New Transpinay blog for you to read

We have just found this cool blog called CLIOGODDESS, it has many interesting entries from the past few years that you should enjoy. Below we have copied a post of interest from Thursday, September 20, 2007...


"I AM A WOMAN! Is it really hard to believe that i am?
If you think you know who i am. If you think you can categorize me. Then go for a hike and keep your sorry ass from this world.
I am woman. Trangendered woman that is.
"A transwoman (also spelled trans woman, trans-woman) or t-girl is a transsexual or transgender person who was naturally born or physically assigned as male at birth but feels that this is not an accurate or complete description of themselves and identifies as a woman."
There are a lot of tests to check that a person is truly transgendered. One of them is Sex And Gender Explorer (SAGE) test. An online java scripted questionnaire based on the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for Gender Identity Disorders. There are 1000 items in the test and if the examinee yields a score of at least 650, the examinee is considered a transsexual.

Here's my result:

SEE???
Now dont you think its about time to trash your unfounded beliefs? coz admit it. You're not an expert about the subject."

click here to take the test yourself
click here to read the blog
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Male in the Philippines, but Female in Germany: The curious case of Jenny T. Ramsey

“You cannot renew your passport as you can’t have dual identity,” said a staff of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin to Jenny T. Ramsey. Jenny didn’t do anything illegal. She’s not pretending to be somebody else, deceptively living two lives. She just epitomizes two of the inconveniences of being a human of transsexual experience: 1) Having a legal sex that doesn’t match one’s actual, lived, and to be a bit scientific about it, neurological sex; and 2) Having a legal name that doesn’t match one’s actual, everyday name. But Jenny’s case is in an entirely different level. And I reckon that, given that there are just very few countries in the world that legally affirms the gender identity of transsexual people, this is one of the 21st century dilemmas of transsexual people: Jenny currently has two legal sexes and two legal names from two different countries.
Jenny is one of the four original founders of the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines. Sometime in 2003, Jenny went to Germany to study; she lived in Erfurt with her German partner. In 2006, Jenny decided to undergo sex reassignment surgery in Thailand. During this time, transsexual people (at least, post-op transsexual women) have successfully petitioned local courts in the Philippines to legally change their sex and name. One of them even got married in a civil wedding in the Philippines. But unfortunately, in October 2007, the Supreme Court of the Philippines rendered a decision that this can no longer be done unless Philippines Congress passes a law that would allow such changes. This was known as the Mely Silverio Decision.
Because of the Silverio Decision, Jenny decided to file a petition to change her name and sex from male to female in a German court. She was represented by a top-notch lawyer in Germany. On 23 July 2008, Amskerich Ehrfurt granted Jenny’s petition. It was a groundbreaking case in Germany as Jenny was, as far as we know, the first non-German citizen to be able to change her legal sex and name in Germany. Sometime last year, another Filipino was able to change his legal sex and name in Germany, this time from female to male.
After more than five years of being together, on 2 April 2009, Jenny and her German boyfriend married. Afterwards, Jenny was granted a temporary residence permit with her female name on it. Then Jenny inquired with Ausländer Behorde (German immigration) about what would happen when she travels abroad: Would she use her Philippine passport, hence would travel as “male”? The immigration officers discussed this among themselves and provided this solution: They issued Jenny a Reiseausweis für Ausländer (Travel document for foreigners) bearing her female sex and name. According to www.duesseldorf.de, this passport is a temporary passport and is only issued in very exceptional cases.
On 28 January 2010, Jenny went to the Philippine Embassy in Berlin to renew her Philippine passport. To make sure that Jenny is not illegally staying in Germany, they asked her to show her visa. Jenny showed her temporary residence permit and Reiseausweis für Ausländer. The discrepancy between Jenny’s identity in her Philippine-issued documents and German-issued ones led to the confiscation of Jenny’s passport (though they told her that they are just getting it for “safekeeping”). They said they will raise this issue with the Department of Foreign Affairs of Manila (DFA) and wait for a decision. Given that it’s national election season in the Philippines, this will mean Jenny has to wait.
When in Rome, do what the Romans do – but which Rome?
But wait for what? What could be the possible decision of DFA? I can think of two possible scenarios: 1) DFA honors the change of legal sex and name of Jenny and issue her a Philippine passport bearing a female sex and name. Or 2) DFA doesn’t recognize the decision of the German court and issue Jenny a Philippine passport bearing a male sex and name. Because of the Silverio Decision, Scenario 2 is more probable to happen than Scenario 1. If Scenario 2 happened, I would like to ask the DFA a glaring WHY?
In July 2009, 67 Filipinos were arrested in Saudi Arabia for crossdressing. In reaction to this, Silvestro Bello, a cabinet secretary and top aide of the Philippine president, pulled the when-in-Rome-do-what-the-Romans-do card and was quoted as saying, “When [Filipinos] enter their host country, they should know the culture of their host country." Crossdressing is a crime in Saudi Arabia. The 67 Filipinos were sentenced to imprisonment and flogging but were pardoned and released.
Now, why am I bringing this up? Pardon my legal ignorance but it seems to me that the Philippines is more bent on honoring and respecting a ridiculous, dehumanizing law, such as the anti-crossdressing law of Arab countries than honoring and respecting a life-affirming legal procedure such as the legal change of sex and name that was granted to Jenny by a German Court.
Yes: It’s such a shame that it’s not Jenny’s mother country that has showed care, compassion, and consideration to her humanity. Well, this just proves that no matter how familiar a place is to you, sometimes it just don’t feel like home. Jenny now considers Germany as her home as this is the country where she can live her real life, socially and legally. And to the Philippine Embassy in Berlin: It’s not Jenny’s fault that she currently has a dual identity: It’s the fault of the Philippine government as it refuses to recognize and affirm transsexual people’s reality.
During our phone conversation, Jenny and I were musing about what is her legal status now, given that her Philippine passport was confiscated (okay – was kept for “safekeeping”). She’s not yet a German citizen. The Philippine embassy won’t yet issue her a new passport as they don’t want her to have a dual identity. Is she currently a stateless person? A refugee? A possible asylum seeker? We don’t know. All we know is Jenny is willing to renounce her Philippine citizenship anytime.
After all, who needs a citizenship that doesn’t legally affirm your reality?
---

*Jenny T. Ramsey is not the real name of the subject of this essay. She told me she would be willing to be contacted by those who would be interested in her case. Just email me your contact details at srsasot@gmail.com and I’ll forward it to her.
* Repost as you please.
---
By: Sass Rogando Sasot, transgender rights activist, founding member the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP), Communication Officer in Asia of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, & Intersex Association (ILGA), and columnist at Outrage Magazine (http://www.outragemag.com/web/).
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asiaone News: Transgender celebrities

"HAVING gone through a sex change makes you exceptionally lucky in stardom. Or so it seems.
Lianhe Wanbao listed out certain known personalities who have had a sex change - Taiwanese model Alicia Liu Xun-ai, Japanese Haruna Ai, Korean Harisu Lee Kyung-eun - have all made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry..."

click below for the full article
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20100129-195340.html
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Transgender toilets in Thailand, will the Philippines be next?

Here is a clip we found from a news story last year from the BBC and Reuters. They report that a school in Thailand now has a third toilet for transsexual kids. Transsexuals are very common in Thailand and the headmaster has decided to create a third toilet because the young katoeys (or ladyboys) were teased by boys, and the girls were uncomfortable with them in the female toilet.



click here for the full story
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Transgender Asia site link

This is a link to an excellent resource, a site called Transgender Asia.

The site is full of interesting articles mostly written by Sam Winter. There is a lot of transgender research, issues and country specific information to read through. This is a very interesting site for those interested in the more academic side of transgenderism in Asia.

click here for the main site page.

click here for the Philippines country report.
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"The education Ms.Rica" article link

Here is a link to an article about TPW's transpinay of 2009 Rica Paras from the Manila Bulletin.

"...Rica says she saw the PBB experience as her own chance to educate the public on how to treat members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community.

“I realized that there is really no representation from the LGBT community, except for Rustom, pero hindi siya pumasok na out and proud. Ang dala dala ko going inside PBB is that representation,” she states."

read the full article by clicking here
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The transgender Hollywood topic. Transsexual movie news and reviews

There are lots of transgender movies from Hollywood and around the world. We will give an overview of some of our favourite transsexual movies below, and links to reviews. Click here for a list including some TV shows on DVD>>> Transgender Movies List

Transamerica We really enjoyed this movie. Felicity Huffman is excellent in the lead role about a transwoman awaiting gender-reassignment surgery who learns she has a wayward teenage son.

Soldier's Girl A true story of the life and tragic death of soldier Barry Winchell. His love for Calpernia Addams, a transgendered nightclub performer was misunderstood by fellow soldiers and eventually leads to his brutal death. An emotional and powerful film.

The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela TPW loves this film, not only is it a good movie, but it also stars a transpinay. It will finally be released in the USA on 20th April 2010, this is a must buy. Raquela is a transsexual from the Philippines who dreams of escaping the streets of Cebu City for a fairy tale life in Paris.

Beautiful Boxer Based on the true story of Thailand's famed transgendered kickboxer, Beautiful Boxer is a poignant action drama that punches straight into the heart and mind of a boy who fights like a man so he can become a woman. This is a very nice movie with subtitles and some English spoken.

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros This is shot in the Philippines with subtitles, it is a touching story of a young transsexual or effeminite gay boy that falls for a policeman. Maximo is torn between a theiving family and the policeman.

The Crying Game This movie offers a rare and precious movie experience. The film is an unclassifiable original that surprises, intrigues, confounds, and delights you with its freshness, humor, and honesty from beginning to end. A classic transgender movie.

The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert This is great fun, especially the scene with Guy Pierce on top of the bus- fabulous. A surprise hit in America, this 1994 Australian comedy is anchored by Terence Stamp as a transsexual who, in the company of two drag queens, travels to a remote desert location to put on a lip-synch performance--to the amazement of the locals.

To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar This is similar to the previous movie but a Hollywood version. John Leguziamo is particuarly good, and Wesley Snipes playing basketball as a woman is hilarious. Just like Priscilla Queen of the Desert, 3 drag queens encounter a small town and get into difficult and fun situations.

TransGeneration Told with compassion and insight, the fascinating eight-episode documentary TransGeneration focuses on the lives of four college students struggling to fit into a society that doesn't understand why they are the way they are--that is, transgendered young adults trapped in bodies that belie their true selves. Features a transpinay.

comming soon is The Danish Girl. Nicole Kidman will play a post op transsexual and Gwyneth Paltrow will play the genetic female wife. The Danish girl is an adaptation of the David Ebershoff novel about the first post-operative transsexual. The Danish Girl: A Novel
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Amazing and Fabulous. Transgender article link

Here is a link to an article (which TPW thinks is worth a read) called 'Amazing and fabulous' written by Dinna Chan Vasquez in the Manila Standard Today on 1st December 2009.

click here to read
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Is It gay to like transsexuals?

Here is a good post we found from Yahoo Answers by Lynn Conway (USA). It seems a lot of Filipino men do like TS but maybe they should read comments like those from Lynn and be proud of the fact.

"If you are gay, then you are stating that your attraction is to people who: shaves and maintains a mustache/beard, chiseled face, no breasts (but a very nice set of pecs), is brewing with testosterone in his blood, acts "manly", enjoys his male organs to the fullest extent, etc.
Let's make it easier; if you have an attraction towards people who look and act like a young Harrison Ford, Colin Farrell or Robert Deniro, then yeah, I would have to say your sexual orientation is definitely more homosexual.

However, you stated your attraction is to "passable feminine trannys" (which, btw, please refer to us as Trans Woman/Girls/Females as that term is often derogatory).
For example, girls such as:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaSr2Da_dn8

http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TSsuccesses/TSsuccesses.html

Your attraction is to that of a female: the soft skin, absence of masculine features (such as a mustache, beard, physical build, etc.), the feminine attitude, etc. That fact alone makes you straight.

However, not all of my trans sisters would agree on this statement.

I consider a male such as yourself straight because us girls don't walk around displaying our "feminine boy-parts" out to the public. We don't walk around stating what is between our legs or what was between our legs. Everything about our bodies (our mind, spirit, body) is female, except that ONE part. Gender is not found between our legs but what is in our heart and our mind (it's a biological birth defect, anyone who attests, go do your research please before spewing out your ignorance!).

Your attraction lies on the basis that what you see in public is what attracts you. Last I checked, walking around nude in public is illegal, so therefore it may often be hard to spot trans women out from the general public. Unless your true intention was to find some way of experiencing a male penis during your intimate time without feeling guilty that you might be "gay" by experiencing it with another man, I would then state you probably are bi or borderlining gay. Though you state your attraction does not lie there, therefore, you're straight.

I have dated and maintained long term relationships with men who did not find out about my transsexual status until a couple of months into serious dating (and keep in mind, I am a pre-op--meaning I have not yet had SRS). Many of them shocked as they had absolutely no clue. However, many of them stayed and treated me like they would any girl they dated. I was explained that from their point of view, they would never have thought of the idea of maintaining a relationship with a trans girl before, but because everything I embody is female, they refuse to think otherwise.
There exists a huge misconception that trans women look like a "hairy man wearing a dress", are insane, or are all prostitutes.

There are many trans women who will blow those stereotypes away, and I am one of them. I consider myself very attractive, passable, smart, and successful. I graduated college and am maintaining a very successful career. Basically, a young normal girl living with a birth defect.

I don't understand why people choose to use labels in order to define a person. Gay, straight, bi--in the world of love, those labels simply fail to exist.

Ps. I could only hope that you are not using us trans girls as a sexual object and treating us like the women we are. You can absolutely date us and maintain a loving relationship (if that's something you are looking and ready for). Some girls are passable, some are not, some have problems, some don't--basically, we are just like any other girl you have seen or known. We simply have a spirit which has survived great obstacles and found a way to find peace with ourselves, and our bodies.
I'll simply state that if we are to only remain as a sexual fetish for you, then you'd be considered a "great assh*le" in my book.
Thanks!

I am a trans girl--and damn proud!"

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Goodbye 2009, welcome 2010

Happy new year readers and welcome to the new look Transpinay World website.

2009 was a good year for the Philippines' Transsexual community. Here are our highlights...

Our Transpinay of the year has to be Rica Paras who was a shining example to the world that transgendered women are normal and intelligent people. We wish her all the best with any new opportunities that come her way as a result of being on Pinoy Big Brother.

Our movie of the year is The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela. It was a very real, moving and funny slice of life from a Transpinay that has to deal with limited opportunities, but also gets to live some of her dreams.

Our website of the year is PinayTG. It is the personal blog of Naomi Fontanos, a proud advocate of transgender rights. Her site is full of excellent articles related to Transpinays. Naomi was also made the chairwoman of STRAP in 2009.

There were some great moments too in 2009 including Sass's moving speech at the UN in New York, the colorful Transpinay scenes at the Manila Pride march, and the birth of the Queen of Cebu pageant. Roll on 2010...
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