February 2012
1 post
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Big Man in Kansas →
I have a new article on Autostraddle about my experience returning to my hometown of Kansas City, Missouri and seeing all my extended family in Kansas over the holidays. For many it was the first time we’d spent time together since my transition.
January 2012
4 posts
“And I knew that it was better to live out one’s absurdity than to die for...”
– Ralph Ellison in Invisible Man
Short story
Today I was talking to some strangers about Friday Night Lights. And I said, “Listen, I didn’t play football in high school - wasn’t involved, but I love that show.”
I transitioned when I was 21. I lived as a girl in high school. Playing football was not an option for me.
But I said that as though it was a decision I made, and that’s what I believed. As I said that,...
Happy New Year!
music: Memoryhouse - This Will Be...
December 2011
11 posts
2 tags
WatchBored in the airport. Made this video of my face through the past few years
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Because Holidays Are For Family (aka Sebastian's...
Apparently there is a liquor store in Somerville that every year for the Holiday Season has a brightly lit sign that reads “Because Holidays are for Family.” Most of the holiday stories that are swapped among friends or captured for television or film involve at least one drunk relative. The message, of course, is that families are so hard to bear that we all could use a little liquoring up.
To...
Anonymous asked: how come you so rarely smile in photos??? it sounds like you have a lot to be happy about
Anonymous asked: I've had a question on my mind and am curious to hear your thoughts. Do you think it's possible to be trans but not want to transition? I haven't told anyone this but sometimes I think I might be ftm but feel like transitioning is not an option for me and that it's not something i want. currently I identify as lesbian and seem ok. I dont seem to experience too much dysphoria...
Anonymous asked: why doesn't the Y chromosome have anything on you? do you consider yourself different from men who were born that way because you transitioned later on in life or something? I'm not trying to be nasty, I'm just curious of the origins of your blog's tagline.
Anonymous asked: Just a little post for you to look at from time to time if needed: You're brave. You're awesome. You're wonderful. Don't ever stop being you and I hope you reach the 'you' you've always wanted. Keep up the good work and thank you for inspiring those who like you are partaking this journey. Best of luck to you.
Adam Cohen: Transgender People: The Next Civil... →
When Vandiver Elizabeth Glenn was fired from a state job in Georgia, she filed a lawsuit saying that she had been discriminated against for being transgender. Georgia civil rights laws do not cover transgender people, but a powerful federal court ruled last week that Glenn’s firing violated the U.S. Constitution. There was also a second major piece of transgender news last week: a new study...
Led by the child who simply knew - Metro - The... →
Founded in 2007 by endocrinologist Norman Spack and urologist David Diamond, the clinic — known as GeMS and modeled on a Dutch program — is the first pediatric academic program in the Western Hemisphere that evaluates and treats pubescent transgenders. A handful of other pediatric centers in the United States are developing similar programs, some started by former staffers at GeMS.
It was in...
New post coming soon!
I’ve been so busy :/
(Side note, I recently hit 600 days on Testosterone… seems like a number to celebrate)
November 2011
8 posts
1 tag
GLSEN and NCTE Announce Release of Model District... →
UM THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT AND EXCITING. I haven’t reviewed the whole document yet, but unsurprisingly it seems great so far!
An important comment on my post celebrating the...
(original post and info on the bill here)
From GinaSF:
Again, this is a case where this legislation makes a very clear distinction between those who pass and those who don’t, those who have homes and those who are homeless and even trans men and trans women. Not having public accommodations wording in this law makes it highly flawed, especially to the most vulnerable in the community. And...
Stealth Shaming: What It Is, Why You Shouldn’t Do... →
Tonight, I stumbled upon the blog of Stephen Ira, a gay trans man who attends Sarah Lawrence College who writes very eloquently about issues of gender and sexuality and with whom I share a number of opinions.
I really like this piece on what he terms “stealth shaming.” Follow the link and read on.
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“With the passage of the this bill, An Act Relative to Transgender Equal Rights,...”
– Ruben Hopwood, Coordinator of the Transgender Health Program at Fenway Health in Boston
(via The Rainbow Times | “Reactions to the MA House & Senate’s Passage of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill: Community Leaders Speak Out”)
As Huffington Post reports:
Massachusetts...
Join me in Greenfield, Massachusetts tonight for a...
Organized by Community Action Youth Groups TREE and Gen Q, the event will be taking place on Wednesday, November 16th. The vigil will begin at 6 on the town common/court square in Greenfield, followed by a procession to NELCWIT for a community building reception. This event is free and open to the public.
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition has a list of other TDOR events in the state...
Nina Here Nor There: a reading & booksigning with... →
For my readers in Western Mass:
This event will be at Food For Thought Books in Amherst, MA Nov 15 at 7pm.
he next-generation Stone Butch Blues—a contemporary memoir of gender awakening and a classic tale of first love and self-discovery.
Ambitious, sporty, feminine “capital-L lesbians” had been Nina Krieger’s type, for friends that is. She hadn’t dated in seven...
Autostraddle — Annika and Sebastian Answer Your... →
Questions we tackle in this post:
What’s your favorite part about being trans*? (that’s a video answer)
What if you see yourself as genderqueer but have no idea what you need to do to be comfortable in your own skin? Where do you “fit in” then?
Is the term bisexual problematic? Would pansexual be preferable?
Do you ever struggle with internalized transphobia? If so, how...
My first "No-shave November" is probably going to...
I have patches of blonde hair that are closer to whiskers than anything else. And like I said, patchy. I’ve got fuzz that grows in everywhere else.
Oh, testosterone, how long must I wait? (Of course the answer is “no one knows” or “maybe forever…” just look at the non-trans guys who can’t grow facial hair til their 20s or later or never!)
October 2011
26 posts
XXBOY REBLOGS: Hey - maybe it's okay that Smith... →
As an alumnus of Smith college I have some strong feelings about my alma matter and about its relationship with its trans and male student population. And they’re strong warm and fuzzy feelings. I normally wouldn’t post something this specific on xxboy, but I think it is important to balance the negative reactions (particularly from trans students and alums) with positive reactions...
Girl Scouts of Colorado Released Statement... →
I am so moved by this:
Yesterday, the Girl Scouts of Colorado spoke out in support of transgender children. Following the story of a child who was denied enrollment in a local Girl Scout troop despite identifying as a girl, the Girl Scouts of Colorado released a statement saying that the associate responsible for that troop was unaware of the organization’s policy. “Girl Scouts is an inclusive...
An open letter to everyone for whom it hasn’t yet... →
(a post at Original Plumbing)
Really into this "Gender Fierce Anthem" from a... →
I feel like this could be a great tool against dysphoria for those of you who identify off the binary. Follow the link for the video!
transcript/lyrics at his blog: http://delisubthefemmecub.tumblr.com/post/11799914719/gender-fierce-anthem-transcript
1 tag
Brown University to Military: Accept Trans... →
At least one Ivy League University doesn’t look like it will allow ROTC to return to campus after the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Brown University’s president says that because the military still discriminates against transgender recruits, it shouldn’t be welcomed back. “We must do all in our power as an institution to carry the message to...
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My most recent Autostraddle article addresses what... →
Almost every school lists in their mission or their educational philosophy that they want to develop the “whole child.” They’re shaping people not manufacturing educated machines. And yet, there was a very large part of my identity that I didn’t even get to explore in school. I am of course talking about my gender identity and my sexuality. I was talking to friends about this recently – about...
amostpeculiarman asked: Hey Sebastian, I know you had the letter you sent to your family up for a bit. I'm probably just missing it but can't seem to find where it is posted. Any chance you could send me a link to and/or copy of it? A friend is about to come out to his folks and isn't really sure what to write. (I talked to my mom over a cup of tea to come out to my parents so I don't have a draft...
Anonymous asked: Hey Sabastian. I have a faab friend who is still living as a female. She [her pronoun choice] isn't considering transitioning yet, but she also mentioned that she doesn't think she'll be comfortable living a man. I'm worried because I think the dysphoria is really getting to her. I have a feeling she might be gender queer, but when I asked her what she thought about that, she...
Anonymous asked: No question, just-- yay search bar!
Anonymous asked: Hey man, happy birthday! I have a quick question which I hope is not too invasive. I've been thinking of investing in a Goodfella and I remember reading in one of your posts that you have one. Is it possible to pack with the Goodfella? Babeland claims that this is the case but I'm a bit skeptical. If you're not comfortable posting about this subject, I understand and apologize....
tenemosqueluchar asked: Any tips on conquering (or easing) dysphoria in general? Just the standard I-will-never-have-a-Y-chromosome kind?
Anonymous asked: I transitioned as a young child and have never had any contact with others like me. I think that I need some sort of support system; do you know where I can find such a thing?
1 tag
“…This is a very interesting and important conversation. I hope everyone...”
– trans-lucent: An Unremarkable Life: Why I have never and will never associate with other “trans” people
An important thread about different identities (and the validity of this myriad) among people with trans histories or experiences. I will say this time and time again: we cannot...
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“I doubt I could adequately describe what “gender sadness” feels like to someone...”
– Julia Serano, on gender sadness (via femmesandfamily)
This is so well-written and true to my experience as well.
Pretty stoked about my upcoming Autostraddle...
3 tags
“The center will be city-funded and offer comprehensive health services for...”
– Transgender Center Opening in Philly | News | The Advocate
Philadelphia will soon be home to a health center geared exclusively to transgender people, though the specific site has not yet been released. The Morris Home will hopefully open next month, Sade Ali, deputy commissioner of...
2 tags
LGBT Health on Fenway Focus →
Fenway Health, the clinic in Boston known largely for their work in LGBT healthcare has a new blog, Fenway Focus.
They have different categories: Fenway News, LGBT Health, HIV/AIDS, Women’s Health, and Health Policy.
Definitely going to be following this, particularly the LGBT Health posts!
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“I defend my right to be complex.”
– Leslie Feinberg
Friday was my 24th birthday
and the third birthday I’ve celebrated as Sebastian.
I remember the first one very vividly. I was a senior at Smith College, living in an on-campus apartment with two awesome women and another recently-out trans man, also awesome. One of the girls’ birthday was the 15th so we decided to have a joint birthday party.
She and her boyfriend got me a “Birthday Prince” crown...
“We’re terrified of facing ourselves.”
– Actor Zachary Quinto, on the topic of homophobic culture, etc. in an interview with New York Magazine.
A little while later in our conversation, speaking of the cultural bipolarity that can see gay marriage legalized in New York in the same year that yet another gay teenager, Jamey Rodemeyer,...
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