Dayton, Ohio

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ezs comment...

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On occasion, when a person reviews your blog, you are intrigued by what he or she says.  I recently had an e-conversation with Ray Soulard regarding my thoughts in print.  As I told Ray, the conversations that I had were spare indeed.  I really don't like to blow my horn that much.  However, he said that I might have  valuable dialogue to engage in.  I thought about it, and, after some consideration, I decided it would be best to give it a try.

The one  that I chose to comment on was in The New York Times piece "Who Gets the Transgender Part",  by Brooks Barnes.  In the article, he starts by drawing a comparison between casting of transgender persons and those of African-American, Egyptian and Native American persons. It certainly is an alluring concept; unfortunately, it's also a fallacious one.

We live in times which are both promising and precipitous.  As we look forward, despite all the crap that goes on around us, things look so promising. At the forefront, Laverne Cox is playing Sophia Burset  in Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black".  Janet Mock is certainly out there fightin'; she is a transgender rights activist and a MSNBC fill-in anchor.  

However, what do we do if things start to fall apart?  What do we do if Laverne Cox is given her walking papers?  As much as I commiserate with our African-American, Egyptian, and Native American friends, there are stark differences.  Chief among them is the relative newness of the struggles.

*            *           *

Hollywood has a tried but true method for choosing its actors; get as much money as you can and then spend the bulk of it on the stars.  And it kinda works.  Once in a great while the accomplished actor/actress agrees to union wages, but this is such a rarity it's hardly worth mentioning.   Because the Hollywood stars are such a rare bird, they get the big bucks.  And such is the case of Eddie Redmayne.  If by chance you were in a cave, he starred in the title role "The Theory of Everything". Now, next came "The Danish Girl".  If you were the director, and you had a chance to get Mr. Redmayne to play the title role, would you do it?

Well... it's not as easy as originally thought.  If you were the director and one who had strong thoughts regarding authenticity in the movies, perhaps your choices would be different.  I respect that.

I can only speak for myself.  Yes, I am a transgender woman, but I also am a crazy movie buff, and thus I have certain expectations of the director.  Chief among these is providing the actress/actor's professionalism.  And to put it quite bluntly, Mr. Redmayne is a damn fine actress.  And when we see "The Danish Girl", we all win.

Emily

Court upholds Gloucester transgender boy's bathroom ban

Staff
13NewsNow

Gavin Grimm

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please press:  http://www.13newsnow.com

Transgender Women's Lives: A Family Matter

Laurin Mayeno
The Huffington Post

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please press:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Who Gets to Play the Transgender Part?

Brooks Barnes
The New York Times

Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe

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please press:  http://www.nytimes.com

'I hope you're happy because I'm miserable': Transgender teens speak to themselves ten years from now and share heartbreaking struggles for acceptance and hopes for a better future (UK)

Erica Tempesta
Dailymail.com

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please press:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Government Proposes Protecting Transgender People in Health Care System

Maggie Fox
NBC

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please press:  http://www.nbcnews.com

Judge blocks surgery for Myrtle Beach transgender woman

Associated Press
News 13 (WBTW)

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please press:  http://wbtw.com

TransTech Helps Transgender People Get Jobs In Tech And, Soon, The White House

Megan Rose Dickey
techcrunch.com

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please press:  http://techcrunch.com

Parents Usher In New School Year With Bigoted Attacks On Transgender Students

Zack Ford
Think Progress

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please press:  http://thinkprogress.org

Fearing for my black, transgender child's life

Louis Porter II
The Washington Post

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please press:  https://www.washingtonpost.com

It's time! Register! Vote!

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I understand. Many of you are thinking, "Ahh, what's the use? I'm less than a drop in a bucket."  Well... I'll give you a reason.  Better yet, I'll give you eighteen good reasons:

1. Papi Edwards

2. Lamia Beard

3. Ty Underwood

4. Yasmin Vash Payne

5. Taja Gabrielle DeJesus

6. Penny Proud

7. Kristina Grant Infiniti

8. London Chanel

9. Mercedes Williamson

10. Ashton O'Hara

11. Amber Monroe

12. India Clarke

13. K.C. Haggard

14. Shade Schuler

15. Kandis Capri

16. Elisha Walker

17. Tamara Dominguez

18. Keyshia Blige

These women can't speak any more.  They were murdered. And these names are only those that we know about.

Register. Vote. Pick up the fallen flag in your own community.

WATCH: Antigay Ky. Clerk Inadvertently Married This Queer Couple

Sunnivie Brydum
Advocate

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please press:  http://www.advocate.com/

Politician wants to ‘examine’ teenagers’ genitals before sporting events (UK)

Joseph Patrick McCormick

Pink News

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please press:  https://www.pinknews.co.uk

ezs note:  Dumb da da DUMB!  I've finally found the Asshole of the Year!!!  Congratulations, Roger Hunt(R-SD).  Nobody deserves this award more than you.

By the way, when you mention the term "culture", does yours originally come from Russia?  Just askin'...

Trapped in detention, transgender immigrants face new traumas

Adam Frankel and Christina Fialho
MSNBC

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please press:  http://www.msnbc.com

Once a Pariah, Now a Judge: The Early Transgender Journey of Phyllis Frye

Susan Sontag
The New York Times

Judge Phyllis Frye

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please press:  http://www.nytimes.com

ezs note:  Wanna be a judge? A lawyer? A Congressperson? A CEO? You can--- if you are willing to put in the hard, hard work.  It's not gonna happen next week.  Read Phyllis Frye's story.

Nairobi, Kenya

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Stigma, discrimination, lack of laws hamper transgender employees in US (Bangladesh)

Reuters
bdnews24.com

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please press:  

Do the New APA Guidelines for Transgender-Affirmative Care Go Far Enough?

David S. Byers and Joel Coburn
Slate

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please press:  http://www.slate.com

ezs note:  This can be a daunting task, especially if all the hyperlinks are read.  However, this can be an invaluable tool.  Please read this document!

Survey: Majority of Americans Back Up Open Transgender Military Service

Press
Rainbow Times

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please press:  http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com

Transgender student, volleyball program draw big crowd to Hillsboro R-3 board meeting

Kevin Carbery
Leader Publication

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please press:  http://www.myleaderpaper.com

ezs note:  If you a resident of Hillsboro, Arkansas and the BOE is planning another meeting on this subject, please be sure to show up and say your peace in FAVOR of this transgender girl's participation in this valuable sport.  Sure, your knees may knock a bit... but you'll get over it.

Transgender Woman Suing Over Discrimination at Burger King

Staff
WAND 17

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please press:  http://www.wandtv.com

Facebook apologizes to transgender fashion line for rejecting ads under ‘Adult’ classification

Steve Lee
LGBT Weekly

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please press:  http://lgbtweekly.com

‘A story of personal empowerment’: Transgender transitions in the workplace and beyond

Aine O'Connor

St. Louis Public Radio

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please press:  http://news.stlpublicradio.org

New Children’s Book Highlights Experience of Transgender Youth

Hayley Miller
HRC

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please press:  http://www.hrc.org

Group Gives First Nod to Transgender Athlete Rule Changes

Associated Press
DRGNews

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please press:  http://www.drgnews.com

Number 19: Trans Woman Killed Near Chicago in March

Sunnivie Brydum
Advocate

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please press:  http://www.advocate.com

ezs note:  Sigh... Keyshia Blige has been murdered in Aurora, Illinois (near Chicago).  If you have any information, please contact Aurora police at 630-256-5000.  Rest in peace, Keyshia.

Gay, lesbian and transgender Ugandans face violent backlash

Katie G. Nelson
Humanosphere

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please press:  http://www.humanosphere.org

ezs note:  Yes, you can help!  Especially if you are going to Uganda on business or pleasure, you can take a few moments to e-write a polite yet firm letter to your Ambassador.  In the US, she is Ambassador Oliver Wonekha.  Her address is oliver.wonekha@mofa.go.ug.  For other countries, please contact www.google.com to find them.  Thanks!

Transgender Law Center condemns Rentboy.com raid

Press
LGBT Weekly

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please press:  http://lgbtweekly.com

Short Film Showcase: Growing Up Transgender and Mormon

Rachel Link
National Geographic

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please press:  http://voices.nationalgeographic.com

WATCH: In Wake of Trans Murders, Janet Mock Teaches Us Why We Must #SayHerName

Sunnivie Brydum
Advocate

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please press: http://www.advocate.com

Woman that inspired Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper speaks about being transgender at Pride fringe event (UK)

Rob Williams
Manchester Evening News

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please press:  http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Valé transgender icon and campaigner Kathy Noble (Australia)

Spencer Howson
ABC (Australia)

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please press:  http://blogs.abc.net.au

ezs note:  When most people reach age 65, they leave their jobs and sip margaritas.  And that's about it.  Not Kathy Noble.  She was an icon.  She was a campaigner.  Sadly, she passed away this week.  Rest in peace, Kathy.

Military transgender ban set to end next May

Tom Vanden Brook
USA Today

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please press: http://www.usatoday.com

Ain't I a Woman?: National HIV/AIDS Strategy Fails Sex Workers, Transgender Women Burdened by the Criminal Justice System

Megan McLemore
Human Rights Watch

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please press:  https://www.hrw.org

Joseph Scott Pemberton says he's guilty; NBC a bunch of morons

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Okayyyyy... it happens... but THIS one takes the cake.  Today, NBC - a "respected" network, reported the tragic murder of Jennifer Laude without once using her chosen female name... using the correct pronouns... or using the term 'Filipina' rather than 'Filipino'.  This is beyond moronic for any national network.  

Shame.

ISLE OF MAN: Still Holding Out On Same-Sex Marriage Rights (UK)

Press
THEGAYUK

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please press:  http://www.thegayuk.com

Massachusetts ends surgery requirement for legally changing gender on birth certificates

Emily Hewlings
gazettenet.com

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please press:  http://www.gazettenet.com

Loving Out Loud: On Black LGBT Love

Kim Katrin Milan
NDONT STOP

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please press:  http://www.telesurtv.net

Obama Administration Fights for the LGBT Community

Jason Desrochers
We Up It

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please press:  http://www.weupit.com

Rights of transgender youth, adults at heart of cutting-edge legal cases

Randy Furst
StarTribune

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please press:  http://www.startribune.com

Planet Fitness seeks dismissal of transgender locker room policy lawsuit

Jessica Shepherd
MLive

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please press:  http://www.mlive.com

Transgender, intersex people say they are ostracised from playing sport in Australia (Australia)

Alkira Reinfrank
ABC (Australia)

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please press:  http://www.abc.net.au

Brookline, Massachusetts

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Teenager confronts community after it taunts him for being transgender (UK)

Press
ITV News

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please press:  http://www.itv.com

Province must revise transgender policy (Canada)

Michelle Leard
Sackville Tribune-Post

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please press:  http://www.sackvilletribunepost.com

How to report on transgender people: Public Editor (Canada)

Kathy English
The Star

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please press: http://www.thestar.com

ezs note:  Hooray for The Star! (Toronto)  It's about freakin' time a major newspaper printed out a concise, thoughtful spread on how to correctly write a transgender person's name and pronoun.  (And it's so damn easy...)  Might I suggest that you e-write - whether it's The New York Times or the Podunk Patriot - a friendly note, followed by a paste of The Star's blog. It's as follows:

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/public_editor/2015/08/21/how-to-report-on-transgender-people-public-editor.html

This may make a real difference! Thanks.

Need to Change Stereotype:Singapore-based Transgender (India)

Express News Service
The New Indian Express

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please press:  http://www.newindianexpress.com

Teen Hunter Keith on coming out as transgender with loving support from family

Alexandra Zaslow
TODAY

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please press:  http://www.today.com

Dogs for a transgender!

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A few weeks ago, I happened to run across a dog and his owner.  Needless to say, my heart melted!  (I lovelovelove dogs!)  However, the dog had a service animal patch on, so I respected that.  However, when I talked with the owner, he explained that the dog was there to meet his psychological needs.  You see, with the advent of September 11, 2001, he joined the Army.  He suffered a great deal there, and even more upon his return.  Then he met his dog.   He was his lifeline.

I can't say that the world would cease without dogs, but I can confidently say that it would be a much, much poorer place.  Dogs are our boon companions.  They are our friends, both in our sunniest of days,  and the dreariest of days.  For the sightless or poor of sight, they are a second set of eyes.  And for certain members of the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines, they can prove to be an invaluable resource.  

And for certain transgender people, they can help you, too.  Look at it this way.  Even if you have  a wonderful community, there are certain stressors which other people just don't get.  A dog will help

 you, I promise.

There are certain places in which an owner and the dog really won't fit.  In fact, I urge you NOT to  run right out and get one this afternoon.   Check with other dog owners.  If you are seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist, check what the type of dog might be best.  And if you really, really, really prefer cats, well, get a cat.

Please, take your time and see if a dog is right for you.  If you truly take the time, I promise a lifetime of friendship.