(no subject)

[jesuisgringoire.livejournal.com]

I have some sad news for the community.  I don't expect any of you knew her, but a transwoman named Lucille died this weekend.  I met her when she spoke to people at my school about trans issues.  she was an active member of the community, a brave, beautiful, and fucking fabulous woman, and I didn't know her that well but her death has me shaken up.  I had a lot of respect for her...I don't even know what to say.

of course, the newspapers in the town where she died refuse to use the appropriate gender, and furthermore they are immediately making typical racist assumptions about the nature of her religion.  She had traveled to New Jersey from Arkansas to participate in a Voodoo cleansing ritual, after the ritual everyone went to sleep, and Lucie never woke up.  The ritual had nothing to do with her death, but the headlines are reading "VOODOO CEREMONY GONE BAD!" the paper is making it clear exactly what we, the white christian public, should think about african traditional religion. 

moreover the first two comments on her obituary are mocking.

if you feel so moved to let the Gloucester County Times know what you think of their coverage of this tragedy, I encourage you to comment or contact the paper.

here is the story.
( and here is Lucie )

A few posts back

[wiserube.livejournal.com]

That was a discussion about proper terminology. This got me thinking...
(I know...right...DUCK!) Is there a list of proper terminology that I could copy and post round the office? I don't feel a huge need to reinvent the wheel...& I do, not so fondly remember when so many of the terms we use were an absolute mystery to me. I think that more exposure to proper terminology could do nothing to hurt, and might go miles in avoiding conflict by mishap.
So…
Anyone know of a good list?

(no subject)

[trailrat.livejournal.com]

I have packed away Nicola's belongings and put them in storage.

I have come to the conclusion that I have body issues not gender issues and on that diagnosis I have come terms with my past actions.

I got my T Letter!!!!

[bean45822.livejournal.com]

I got my T letter today!!! I am so friggin happy!!!! I knew that my therapist was working on it, but I didn't think that she would have it done today. This day keeps getting better and better, I got a job too and I found a ride for my fiancee to come this weekend so we can celebrate our anniversary and go to our friends' wedding!!

Sealing A Name Change?

[lightwood-lace.livejournal.com]

Curious if anyone has had any experience or luck with getting a name change record sealed?

I want to change my name again, and go more stealthy. But I worry about the name change record being widely available online. The way the internet/google is going it seems like there's no option to keep a name change under wraps. Most counties in California at least digitize all their court documents and you can literally pull up the exact document. Though, luckily some counties DO automatically seal court ordered gender changes, like they did with mine.

I've talked with the Transgender Law Center, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and a few lawyers and none of them have been much help. They all indicate they've never heard of someone wanting to seal a name change record, and don't think it's possible. So maybe its not. Anyone had any experience otherwise?

In california, one can get the record sealed and even get a new SS number if you're a victim of domestic abuse or a stalker. I considered faking a stalker in order to do this, but my friends persuaded me against this idea...might be big trouble if caught