar face at the G.I.C.
Roxann S. and Ginger S. faced off for the Treasurer's office to replace exiting treasurer Robynne P. And while Roxann was elected, she invited Ginger to share in some of the treasurer's responsibilities as an assistant to the treasurer, which Ginger graciously accepted.
Editor: Carolee L.
To place an advertisement or obtain advertising information, call the editor at (303) 202-6466.
Articles from contributors must be printed double-spaced or submitted on a 3 1/2" disc in ASCII text format. Submissions are due on the 15th of the month preceding publication:
G.I.C. Journal
1455 Ammons Street, Suite 100
Lakewood, CO 80215-4993
Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the policies of the G.I.C., its Officers, or the Journal.
Copyright (c) 1998, Gender Identity Center of Colorado, Inc.