5/28/13

Rome's Archbishop Gives Transsexual "Vladi" Luxuria Communion At Fr. Andrea Gallo's Funeral and the haters go wild

Lifesite News was not thrilled that Angelo Bagnasco, the Cardinal Archbishop of Genoa was seen giving Communion to Luxuria, and another transsexual at the funeral of Fr. Andrea Gallo.

I think it was the Christian thing to do but not so much novusordowatch.org which reported on this using quotations to signify their contempt, that "Cardinal" Angelo Bagnasco, the "Archbishop" of Genoa, Italy, giving what he thinks is Holy Communion to a man who could hardly be more unworthy of it: Vladimir Luxuria, a Communist male politician who cross-dresses as a woman and likes to be identified as female. Luxuria strongly and actively supports causes promoting "rights" for homosexuals.

Oh well, we can't make everyone happy all the time can we? But we need to make God happy and we can by welcoming everyone to his house, including transsexuals, as he has instructed us to do.





Source Facebook: Vladimir "Vladi" Luxuria born Wladimiro Guadagno in Foggia, Apulia (June 24, 1965) is an Italian actress, writer, politician and television host. Luxuria was a Communist Refoundation Party member of the Italian parliament, belonging to Romano Prodi's L'Unione coalition. She was the first openly transgender member of Parliament in Europe, and the world's second openly transgender MP after New Zealander Georgina Beyer. She lost her seat in the election of April, 2008.

Although Luxuria lives exclusively as a female, she has not undergone sex change surgery remaining physically and legally male. She has stated on occasion that she perceives herself as neither male nor female.

5/27/13

A Challenge to @GallusMag Editor of GenderTrender

By Cristain Williams cross posted with permission in full from Ehipassiko. I felt it was important to cross post this to make sure the TERFs were aware of this challenge. Given that one of them hijacked this blogs .com address and misdirected people to GenderTrender back a bit I'm sure they will read this challenge here, if they haven't already. No excuses GallusMag. I know you have seen this.

Cristain Williams writes:

Apparently I’ve made the big time. I discovered that GallusMag, self-identified RadFem (TERF), RadFem opinion leader and co-founder of RadFemHub, has attempted to troll me on her infamous TERF blog, GenderTrender. According to GallusMag, I have huge sweaty balls, I’m a man, I hate lesbians and gays, I hate feminists most of all, I have a sexualized image of myself as a woman, that I’m known for my advocacy for men’s rights, that my greatest desire is to be a sexy lady, that I’ve spent years blogging about how women, gay people and feminists deprive me of an entitlement to womanhood, that I’m a sexual fetishist and that I’m mean-spirited. She goes on to make up quotes to attribute to me. She claims that I assert that the definition of a woman is “a person who embodies sexualized porn stereotypes of females.“

GallusMag’s MO is to rely upon insults while making ad hominem attacks as a puerile substitution for actual debate. Instead of thoughtfully responding to specific criticism I’ve made of TERF ideology she, of course, held true to her demonstrable abilities.

According to GallusMag I, in addition to my actual Reddit account, troll reddit under various names including GroovemasterGeneral and I’mNotanMRAbut. Does she cite any evidence to support her fact assertion? Nope. All the world is apparently expected to accept her fact assertion of on faith alone.

For the record, my Reddit account is Two- and it’s not like I’ve made that a secret. Are the other two accounts mine? Nope. Can I prove that they’re not? Nope. I could suggest that rational folks look up the accounts and compare writing styles, but is that enough to definitively disprove her fact assertion? Nope. I could point out that I have a long history of being direct about my opinions while having the courage to own them without hiding behind a fake identity GallusMag-style. However, that’s not enough to definitively disprove her fact assertion either, is it? Nope – and I’m sure that she knows it.

the ol’ disproving a negative routine

That GallusMag’s evidence-free fact assertions can’t be disproven is useful to her narrative. Should someone on Reddit say something about TERFs, GallusMag can simply attribute those posts to me and never have to deal with any criticism I actually make. Not only does she get to pretend that she has awesome investigative skills which exposed me with laser-like precision, she gets to do it in such a way that can never be definitively disproved.


It came out of GM’s head so it must be true!

GallusMag seems to think that strawman arguments, misrepresentations of fact and strongly made assertions makes her right. If I had to guess, I’d bet that GallusMag thinks that’s how normal people behave. I’d also guess that GallusMag thinks that making baseless accusations is the way reasonable adults support their debate positions in the marketplace of ideas.

Personally, I think it’s cowardly and dishonest. I think it’s what simple people do when they don’t possess the ability to rationally respond. Moreover, I think this is probably why GallusMag’s opinions don’t get to count to anyone of consequence – not even to the likes of TERF-extraordinaire, Cathy Brennan:

Recently, in a fit of whatever rageful demons motivate her, the pseudoanonymous blogger Gallus Mag ad hominemed me relentlessly on Twitter (“coincidentally” after my lawyer sent her a letter telling her never to contact me again)… Haters hate, trollers troll, Gallus galls… So thanks Gallus! You are a bona fide lunatic, but you have inspired hours of LOLs. - Cathy Brennan

As for me and MRAs, I’ve made my thoughts about them clear and MRAs don’t seem to like what I have to say about them.

My Challenge to GallusMag:

If you actually possesses the courage of your convictions, I’ll gladly public debate you live on a Google Hangout so that everyone can enjoy watching you display your own special view of reality. Let’s debate the criticisms that you’ve failed to actually address. If you feel that you need to advantage yourself by publicly hiding during the debate, you could always use an avatar on camera while I own my public words with my real identity. Debate me live so that all your supporters can watch you articulate your points in that very special way you’re known for. Be their champion, GallusMag.

Let us be free to debate transgenderism without being accused of ‘hate speech’ - GallusMag’s Blog in 2012

So far, GallusMag has been ducking an honest debate about transgenderism for 2 days 18 hours 34 minutes 6 seconds.

Yes, let us be free to debate transgenderism. I’ll agree to not refer to your debate rhetoric as hate speech, you’ll get to continue to hide while spewing whatever foulness you like and I will debate you honestly and openly. I know that you must be really busy, so I’ll be happy to move my schedule around to accommodate yours.

Will you fail to live up to your supposed convictions and if so, I wonder what excuse you’ll use that will be most pleasing to your audience. Will you pretend that rejecting my challenge is the radically feminist to do because debates are somehow male-centric? Maybe you’ll say that you’re too offended by my open challenge. Maybe you’ll pretend that the reason you’re backing out is a lack of trust, logistics or any other reason you can think of that will allow you to save face while you abandon your supposed convictions. Maybe you’ll just pretend to ignore this debate challenge.


My debate invitation will remain open to you. If at some point you work up the courage to stand firm upon your convictions and face me live (even if you have to hide behind an avatar to do it), I’ll be happy to allow you to prove just how clever you believe yourself to be. Think of it. You’ll get to hide behind a fake face and fake identity while publicly putting me in my place in front of a live audience – all while I’m forced to own my words, actions and views by publicly debating you live.

What have you got to lose, GallusMag? So, how about it?



A couple hours ago GullusMag finally responded saying she'd debate for money





As expected GullusMag won't be a participant in a debate. But still, it's hard to tell if she's serious about demanding cash in return for honesty, but in any case that's something that would be morally wrong to do.





Is Miss Universe Contestant Jaclyn Schultz Under The Transgender Umbrella?

Some folks are rushing to proclaim that with Miss Michigan competing we have someone under the trans umbrella in the Miss Universe pageant. This could be true, but it depends on whom you ask.

Most importantly, how does Jaclyn Schultz identify?

She hasn't to my knowledge identified as intersex, but thats OK too. This still gives us a wonderful opportunity to learn about her unique condition and the historic intersectionality that exists between MRKH and Intersex identified people.

Jaclyn Schultz a spokesperson for Beautiful You MRKH Foundation is courageously making headlines helping to educate people about this unique congenital condition, demystifying it and humanizing those with it. Much the same as we who identify as trans endeavour to do. This brave woman needs our help moving her to the semi finals. We can do that by voting for her here.

According to MRKH.org "MRKH is a congenital condition (which means it is present at birth) that results from the incomplete development of the female reproductive tract. Women with MRKH have fully functional ovaries that can be located in unusual places in the body cavity. They are genetically female, as they have two X chromosomes and a normal chromosome analysis (i.e. 46, XX). The primary symptoms are failure to menstruate. Typically, women with MRKH lack a fully functional uterus, cervix and upper vaginal canal. They have normal external genitalia and breast development, and often have a small external vaginal opening, called a ‘dimple’ that looks like a hymen. Although women with MRKH are incapable of carrying children, it is possible for most to have biological children through the use of assisted reproductive therapies and gestational surrogacy."



Medicine.net defines Intersex as:
A group of conditions sometimes referred to as disorders of sexual development (DSDs) in which there is a discrepancy between the appearance of the external genitalia and the type of internal (testes and ovaries) genitalia. The condition was formerly termed hermaphroditism or pseudohermaphroditism. One example of intersex is androgen insensitivity syndrome, in which the body's receptors to male hormones do not function properly. In this case, individuals have a male genetic makeup (XY) and testicular tissue but have incompletely formed or female external genitalia. In some cases, known as true gonadal intersex, a person has both ovarian and testicular tissue

I'm not a doctor or claim to be an authority on ether condition but I noticed a few differences between the diagnosis most notably the development of external organs and the absence or presence of prevalent chromosomes. I fully appreciate I am standing on thin ice here with the Intersex community but please give your allied neophyte sister a little latitude.

Leaving science and dichotomy behind for moment we can examine what is arguably the most important aspect of intersex and MRKH afflicted people, social acceptance. That factor plays a huge role in how a person would identify their condition and subsequently treat it, or not, both medically and physiologically. There is a common thread between people that identify as intersex and those who identify as having MRKH. A sense of being 'less than', a sense of being isolated from 'normal' people and fear of social stigma should their condition become public knowledge.

I found a fascinating dissertation "Intersex and Community" by Esther Morris MRKHorg Newsletter Feb 2002 thats still relevant and even more so because of it's historical context. I have cross posted it in full here:

"A number of people have asked me about my involvement with the Intersex Community. There are many syndromes that are considered intersex, and activists have done a great deal to link us together. We have so much to learn from each other."

"I polled my on line support groups about intersex last summer and I found the groups to be evenly split. Some women replied that they thought they were intersex, but were afraid to admit it. Other women were uncomfortable with the idea of including MRKH as an intersex condition. Identity is purely personal." "In the past year and a-half I have nurtured an insatiable passion for researching gender and sexual anomalies. I get a great sense of belonging that draws me back for more. Researching MRKH has led me down many other paths. I read about other conditions with an understanding of the issues that feels almost too clear."

"My hardest personal challenge with MRKH is the loneliness. Even with a support network there are days I dread being with people because they represent gender; -normal gender. It reminds me that my own sense of gender feels so bare. The emptiness is not from the lack of feeling my gender, but more for where it belongs. Even those who experience gender in different ways still experience their own gender." "I see gender as a civil rights movement still in the stage of breaking the silence. We are bombarded by judgment based on ignorance; painfully impacting the rest of our lives. I keep getting lost in the haze around medicine and its power over basic civil rights. I ache for a distinct focus for my anger knowing it was a collective ignorance that imposed its view. My embarrassment comes not from myself- but from the shock of others. It's reassuring to hear other MRKH women speak of not 'fitting in' because I know I'm not alone out there. But it is infuriating that we are cast to define ourselves as not 'fitting in' rather than offered the place where we can belong." "I would like to think that we have learned through earlier civil rights movements but the minute you mention gender variation everyone scurries off. Even those who have always shown wisdom begin to shudder. WHY DO WE DO THAT? It took me back to the seventies….."

"Ah the seventies. Those of us who remember those years and survived without permanent embarrassment, may remember a time of extremes. I had a paid job at a Women's Center and feminism consumed my life. We worked hard together. We played hard together. Some of us even slept together. It was exciting to watch the world change while being a part of making that happen. It was the start of Women's Shelters, Women's Health, and breaking into non-traditional jobs. It was the birth of Consciousness Raising and Feminist Therapy. We crossed milestone after milestone." "I also remember the 70's as a time to flounder; tripping over our differences in such a way that we often lost sight of our common goals. Even with a common purpose many women were at odds with each other. Lesbians challenged non-lesbians for sleeping with the enemy. Working-class women judged middle-class women for not seeing past their privilege. Women of color demanded recognition. Heterosexual women resented lesbians for being too exclusive. Separatists judged women with male children or pets for their involvement with male energy. There were fights over Christmas trees, Music Festivals, and whose politics were more pure. (We may laugh about it now, but this was serious stuff!). We worked really hard to muddle through all that and I won't lose sight of that lesson now. I found peace in this community and felt very much at home.

And then my secret got out….

"A group of women attacked me because they thought I was transsexual after one of them heard about my vaginal surgery. I was very active at the Women's Center and they wanted me out. They followed me home one night taunting me with slurs such as intruder and freak. They stoned me as they shouted about male privilege I never knew. Knowing feminist rage all too well I was scared, and kept on walking. Eventually they surrounded me; and after a scuffle, I was on the ground. I still remember what was running through my mind as I looked up at them. I choked on thoughts like: "But I AM a woman. I have test results". (To say I was insecure about my gender identity is an understatement.) I wanted to wave my XX credentials in their faces like a shield because I was not "like that". But the stronger part of me held silent, almost ashamed by my need to create this boundary for my own protection. They slapped me around a little and then they walked away. I didn't tell anyone about this assault until I wrote the Missing Vagina Monologue 20 years later.



But the questions it raised have never left me."


"I now open my identity to include a collection of variation. Although the details of our diagnosis may differ; AIS, CAH, MRKH, MURCS, XO, XXY;

I am coming to realize that these acronyms are just my sibling's initials. I see a similar struggle and approach it with a similar view. I have had my personal sense of gender challenged. I have had my body normalized to make other people comfortable. All of the above was motivated by presumption which became white-coat violence the moment I lost my choice. These issues/concerns certainly cross the diagnosis borders and confront all of us at some time or other."

"So am I intersex? I believe that I am. As I grow with my MRKH identity, intersex is a large part of that. Whether it is because my body was born a shameful variety, altered so that it wouldn't be; or the emotional journey that experience has been I don't yet know. I believe I am Intersex because I was never considered normal enough to be left untreated. Intersex can be a community for all of us. It’s a lot less lonely that way. It does give folks something to think about….."

"Let her make her choice – MRKH: intersex or not? You decide."Via MRKH Canada
"I have no wish to get political but it was recently brought to my attention that some of the articles/links that I have been sharing with you may suggest that MRKH is an intersex condition. In reviewing the literature, sometimes MRKH may be mentioned as part of a document on intersex conditions but it itself is not considered an intersex condition. MRKH is classified more as a syndrome of congenital anomalies (structural abnormalities occuring during fetal development). My job here is to present the literature, educate you and allow you to decide what you identify yourselves as. We are all 100% women, always remember that!"

"This being said, I do not want to discriminate against those who choose to identify themselves as intersex. It is all a matter of choice. Some MRKH women who identify as intersex are met with considerable resistance by the rest of the MRKH community. I think we should all respect the choices and opinions of others. The controversy can cause younger MRKH women some confusion and it is not up to anyone to decide what she identifies with. Without fear, we should be providing all the options without the baggage of our own personal beliefs. So please respect our sisters and accept her regardless! There is enough prejudice without harbouring it in our own community."

Thank you ladies!

5/26/13

Fox News claims "Perverted" Bard College Student's "Middle School Anti-Bullying Lesson Includes Lesbian Role Play"

Jezebel reports "When Bard College students recently held anti-bullying workshops at a middle school on topics like gender identity and consent, instructors split boys and girls into two groups to practice "saying no" in a comfortable setting.

Then enter Fox News which totally distorts and lies about the intent of the anti bullying class using homophobic and transphobic memes. Fox commentators then said the Bard instructors who presented the class were idiots and perverted bullies.

Starnes wrote "Young girls at a New York middle school were instructed to ask one another for a lesbian kiss and boys were given guidance on how to tell if women are sluts during an anti-bullying presentation on gender identity and sexual orientation, angry parents allege."

Bard students respond off the cuff....



How do these Fox news types live with themslves knowing full well their lies cost lives?



Underage and Older Woman's Steamy Lesbian Romance "Blue is the Warmest Color" Takes Cannes


Abdellatif Kechiche's controversial film "Blue is the Warmest Colour" has premiered at Cannes, featuring non-simulated sex scenes that were described by critics as "show-stopping" and "the most explosively graphic lesbian sex in recent memory".

This proved true even for actresses Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydouxnwatched when they viewed the movie for the first time in its entirety during it's Cannes premiere.



"....when the sex scene was over, after what felt like it must have been 15 minutes of writhing, moaning erotic hunger, people in the audience burst into whoops of approval and applause — something I have never in my life seen happen after a sex scene. It’s not so much that the audience was being cute, attempting to acknowledge that the scene was “hot” (although yes, it seriously was). What they were applauding was the authenticity: the fact that the heat was real, and thus the heat had become the drama. Very Last Tango, except minus the perversity." ~ Inside Movies

Adèle reacts emotionally to a bully accusing her crassly of being a lesbian in front of her high school classmates.



Synopsis:

15-year-old Adèle knows two things: she's a girl, and a girl goes out with boys. The day she glimpses the blue streaks in Emma's hair on the main square, she feels that her life is going to change. Alone with her teenage questions, she transforms the way she looks at herself and the way that others look at her. In her intensely close relationship with Emma, she is fulfilled as a woman and as an adult. But Adèle doesn't know how to make peace, neither with her parents, nor with this world full of absurd morals, nor with herself.





Facebook Ignores Rape Pictures So WAM is Shaming Companys To Stop Adverts Supporting #FBrape

Facebook has refused to listen hundreds of complaints about pictures like these two screen shots glorifying and enabling violence against woman.


Facebook's subjective decisions based on immoral misogynistic greed is not news to the transgender people. In 2010 We fought and succeeded in forcing Facebook to allow transman Dominic Scaia's post SRS profile picture.

To the larger feminism community and allies facebook irresponsibility was also a call to action. Laura Bates, founder of "Everyday Sexism" one of the leaders of the action told XO Jane she had seen a lot but was especially horrified by the....

•Images with captions like “Next time don’t get pregnant” and “Now walk it off and get back into the kitchen."
•Groups with names like “Raping a pregnant bitch and telling your friends you had a threesome.”
•Images of children, little girls, with black eyes or semen on their faces and jokes about raping or beating them.
•Images of disabled girls, with men underneath and the caption “No arms, no legs? No Problem."
•Images of women’s faces contorted in pain, pictures of girls screaming.
•I have seen photographs purporting to show actual rape.
•Videos of women actually having their heads hacked off with a short knife as you look into their eyes less than a metre from the camera. After that one, I couldn't eat, work or concentrate for several days. A week later, when I tried to watch a film that included an unexpected beheading scene, I found myself suddenly shaking, in floods of tears again.

The problem being that most of the pictures were being posted by individuals using easily accessible meme generators. Since Facebook refused to take responsibility they took it twitter with @EverydaySexism using the #FBrape hashtag in conjunction with Woman, Action, Media (WAM) they have had considerable success shaming the advertisers to pull there adds until such a time as Facebook follows there own guidelines.

Via AlJezeera stream:


Personally I think facebook is disgustingly greedy and uncaring. Please take a moment and take action with Woman, Action, Media (WAM). Let these advertisers know we are aware that they are supporting violence against woman. Demand they remove their support of Facebook too.