6/24/12

Cecilia Chung, Tita Aida and Theresa Sparks performing the Vagina Monologues May 2012



Herbst Theater, San Francisco May 25 2012. Three trangender icons took the stage to perform the Vagina Monologues.



Cecilia Chung a longtime trans advocate is currently a Health Commissioner in San Francisco where she is the first trans woman appointed to the position by Mayor Ed Lee.

Tita Aida Aids/HIV activist.

Theresa Sparks Executive Director, San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

Enjoy.





6/23/12

Trans Pride March Turkey 2011 Video Wow

This one got past me but in case you missed it too...



A Social Justice and Art project of Gabrielle Le Roux, about Trans Activists in Turkey with the support of Amnesty International Turkey and the Consulate General of Netherlands.

The first ever Trans Pride March in Turkey was in 2010 in Istanbul. This short film documents the second Trans Pride and shows the passion and colour that the mobilization of Turkey's trans movement brought into the street. After this march, for the first time ever, the reporting on trans issues improved.
There is a frighteningly high, and growing, incidence of hate crimes and murders of transgender people, specially trans women, in Turkey, and a vibrant, motivated, politicized trans movement has emerged in response and is demanding to be heard.
These films comprise the video installation in the exhibition Proudly Trans in Turkey. The travelling exhibition, a cultural intervention for social justice, combines portraits drawn from life, first-person stories, interviews and video. It is a call to solidarity with the trans rights movement in Turkey. It is a co-creation between Turkish activists and South African artist and activist for social justice Gabrielle Le Roux.

This is an interactive initiative and we would love to know how and where these films are received. If you use them in your teaching/research/activism or advocacy work, please leave a comment or email proudlytransinturkey@gmail.com with feedback/questions

6/22/12

Official Chloe Sevigny Hit or Miss Trailer Just Released #FAIL



Dead shot in the back to a fleeing victim...



Ignominiously he falls to the ground humiliated in death.....



But he moved so the murderous heartless bitch pumps one more into him...



Do I need to say anything more? I think the trailer says it all. There is so much wrong with this portrayal of trans womanhood words fail me.

I'm sure we will see at least one person say she is 'fierce', oh wait, no we won't because the word 'tranny' does not appear anywhere.....

6/21/12

Why is Jillian Page Afraid To Say "Nigger" and Not "Tranny"



Why is Jillian Page Afraid to Say Nigger? Because its Stuff Black People Hate and she knows  its been judged inappropriate by the majority of the black population especially if it's usage is used in a apology to non blacks for saying it!

Its simple Page, that word is defamation and was naturally eliminated from everyday conversation as black people's struggle for rights progressed. They enabled themselves by setting that social construct.

Then why is Page unafraid to say tranny? Because conversely she believes that this like defamation is just fine for everyone to use, even cisgender people! She qualified that argument by saying she googled tranny and found that the majority of links were about transgender people.

What the fuck Page? You forgot to mention the first link was the Wikipedia definition of Tranny



Now I'll be objective...

A while back I did a survey albeit a brief one, called Who we Are. I did so because as advocate who was ardently opposed to the horrific movie "Ticked Off Trannys With Knives" I needed to know I was speaking for the majority of our community.



The survey clearly indicates the vast majority of our people object, as black people do, to defamatory words like "Tranny" being used outside of the respective community.

And Page, you didn't mention nearly everyone of the rest of the "Transgender" links were for pornography sites that prey on the most vulnerable of our society. Some not all, of these transgender people are allowing themselves to be used so to feed addictions. Paige also failed to mention that drugs play a major role in the majority of murders of our people. Black transgender woman of color murders.

Damn.

Page, one more thing. You remember the celebrities who used to to say "Nigger" in comedy acts? Most of them are dead now and like our slain trans sisters drugs nearly always played a role in there early demise.

Paige you can make fun of the transgender community for our empowering edit of the word...but....



.....I find it extremely disturbing that while you show respect for another minority you have no problem dehumanizing and demoralizing your own. Proof positive transphobia can emanate from anywhere, even from within the transgender community.

Page, its not just a few transgender activists who rightly object to the promotion of tranny, quite the opposite. Its by far the majority of our community.

You will have a few standing on your side of the fence Paige, manly populists and gay men enthusiastic about another stab at us, but you are alone and very, very wrong.

Laura Jane Grace Rocks Dallas With Transgender Dysphoria Blues



I saw Against Me! Laura Jane Grace, the punk rocker who recently announced her transsexuality at the Dallas House of Blues last night. They rocked that house down with this rendition of Transgender Dysphoria Blues. Sorry for the sound, I really wanted a good recording but guess I was a little too close to the stage (3 feet). I had the time of my life transfam. If you get a chance to see Against Me! do SO! They are touring with The Cult.



Get More: Music News


6/19/12

Transsexuals Danced "The Last Dance" Not "Men In Dresses"

The last Dance is indicative of systemic transgender exclusionary culture that prevailed in the 60's and sadly is still present today. I was asked to promote this video but after watching it I noticed no mention of transgender people was made, only saying that gay men danced with "men in dresses".

Update at the bottom of the post.



So I messaged back on the same thread I was contacted on asking if we could discuss my concerns. I would love to promote this as I did "Milk". I have not received a reply as of this posting.

Synopsis via Comfort & Joy:

The Last Dance Raid documentary recounts this pivotal night in American history when gay rights first gained a seat at the table of progressive politics. The story unfolds through eye-witness accounts. Long-time lesbian activists Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon share their memories of meetings with the SFPD. Herb Donaldson, San Francisco’s first openly gay judge, thought his legal career was over because he was arrested for obstructing a police officer in the line of duty. Jon Borset recounts losing his job when news of his arrest was published in the newspaper.

When the entire conflict was brought before a Federal Court, the judge quickly sided with the innocent party goers. The media latched on to this like never before and the gay rights movement turned a decisive corner, and it has never looked back. Why are the "men in dresses" misidentified, possibly misgendered? I am proud that our allies carried the majority of the struggle, organizing and inviting transgender people to dance with them and no, I was not there. But one thing has remained constant since humankind first rose to two legs and put on clothes. Transgender people exists, even at the Last Dance.

I am hoping these questions will be answered, the issues resolved and am look forward to promoting this movie.

***Update:

I was contacted by Jallen Rix who promoted the feature with that trailer to raise money. So here's the boring Facebook exchange....

I asked Jallen Rix on the original thread....

I have a issue with this presentation. Why are transgender people not mentioned and why is it"gay prides" ? Transgender people will see this as an attempt to usurp stonewall. Could we talk about this? I would love to do a story promoting this as a trans inclusive event which it was.

to which Jallan Rix replied 24 hours later after I did this post....

Hi Kelli,

Yes, I'm trying to get a thorough response to you from our associate producer, and transgender person, Susan Stryker. If you can be just a little more patience than 24 hours, you're going to find that transgendered people are represented in the movie - but we aren't able to represent a lot of things in the trailer. It's a 2 minute trailer for a 60min. movie.

Furthermore, what are you suggesting? That every LGBTQ event prior to Stonewall is somehow trying to invalidate Stonewall or gender variant persons?

Have a little faith and patience before you go writing articles about information you haven't received yet - we are on the same team and yet you jab at us as if we are the enemy. It doesn't make me want to respond to you and your attitude towards your fellow travelers on this journey is not what Stonewall was about.

Dr. Jallen Rix


Jallen Rix then posted a very similar message on my facebook profile to which I responded.....

"Jallen, all it would have taken was for this post to be totally positive was a 'got ya Kelli, we are working at doing that' and I would have waited 'patiently' for as long as it took to get clarification because I think this documentary has the potential of being on the level of "Milk". Its that good."

But unlike Milk it is about a movement and not about a single person, and that's were my concern lays. Once it is done, it is done.

I commented on my profile....

I am so glad you are going to get Susan Stryker involved! I did a post in 2009 when she was interviewed by Autumn Sandeen. I will update the planetransgender post now...was hoping to hear from your executive producer first but I know you folks are busy..

So that was the facebook conversation. I felt as if he was speaking from a patriartical stance and felt intimidated by this documentary maker to the point he was trying to discredit me. I felt he drew me into the conversation to start a conflagration. I guess I know now why so many left the original Facebook thread.

A little about my radical activism............

If a theater chain does not include SSM or partner benefits as Cinemark didn't, and a gay orgainization fund raises at it, as Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance (CCGLA) TRIED to do I will respond!! And if gay people feel like I am opposing them at that moment as CCGLA did, to bad. CineMark VP Bob Shimmin did upgrade the companys benifits to include partner benefits BEFORE Inlaws and Outlaw was shown. That was because of my radical advocacy. It wasn't appreciated by gays when I did it but later, they loved it.

And if a gay man promotes a video about a crucial moment in LGBT history and the only reference to our community is "Gay" and "Lesbian" and "men in dresses" I will first attempt to communicate my concerns.

If I do not get a response, I will post a article like this. After all I am a radical transgender advocate, as most are aware, and I believe the good Dr. knows now too.