Transgender-Specific Self Defense course to be tought in Colorado

Hi all!
This just in,

So a good friend of mine,
Tom Luxx Has called me the other day and has offered to teach a Transgender-specific self defense intensive.

Tom has been studying and teaching martial arts for over 15 years.

He curretly teaches, in addition to his regular Martial arts classes, a womens self defense course.

Talking to him one night at pub, I mentiond how one of the problems for members of our community was being attacked, and being somewhat more vunerable after and during transition.

I honestly didn't realize that somthing would come of that, so it was a pleasant suprise, when cathing up on things earlier this evening that he mentioned that he wanted to offer a Transgender-Specific self defense class.

I thought it was a great idea, so we will be back in touch very soon with the particulars.

I thought I'd go ahead and start spreading it arround as he is already working on the flyers.

It will be on Saturday, March 29'th, and will likely be an all day intensive.
There may be a second day offered on the following weekend depending on the demand and popularity.
He has said that he is willing to do it even if only two people want to show up.

Tom, has said that this will be a self defense course and not a martial arts class.

The emphasis on the most practical, useful techniques for getting of an attack and dealing with an attacker.

I am very glad for Tom's willingness to support our community and I will glad to support him all I can in his endeavor.

If anyone is interested, please feel free to contact me.
Sara M

I will post updates as more information becomes available.

Safe2pee.org: making restrooms a safer place

Hi All!
If you havn't been to this website you ought to check it out!

You can find gender or safe bathrooms by city and area.
Uses Google Maps to help you get there.
Mobile browsing and text message entries are supported.
It's easy to enter a new bathroom or find an existing one.

What a great website.

Wonderful service! and so easy to use!

Check it out!

You can even visit it on your iPhone!

www.safe2pee.org

Sara

Science: Researchers develop Crystals that can absorb CO2 like a Sponge

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/02/15/tech-carbon-capture.html

S.2 tells us about an article about new crystals that have been created that absorb greenhouse gasses.

"Scientists have created metal-organic crystals capable of soaking up carbon dioxide gas like a sponge, which could be used to keep industrial emissions of the gas out of the atmosphere.

Chemists at the University of California Los Angeles said the crystals — which go by the name zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, or ZIFs — can be tailored to absorb and trap specific molecules."

The crystals could be particularly used for scrubbers in power plants as they are durrable and easy to produce.

Science: New Ocean map reveals high human impact

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=ocean-impact-map

"Fishing, fertilizer runoff, pollution, shipping, climate change—these are just a few of the ways that human activities influence the oceans that cover 70 percent of Earth's surface. And in all that vastness—139 million square miles (360 million square kilometers)—less than 4 percent remains unaffected, and more than a third has suffered serious human impacts, according to a new map published in Science."

The Harry Benjamin Syndrome Movement.

I want to post this as this is a comment I made to a thead to and aobut the Harry Benjamin Syndrome movement (or HBSm as it will be here on aout labled)

I made this post in response to some confusion I had at the time about the HBS movement, and I wanted to post it here as it represents my revalations about who they are and what they do.

"Whoa, I think I just got it.

They think that all people who are actualy transexual are intersexxed.
As a biological condition.

So therefor if someone is not then they are just a Fetishist?
Like "I have an actual, real physiological problem, and you are just perverted."
So they think that GID doesn't exist, because for them, their "gender disphoria" is caused by biological means.
A "birth defect" or somthing like that.

So that anyone who says that their "gender" is not in allignment with thier body is either wrong, or, is a intersexxed HBS transexual and needs to be treated with GRS.

WOW.

So they think the whole idea of things like "gender being sepperate from sex" is false.

O.M.G.


That's pretty heavy.
So they think the entire "t" movement, and the GLBTQ stuff is a perversion and false.

Oh my God.

I'm having trouble swallowing this one.

I need a minute.."

That pretty much sums it up.

These are people working against our rights.

Bring them with a

Full broadside.

The Dangers of Herbal use For Transgender HRT

I made a post a while back in which I argued for the availibility of information regarding Herbals used for Hormone Replacement Therapy for Transgender folks.

I now need to clarify some of that in light of new information.

While I don't agree with the lack of information, (which is why I post this here) I do agree that they are not nessicarily safe.

One of the points listed is that to get any noticeable effect, one must take handfulls at a time.

This does increase breast growth that is noticable, but it is slight.

There are also some inherant dangers that need to be pointed out.

Most herbals (phyto-estrogen, etc.) contain Black Cohosh. A blood thinner.

Now while in small doses, this might be fine, in large this could be potentially quite dangerous.

I recently discovered some information sent to me in a personal message regarding herbals that brings up somthing more serious. This information comes from Laura Amato, the proprietor of Lauras Playground, a Transgender resource website.

I will quote some of this here: 

  "I have used herbals myself as have many users. I did get some slight growth but not enough to transition on. I also got something else I didn't bargain on, a stroke. The problem is there is a GG recommended dose and an MTF dose which is far higher because they have to take megadoses to get even a small effect."

it continues: "...I've recieived quite a few (emails) from herbal users. 36 Had strokes and 3 had heart attacks. I've had both."

This is quite  important. If using herbals is known to cause heart attacks and strokes, then they must be treated as highly dangerous.

The problem may lie in the aforementioned presence of Black Cohosh, but only a biochemist or doctor could know for sure.

Nevertheless, the practical experience of these people suggests that the use of herbals for the purpose of HRT is very risky, and possibly life threatening.

Those who wish to do so, do so at their own risk.

Personally, I'd rather get the real thing from a pharmacy.

The brands listed included Evenesce, Natures Day, And Transformations (considered the most dangerous)

How to be respectful of a Transgender Person

How to Respect a Transgender Person

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

If you have recently learned of a transgender person in your life, you might not understand their identity and you may be unsure of how to act around them without offending or hurting their feelings. The term "transgender person" in this article means a person who does not fully identify with the gender they were assigned with at birth. There are transgender people all over the world (e.g. US, Mexico,[1] India[2]) and in a wide variety of cultures (e.g. Native American,[3] Thai[4]). For such people, it is not always easy to explain their gender situation in today's society. Here's how to understand and respect someone who challenges your ideas about gender, and who does not easily fall within the category of "male" or "female".

Steps

1. Thank them. It is very hard to come out to people as transgender. They trust and/or respect you very much to have come out to you. Thank them for trusting you; it will mean a lot to them, because you mean a lot to them.
   
2. Respect their gender identity. Think of them as the gender they refer to themselves as and refer to them with their chosen name and gender pronoun (regardless of their physical appearance) from now on. (Unless they are not out, or tell you otherwise. Ask to be sure if or when there are times it is not okay.)
   
3. Watch your past tense. When talking of the past don't use phrases like "when you were a previous gender" or "born a man/woman," because many transgender people feel they have always been the gender they have come out to you as, but had to hide it for whatever reasons. Ask the transgender person how they would like to be referred to in the past tense. One solution is to avoid referencing gender when talking about the past by using other frames of reference, for instance "Last year", "When you were a child", "When you were in high school", etc. If you must reference the gender transition when talking about the past, say "before you came out as current gender", or "Before you began transitioning" (if applicable).
   
4. Use language appropriate to the person's gender. Ask what pronouns the transgender person prefers to have used in reference to them and respect that choice. For example, someone who identifies as a woman may prefer feminine words and pronouns like she, her, actress, waitress, etc. A person who identifies as a man may prefer masculine terms like he, his, etc. Other transgender people may prefer that you avoid the use of "gendered" language by using gender neutral pronouns such as ze, zir, sie, hir, etc.[5] Use the name they ask you to use.
   
   • Your friend Jack has just come out as a transgender person, and now wishes to be called Mary. From this point on, you do not say "This is my friend Jack, I've known him since grade school." Instead, you say, "This is my friend Mary, I've known her since grade school." Table any awkwardness you feel for another time when you and Mary can talk privately. Definitely, if you want to remain friends, you will need to respect Mary's wishes and address her as who she is today, not the person you used to know.
     
   
   
5. Don't be afraid to ask. Many transgender people will be happy to answer most questions, and glad you are taking an interest in their life. Don't expect the transgender person to be your sole educator. It is your responsibility to inform yourself. EXCEPTION: Questions about genitalia, surgeries, and former names should usually only be asked if you NEED to know in order to provide medical care, are in a sexual relationship with the transgender person, or need the former name for legal documentation.
   
6. Respect the transgender person's need for privacy. Do not out them without express permission. Telling people you are transgender is a very difficult decision, not made lightly. "Outing" them without their permission is a betrayal of trust and could possibly cost you your relationship with them. It may also put them at risk, depending on the situation, of losing a lot - or even being harmed. They will tell those they want to, if or when they are ready.
   
7. Don't assume what the person's experience is. There are many different ways in which differences in gender identity are expressed. The idea of being "trapped in a man/woman's body", the belief that trans women are hyperfeminine/trans men are hypermasculine, and the belief that all trans people will seek hormones and surgery are all stereotypes that apply to some people and not to others. Be guided by what the person tells you about their own situation, and listen without preconceived notions. Do not impose theories you may have learned, or assume that the experience of other trans people you may know or have heard of is the same as that of the person in front of you.
   
8. Recognize the difference between gender identity and sexuality. Do not assume that their gender has anything to do with sexuality -it doesn't. There are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and asexual transgender people, just as there are non-transgender people of all orientations. If the person comes out to you about their sexual orientation, use the terms they use.
   
9. Treat them the same. While they may appreciate your extra attention to them, they don't particularly appreciate you making a big deal of them. After you are well-informed, make sure you're not going overboard. Transgender people have essentially the same personalities as they did before coming out. Treat them as you would anybody else.
   

Tips

• This condition is known medically as Gender Dysphoria, but there is much contention about this issue. Some believe the problem lies in society's refusal to acknowledge the variations of sex and gender present in nature (including human beings).
  
• Asking about peoples' genitals and how they have sex is not appropriate, in the same way that asking cisgendered (people born in the sex they identify as) people how they have sex is not appropriate.
  
• It's rude to ask what their "real" name or birth name was -- the name they have chosen to suit their gender (if they have done so) is their real name, and they want you to think of them that way. Asking about past names only puts them on the spot, and you don't need to know it.
  
• Everyone is different and most transgender people will be glad to answer any questions - but if they are uncomfortable answering, or don't want to, then let it go. If you need to know, use the resources below.
  
• Not all transgender people get a sex change (SRS, or Sexual Reassignment Surgery or gender confirmation surgery), so don't automatically think that is the plan. Don't assume that it's appropriate to ask about a person's plans for surgery, hormones, and so forth, any more than you would pry into someone else's medical affairs.
  
• If you slip up early on and say "she" or "he" when you meant the other, don't apologize too much, just follow the mistake with the right term and continue what you were saying.
  
• There is no "cure" for being transgender, except to correct the physical appearance to match the mental gender identity. There is a problem with the body, not the mind.
  
• Websites like PlanetOut or MySpace have transgender groups, or other sections for transgender people; go to them to talk to people or learn more.
  

Warnings

• Do not call their transsexuality or transgenderness a "choice." Whether you believe it is a choice or not, transgender people themselves generally do not feel that it is a choice. If you want to respect them, it's not helpful to treat their situation as a choice (even if you personally believe it is).
  
• Do not compare them to a non-transgender person by calling that person a "real" or "normal" girl/boy. What makes a man a "real" man or a woman a "real" woman is their mind/brain, not their body. A transman is no less a real man and a transwoman is no less a real woman; the only difference is that their body does not match their gender.
  
• Never tell them that people will not understand or love them because they were not born the right gender outside. It hurts very badly, and is not true. Many, if not most, transgender people are understood, accepted and loved.
  
• Even if you have objections to transgenderedness, you should always respect the person and never willfully embarrass them publicly. Embarrassing or humiliating the person does no good for anyone.
  
• Avoid the use of pornography industry phrases like "tranny" and "shemale." These terms are considered very offensive, as they imply a connection between the person you are talking to and pornography. Also avoid mainstream heteronormative terms like "he-she."
  
• “Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with reproductive and/or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male, [6] While some intersex people are also transgender, the two are not the same and should not be conflated. [7]
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Accept That Someone Close to You Is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender
  
• How to Come to Terms With Being Transgender As a Teen
  
• How to Have Respect for Yourself
  
• How to Observe the Day of Silence
  
• How to Be Respectful of Your Family
  
• How to Date a Bisexual
  

Sources and Citations

• Demonstrating Respect by Chloe Prince
  

1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muxe


2. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijra_%28South_Asia%29


3. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winkte


4. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathoey


5. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-neutral_pronoun#New_pronouns_in_English


6. ↑ http://www.isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex


7. ↑ http://www.survivorproject.org/is-intro.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Respect a Transgender Person. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.