Today starts National Condom Week, just in time for that holiday with the pink hearts and cupids.  In order to celebrate, here is a fun condom fact for you from Wikipedia:

The first uncontested description of condom use was written by Gabriele Falloppio in the 16th century, in response to the earliest documented appearance of syphilis in Europe during a 1490s outbreak. Falloppio described linen sheaths soaked in a chemical solution and allowed to dry before use. The sheaths were sized to cover the glans, and held on with a ribbon. Falloppio claimed that experimental trials of the sheaths demonstrated protection against syphilis.

By Sara (aka the leprechaun), Transcending Boundaries 2012 Director of Membership

Two weekends ago, I had the privilege of attending the 24th Creating Change Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Creating Change is an annual conference on GLBT equality sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). This year’s had over 2,700 people.

I was initially afraid that since Creating Change was sponsored by a prominent national GLBT organization that it would be too “mainstream” and too focused on the “G” and the “L” in GLBT at the expense of the “B” and the “T” as is so often the case with large national organizations and events. I was surprised at the diversity of the workshops offered and amount of overlap with issues we cover at Transcending Boundaries. I was only able to attend for one day but attended four workshops including one on queer parenting options, one on bisexual health disparities, and one on organizing pro-equality Catholics.

Among the other 350 workshop and training sessions offered were workshops on GLBT immigration issues, same-sex marriage, polyamory, and the status of organizing efforts on Maryland’s anti-transgendered discrimination bill. In short, there was something for everyone. There were hundreds of exhibitors and art and entertainment options. Participants also heard from prominent pro-GLBT politicians and leaders such as Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley, NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, NGLTF Executive Director Rea Carey, and artist and activist Wilson Cruz.

Finally, there was plenty of time to network which allowed me to handout 200 TBC 2012 flyers and exchange business cards with several potential speakers and attendees. I was particularly impressed with how Creating Change treated issues of class, race, and religion.

This video from artist and activist Wilson Cruz sums up nicely the awesomeness of Creating Change.

I hope to bring insights back from my Creating Change to help enrich this year’s TBC at the end of October!

Creating Change 2013 will be in Atlanta from January 23rd to 27th, 2013.

How early did you realize you were “different”?

 

Gender-wise?

 

Yes

Because very early on I realized I was different in pretty much all ways that I could think of from almost anybody, but as far as gender goes, this was just something that started out and was frequently reinforced. My father would yell at me for being effeminate, and my brother would get on my case about being effeminate. I remember one time my brother says, “I’m going to give you a masculinity test! I want you to look at your fingernails.” And so I looked at my fingernails. (looks with fingers curled and palms towards her face) And he said, “You see! That’s so feminine! Because men do it this way!” (looks with fingers outstretched and palms facing away) And I said, okay.

 

Basically, I was an effeminate, wordy little git whose mother dressed him, her, or it funny. I can remember some of the outrageous things I wore to school that my mother picked out for me, like dickies, bell bottoms, and shirts with huge, mutton-y sleeves. I loved that shirt with the mutton sleeves! And when I was wearing it, it must have been in the fifth grade. Now, looking back, I can understand why I got beaten up a lot!

 

Do you mind me asking if that was the style at the time, or if you liked them because they were pretty clothes?

It was kinda retro at the time. The pinstriped, multicolored bell bottoms and all of that. I mean, sure, this was still the sixties, but this was the late sixties by then. All of this stuff was a little bit too outrageous.

 

But it was fun!

I liked it! But, you know, I had no clue a lot of the time about a lot of things. I didn’t understand how babies were made because nobody ever told me. Until one time I went on a class trip to the science museum, and they were taking us through this exhibit on human reproduction. I said that this was all very interesting, and I understand how the sperm gets into the fallopian tubes and all of that, but how does the sperm get in there in the first place? (laughs) After which, some of my classmates took great delight in explaining to me in great detail how it occurred.

 

In graphic detail, I’m sure.

Yes, but you know, in my childhood, anything even remotely sexual was not discussed. It was like a void; I had no clue. I didn’t know or really understand how males were supposed to act, or maybe I didn’t have many good male role models. But really I had no clue about anything about gender until other people started hitting puberty and I didn’t. But then I never really got through male puberty. This is one of the reasons why I’m pretty convinced I have an intersex condition of some kind or another. 

 

So why did you choose to join the Air Force?

 

Oh, let’s see… I was largely tired of paying rent. Yes, that was really a big thing. (laughs) I had gotten literally thrown out of my house six or eight months before, and then had a few shit jobs, and had been living in extremely substandard housing. So I said, you know, at least in the Air Force I might get to go see someplace. It seemed like a good idea at the time. (laughs)

 

I also had the common fallacious notion that it would make a man out of me, because I still had no clue. Goodness, when I joined the Air Force I must have looked like I was fourteen, because I looked like I was fourteen in my high school graduation pictures. They made me a patrol leader, which caused immense amusement. And, of course, no one would follow my attempts at leadership. So I begged to be released from being patrol leader, because it taught me the basic lesson that you can lead, but if nobody follows, you’re not a leader. (laughs)

 

 So what kind of challenges did you have in the Air Force?

 

Well, after I begged demotion, they did make me Latrine Queen. (laughs) Well, shortly after I got off the bus at the Air Force, I realized how ridiculous everything was. And my sense of humor lasted for about three days until they cut my hair off. For some reason, the barber shop wasn’t available for three days, so I kept my extremely long hair even longer. But it was good to be wandering around San Antonio with hair for a while.

 

I barely got through Basic Training, thankfully. I did not have to repeat anything, though they threatened me with it. I went to Tech School and found that was a breeze. I had a buddy who had orders to go to Korea, and he had just gotten married and discovered he couldn’t take his wife. Being concerned about his marriage, he wanted to swap orders, and I had gotten orders for K.I. Sawyer in Michigan, which everyone had told me was one of the most boring places on earth. So I swapped orders with him, which they would let you do, and I went to Korea. And, of course, I went over to Korea and discovered that things were more ridiculous in many respects than they were in basic training. And I was also discovering that there were things that made me a poor fit for the Air Force.

 

After you got out of the Air Force, what kinds of challenges did you face as you became Bella?

 

DENIAL! (laughs)

 

It took me a while to get past the denial. I was basically frightened of being a tranny girl. I knew that I did not have the standard masculine identity. I was figuring out that I was a tranny girl while I was still in the Air Force, but I didn’t necessarily want to go there. Who wants to be the sort of being that is reviled pretty much by everybody and sundry across the board? No, you don’t really want to take a complete step down from low class to underclass if you can avoid it. But you can’t really avoid who you are. No, it catches up with you. I tried being a gay man, I’ll admit, but it just did not work. I am not a gay man. I gave it a good try, but that only left me more convinced.

 

I got myself into therapy in 1984. I was still living in Vermont at the time. I loved Vermont, and my therapist there came to the conclusion that there weren’t the sort of facilities that I needed in Brattleboro at the time. There is now, but there wasn’t then. So I decided the best thing to do would be to move back to Massachusetts, where I had some more support. I managed to make the right connections, and I managed to get into the gender program at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. That was definitely a challenge because I had to go to Trinity College a bunch of times for various evaluations: psychological evaluations, social evaluations. They set me up with an endo[crinologist] that was actually in Bloomfield, Connecticut. That meant that I had to, every 4-6 months, find a way to get down to Bloomfield. That lasted quite a few years, because it’s hard to find endocrinologists who treat trannies. And then, eventually, the endo announced that he was moving to the Joslin Clinic, and was going to be focusing on diabetes, and wasn’t going to be doing any more trannies. Then after that, I went to the endo back here in Worcester, who had initially sent me down to the Trinity program in the first place. By that time, there were other trannies coming out of the woodwork, and she was starting to treat trannies herself.

 

Now, you often refer to yourself as a tranny girl, and some people don’t care for that term. What are your thoughts on that?

 

Well, I can understand that there’s negative load to that. But hey, African Americans will casually call each other as nigger. Why can’t I use the word tranny? I’m perfectly happy to avoid using the n-word, but why shouldn’t I call myself whatever term I’m comfortable with? After all, I’ve been a tranny girl twice to three times longer than the people who are complaining about the word tranny girl, considering I transitioned in ’87.

 

Definitely one of the challenges is being a second class citizen, the extreme discrimination that I’ve run into. I’ve had people break out laughing when I applied for a job. I had gone to job interviews and had people quiz me on my sex life, as if that was relevant. I’ve received and heard every excuse on the book. And then, of course, there is the fact that there are people hunt us for sport. That was particularly bad in Boston. There were times when I definitely felt I was in danger of assault. But, you know, this is just one of the things that makes me pick up the martial arts again. Because if someone is going to assault me, I want them to regret it deeply.

 

I’ve also been denied housing. I’ve been denied medical care, and all kinds of shit. It wasn’t just being denied employment. After all, I had to go to Canada for my surgery.

 

 

Please check back next week for Part 2 of the interview.

Today, February 7th, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD).  This will be the 12th year, with events being held across the United States.  

This day of awareness began thanks to five key organizations: Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia; Health Watch Information and Promotion Services, Inc.; Jackson State University - Mississippi Urban Research Center; National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council; and National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.  As resources and support in relation to HIV/AIDS has dwindled, Healthy Black Communities, Inc. has overseen the initiative this year.  

In 2009, according to the Center for Disease Control, African Americans made up 44% of the over 40,000 diagnosed HIV infections.  In 2008 the rate of infection was 9 times that of whites, and of the approximately 1.1 million people in the United States who are living with HIV/AIDS, almost half are black.  (Source: Black Aids Day)

The day calls for four specific points

• Education: To distribute information about HIV/AIDS locally.
• Testing: Establish February 7 as an annual day to get an HIV test.
• Involvement: Increase the number of Blacks involved locally.
• Treatment: For those newly testing HIV+ and those coming to terms with their status, get them aware of treatment services and information.

In cities such as Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Newark, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco, Trenton and Washington, D.C. the black communities are disproportionately impacted and the rate of new infections are not decreasing.  

For more information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, visit www.blackaidsday.org. Regardless of race or time of year you can find information on where you can get tested at hivtest.org, a service of the CDC.  

Sunday we held our monthly organizers meeting in Springfield.  14 folks participated in person, with another 3 over Skype.  After some technical difficulties, Ian was able to start the meeting.  

Michelle proposed a writing contest and short performances as part of this year's evening entertainment.  The group loved the idea and she will report back next month with specific details.

Next on the agenda was day rates for this year's conference.  We have long been asked if day rates are available and have gone back and forth on the idea.  This year day rates will be available.  They are tentatively set for $40 Friday, $60 Saturday, $40 Sunday.  

Then the department heads gave their updates.  Micah began with Fundraising.  We have a VERY ambitious goal this year to raise $10,000 for the event, but will need everyone's help to get there.  Volunteers are needed, and the team will be broken down by geography.  The intention is to have forms on-line by March 1st.

Julia was next with Communications.  She requested volunteers in different areas, such as coordinating prides, social media, writers, and outreach.  

Aimee updated us on Operations.  She requested help with coordinating A/V equipment and designing the layout of the event.

Jenn was next, with Content.  Because TBC falls on the Intersex Day of Awareness, we will be having a special event to note it.  There will also be a Halloween/Costume Party Saturday night because we are so close to Halloween.  The presenter and workshop proposal forms will be up on March 1st.  To prepare, the Content Committee will be meeting February 18th in Worcester, MA.  

Sara (aka Leprechaun) gave a membership update and discussed the creation of a scholarship award to memorialize Badger, a previous TBC attendee who recently passed away.  She also brought up volunteer compensation ideas.

Ian then gave an update on where we are with Google Apps for Nonprofits.  Organizers will soon be signed up for emails and have access to the document section.  This will be a great tool for us.  We will also be switching from Skype to Google Hangouts for our next organizers meeting.  

We are still in the process of finding the right keynote for the conference based on scheduling and cost.  We hope to have an update soon.  

Lastly we discussed recent and upcoming events to promote at.  Sara discussed Creating Change.  A rough plan for having a table at the New England Leather Alliance Fetish Fair Fleamarket was created.  We will have fliers at Wicked Faire.  Julia encouraged people to submit workshop proposals to the 3rd Annual Five College Queer Sexuality & Gender Conference at Hampshire College.  

After the official meeting the Communications Committee met with a friend whose professional background includes creating messaging.  This was a very useful message in helping us determine how to talk to people at events and for our advertising.

Sunday evening, along with other friends, the TBC organizers enjoyed a Superbowl Party.  It turns out that we are a mix of Patriots and Giants fans (along with fans of commercials, half time shows and time with friends).  Everyone, regardless of their favorite team, is welcome to join us for our next Organizers meeting Sunday, March 11th at 2-4PM EST in Springfield, MA.

Last month we decided that because we will be having a table at the New England Leather Alliance's Fetish Fair Fleamarket, the February organizer's meeting would be moved up one week, to February 5th.  This month the meeting will be in Springfield, MA, at a private residence, as well as over Skype for those who cannot attend in person.  The meeting should run from 1PM to 3PM EST, but please don't feel shy about joining in late.  If you need help connecting to the Skype meeting or need the address for the meeting, please e-mail us.  

This month the department chairs will report on where they are in the organizing process.  Fundraising, Communications, Operations, Content and Membership will each speak for 10-15 minutes about what they have done and what they hope to accomplish in the next few weeks.  This is a great chance to see what we are doing and get involved in projects.

We will also brainstorm content ideas for the website and discuss a possible new addition to the conference - a writing contest and performances.  Another new idea we will be discussing is potentially doing day rates for the conference this year, something that many people have requested in the past.  

There will also be an update about our transition to Google Apps for Non-Profits.  The organizing team has been using various Google products the last several years, and this should allow us to be more organized.  

We are still very early in the organizing process, so if you are interested in getting involved, please join us!  There are always projects in need of support.  You can join our Organizers List to get emails about what we are working on and how you can get involved.

Those who attend the meeting in person are welcome to stay after for a Superbowl party.  There will be a mix of football fans, folks interested in the commercials and folks who are just feeling social.  We have done this in years past and it is a very fun time, and a great way to get to know each other, so join us!   

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is collaborating with a team of Master of Social Work students from Salem State University to conduct a research study to determine if transgender adults have access to culturally competent mental health clinicians and services in Massachusetts.  Led by Laurie Auffant, a long time transgender activist and now social work student, the research team includes Sarah Grandmaison, Kristine Lassiter, and Rachel Sherwin.

The survey is open to any adult eighteen years old and above, residing in Massachusetts, who identifies as transgender or gender variant.  The survey can be accessed online: www.surveymonkey.com/s/masstransmentalhealthsurvey

The survey was first launched on January 20th in Peabody, Massachusetts at the First Event conference, organized by Tiffany Club of New England.  Tiffany Club of New England agreed to collaborate in the project by promoting data collection at the event.

Gunner Scott, Executive Director of MTPC, affirmed his support of the study stating, “Transgender people need access to mental health providers close to home; we often hear that our community members who live outside the Boston area often need to travel an hour or more to find a compassionate clinician who understands the community and can provide treatment.  This study will document what is working well and where the gaps are in mental health services in Massachusetts.  We need everyone to participate to get an accurate measure to determine the service gaps.”

Some of the goals of the survey outlined by Auffant outlines the goals include documenting whether transgender adults have access to culturally competent mental health clinicians and services in Massachusetts;documenting geographic differences of mental health clinicians and services by county; documenting differences in service delivery by type of mental health clinician; documenting differences based on gender identity, racial identity, economic resources, transportation, and age of participant; and documenting if transgender adults are treated respectfully or have ever experienced hostility or been denied access to mental health services during mental health appointments.

 “We know that barriers to accessing mental health services exist for transgender adults and we hope to use the results of this survey to advocate for additional education for students planning to work in the field of mental health, so that they will be prepared to be culturally competent and sensitive mental health clinicians in relationship to the transgender community,” stated Laurie Auffant. 

Auffant understands the need to remain accountable to the transgender community as a long time activist.  Scott stated, “This study is being conducted by researchers who understand our community.  Laurie testified before the Cambridge City Council to get the transgender non-discrimination City ordinance passed; she helped organize the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in Boston and spoke at many of them over the years; she marched with us for LGBT Pride for thirty years; and she lobbied and testified at the State House to get the Transgender Civil Rights bill passed.  Laurie is a compassionate educator, activist, social worker, and researcher.” 

The research team is pleased with the initial response of the community collecting over 100 surveys at First Event Conference this past weekend. Sarah Grandmaison echoed her team’s enthusiasm for the project stating, “It is my hope that our research study will begin revealing the experiences transgender people have in mental health settings, and hopefully shape the future for these exceptional individuals.”

The research team will be collecting data through March 5, 2012 and will provide a report to Salem State University and the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition in early May 2012. The survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/masstransmentalhealthsurvey or to receive copies in paper format write to the research team at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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Founded in 2001, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is a 501(c) 3 that works to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. MTPC educates the public, advocates with state, local, and federal government, engages in political activism, and encourages empowerment of community members through collective action. More information can be found at www.masstpc.org.