To transition or not to transition, that is the question...

[zoeimogen.livejournal.com]

Is there anyone on this group who has GD and has decided not to transition (Or at least, not yet) and wouldn't mind chatting to me about their reasons? (Any reasons at all, ranging from "My GD isn't that bad" through "I can cope with it via therapy" or "I'd love to but other things in my life prevent me from doing so")

I have GD, obviously, and I'm very seriously contemplating transition for reasons I can't fully and rationally explain - it ultimately just comes down to "This is something I must do, or I will not be happy with myself". However, I'm very aware of the fact that most opinions I get on the topic will be from those who have or are transitioning, as anyone in transition is more likely to be in various online or real life support groups. As a result I'm more likely to get the "transition is right for me" opinions and I'm hoping I'm not letting myself be lead by that. (I don't think I am, but I'm naturally a very cautious person)

(The alternative hypothesis of course is that everyone that has GD to the extent I do ends up transitioning, which is the impression I'm starting to get, probably falsely)

Thanks in advance...

(no subject)

[kiwi2375.livejournal.com]

November 18, 2005

Gay teen killed in late-night shooting

by Eric Resnick

Cleveland--A prostitution-related murder took the life of a gay teen on Cleveland’s near west side during the early morning hours of November 14.

Donathyn Rodgers, 19, was shot and killed at an abandoned gas station at West 45th St. and Detroit Avenue.

He had been walking on Detroit with friends just before he was shot.

Rodgers, known as Jay most of the time, and as Jayala while crossdressing, lived in Cleveland Heights with his grandmother and was involved in youth activities at the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center and the AIDS Taskforce’s Beyond Identities Community Center.

He was also known as a prostitute by police and his closest friends. The prostitution was the reason for his crossdressing, and his murder is believed to be related to it.

A high school athlete and track star, Rodgers held a job as a server at an east side Italian restaurant. He was also pursuing a business technology certificate at Job Corps.

Rodgers told his friends he was giving up prostitution after he was arrested by Cleveland police on September 9. He was out of jail on a $1,500 bond and awaiting arraignment November 23 on prostitution-related charges.

A friend of Rodgers who gave only his first name said Rodgers had lived in Atlanta briefly and liked it. “Steve” said he thought Rodgers was planning to return to Atlanta and was on the street to pay for his trip.

Cleveland police spokesperson Lt. Thomas Stacho said a witness driving by the scene on Detroit Avenue saw Rodgers being chased west, then shot by two black males, both in their 20s and about 5’8” and 160 pounds, one light, the other of medium complexion. There are no suspects at press time.

Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth Balraj, M.D., said that four bullets entered Rodgers in the face, back, shoulder, and the outside of his left thigh. She ruled his death a homicide.

Stacho said there were no drugs found anywhere and although it is suspected that the murder was prostitution related, no motive is known.

Stacho said police were called to the murder scene at 3:25 am.

Another of Rodgers’ friends was with him moments before the murder.

She has not given a statement to police.

Karem “CeCe” Mclinden, who describes herself as a transsexual escort, had been with Rodgers since around 2 am.

“Yeah, he was on the stroll,” said Mclinden.

Mclinden said Rodgers had locked his keys in his truck and flagged down a police cruiser on Detroit for help a few minutes earlier.

They were with a friend of Mclinden’s from Detroit who had an outstanding warrant, so when the cruiser stopped, Mclinden and her friend turned away and walked west on Detroit.

Mclinden said the police didn’t help Rodgers get into the truck, but after they left, she also saw the two men and heard the shots from a couple of blocks west of the scene.

“We ran, after the gunshots,” said Mclinden.

The murder sent shock waves through the Cleveland GLBT youth community where Rodgers was well known and well liked.

“He lit up the room when he came in,” said Natoya Cody, another friend.

A community memorial service will be held at the BICC center at 3615 Superior Ave., building 31, on November 18 from 5 to 7 pm. Additional information is available at 216-361‑2428.

Original Source
http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories05/november/1118051.htm
Remember Our Dead
http://www.gender.org/remember/people/donathynrodgers.html

Call for Participation: Ohio/Penn State University Transgender Survey

[geekgirlsarah.livejournal.com]

Note: I am not affiliated with this study, but I am affiliated with the Penn State queer community as a student, and was informed of this study by the head of the Penn State LGBT Student Resource Center. I think it would be a great way for the members of the trans communities to stand up and make themselves heard and to combat stereotypes in the published transgender research. I have personally met Sue Rankin and her partner has hugely helped me in my transition, so I know they're a very trans-positive group of people!

Transgender Identity Development Study

Your help is needed for the first national study of the wide range of transgender identities (including transsexuals, crossdressers, genderqueers, and other gender-diverse people).

To complete the survey, go to: https://web.survey.psu.edu/transgender

The survey is anonymous. No personal identifying information is asked, and all responses are submitted to a secure server where any computer identification is deleted from the submissions.

The research is being conducted by Dr. Sue Rankin of Penn State University and Dr. Brett Genny Beemyn of Ohio State University, and has been approved by the Institutional Review Boards of both colleges.

For more information, contact Brett Genny: beemyn.1@osu.edu, AIM: OSUGLBT

Update: I didn't crosspost this widely because I figure most people who are trans on LJ read this community. I don't know much about the LJ ftm community, though, so if anyone wants to crosspost, feel free. You can hotlink to the graphic that I've used in this. I don't mind as it's on my server and came from the PSU announcement email.