TransVisibility in Mainstream Media

Jesse, aka JessesYellowBackpack on the tube (rad username!), brings up the important question of transgender visibililty in the mainstream media.

Most importantly, or perhaps most pertinently, he brings up the question of FTM characters in the mainstream media, the problem of Max on The L Word, and F to M mainstream media visibility issues as a whole.

MTFs face a different side of this coin; while they might be more "visible" or represented in mainstream media in comparison to their FTM counterparts, television, film, and other media never fail to have their shortage of MTF prostitute-type characters, which obviously does not accurately reflect 98% of MTF womens' lifestyles. Transwomen also struggle for positive representation in mainstream media, though rather than having to struggle to even be seen and to then stake a place for themselves, they are having to try to reverse an unfortunate culturally-ingrained stereotype.

What do you you all think?

TJ Reaches One Year on T.

Remember T.J. Jourian, from the 2005 documentary film Transgeneration? Well, he has his own YouTube channel; you can find it here.

He recently reached his one year on testosterone mark on July 2nd, so here is his video documenting the occasion:



Here is T.J.'s very first YouTube video:

New & Noteworthy [starting T]

Meet Jo, aka JR6984 on the tube. He is 26, just started testosterone on Father's Day and is married and has a six-year-old daughter.

Joe doesn't allow embedding of his videos, so you can watch his intro video here.

Starting T [beginning transition]

Here is a great video from LT, aka lateasharichardson in the Minneapolis, MN area talking about his excitement in recently starting T and his new, happy, joyous outlook at life.

His excitement and happiness is contagious and I can relate; few moments in my life have compared to my transition milestones of starting testosterone and having surgery.

Emotions Before Top Surgery.

Tristan Skye (aka TristanSkye79 on the tube) just had his top surgery with Dr. Charles Garramone in Sunrise, FL. He made an awesome video documenting his experience and his emotions leading up to surgery, and examines his wife's feelings as well (after all, everybody in our lives transition, not just us!).

Tristan ended up being less nervous about the surgery than his wife Sicily was, probably because she was so busy getting everything in order and making sure it all went smoothly for him. Hat's off to awesome SOFFA's everywhere! Thanks for all you do.

Tristan and Sicily also run an awesome transgender social networking site called TQNation. Definitely check it out and create a profile.



Here is a video log I recorded on the day of my top surgery, December 12, 2006. As you can see, emotions were high that day.

I can't believe it will be four years in December since I've had the surgery. My life has changed in so many ways, more than I ever expected. Surgery has given me the freedom from the body I was trapped in my entire life. Thank you, Dr. Fischer!

Being Gay in Indian Society [& penis size]

According to the BBC, condoms are "too big" for Indian men.

See, transmen aren't the only one with smaller penises! Western culture bombards us with the idea that "bigger is better" with everything, including penis size, and we forget many of our non trans brothers in other parts of the world have smaller penises and put emphasis on things like academic and artistic achievement rather than athletic performance, machismo, and penis size.

And as many women and gay men will tell you, "it's not the size of the boat but the motion of the ocean that counts."

Transgender Health Experiences & Behavior Project [research]

Call for participants!

From the Transgender Health Project:

Researchers at NCSU and SUNY Buffalo are interested in learning more about the health-related experiences of transgender individuals. Transgender individuals report difficulties accessing needed services, such as sensitive medical care, and we'd like to hear more about these experiences. The study is also designed to explore possible effects of mistreatment in these settings on health and risk behavior. If you identify as transgender or gender non-conforming, please consider taking our survey to describe your experiences. You are eligible to participate if you: (a) identify as transgender or gender non-conforming, (b) are 18 or older, and (c) can read and write in English. Participants should expect the survey to take between 10-60 minutes and will have the option of entering a raffle for 1 of 15 $50 prizes. Click here to access the survey. Thank you!
Congratulations to the first five raffle winners! The second and third set of winners will be selected on June 15th and June 30th. Hurry for your chance to enter!