AND

Beck’s Cafe supporter and fellow coffee swiller, June, will be in the ride making her butt sore for this great cause.   Who’s June?  Why none other than Fenway Women’s Dinner Co-Chair that ‘s which June!   So here’s what I need my loyal and long-suffering readers to do:  Sponsor Her.  Yep, crack open those wallets boys and girls!  Here’s the link to get to her sponsor page and support a great cause: June’s Harbor to the Bay Sponsor Page

It’s  a long story and I don’t want to bore you all on a Friday morning but suffice to say that it wasn’t until I’d plopped myself down and actually let MAC have their way with me that I finally got it.  I finally understood how to apply my own makeup.  The biggest take away from that session though was this:  Makeup brushes allow you to apply your makeup like no other method on earth.  They are, in short, indispensable in applying your makeup.

I left my MAC session happy, lighter in my purse and with a fist full of great makeup brushes.  That was four years ago and I am still using those same MAC brushes I bought.  They are still in great condition, thanks to their being tremendous quality and because I listened carefully to how to take care of them.

So that’s the tip really, get a selection of makeup brushes and use them.  Now, if you go to MAC themselves, these babies won’t be cheap but they will be of quality.  I can guarantee they will make your makeup application go much easier and more accurately but they will part you from a nice chunk of your paycheck.  As an alternative, go to eBay and see what you can find.  Here’s a handy linkie love:  eBay MAC Makeup Brush Search.   Now buyer beware is in order.  If you want to make sure you are getting authentic MAC makeup brushes, you’ll need to buy them from MAC or their authorized outlets.  I bought mine from MAC and it was one of my best purchases.   But, if you go the risky low-cost way, here is an eBay Guide to determining fake vs. authentic MAC Brushes.

Abuse is no joke among trans-women and their partners.  Indeed, organizations like The Network La Red started partially because this kind of abuse, though not talked about, is a real.   One research who has done work in this area is Mona Rae Mason.   Our long-suffering readers might remember our previous posts on Ms. Mason here at Beck’s Cafe regarding her work on The Transgender Project.  Part of what came out of that work were two research papers and Ms. Mason has been kind enough to let us publish them here at Beck’s Cafe.  The first is “”Psychiatric Impact of Gender-Related Abuse Across the Life Course of Male-to-Female Transgender Person”

In this paper, the author’s cover:

The psychiatric impact of interpersonal abuse associated with an atypical presentation of gender was examined across the life course of 571 male-to-female (MTF) transgender persons from the New York City Metropolitan Area. Gender-related abuse (psychological and physical), suicidality, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision) major depression were retrospectively measured across ?ve stages of the life course using the Life Chart Interview. Among younger respondents (current age of 19–39), the impact of both types of abuse on major depression was extremely strong during adolescence and then markedly declined during later stages of life. Among older respondents (current age of 40–59), the impact of both types of abuse on major depression was strong during adolescence and then marginally declined during later stages of life. The effects of both types of abuse on suicidality were weaker but more consistently observed across the life course among both the younger and older respondents. Gender-related abuse is a major mental health problem among MTF transgender persons, particularly during adolescence. As these individuals mature, however, the consequences of this abuse appear less severe, which may represent the development of moderately effective mechanisms for coping with this abuse

You can download the full study by clicking to this link here at Beck’s Cafe, “Psychiatric Impact of Gender-Related Abuse Across the Life Course of Male-to-Female Transgender Persons“.

• 16 out of the 30 corporations that make up the current Dow Jones Industrial Average started during a recession
• Walt Disney Corporation began during the recession in 1923-24.
• Hewlett-Packard Corporation began in 1938 during the Great Depression.
• Microsoft Corporation began during the 1975 recession.

But sometimes, you just need a little sumthin’ to get you going.  Well why not two tools that can help you connect with people needing your services today!

TaskRabbit “helps individuals and small businesses in a community outsource their tasks and deliveries.”  While being a personal assistant isn’t the most glamorous job on the planet, it can and does pay and TaskRabbit acts as the conduit to make that happen.

So maybe being a personal assistant isn’t for you.  BUT, you have other skills such as being a software programmer, web developer, accountant, marketer or even data entry specialist?  Well those needing your services can connect up with you on eLance.   eLance is a virtual marketplace and connector with firms needing professional services.   I’ve had some personal experience using them for a project and the system works!   So why not check out eLance and hang out your own shingle today!

Making your way in the world in your own firm still seem too craze?  Well Beck’s Cafe did a post on some new job search engines back on March 23rd, 2010 that you might want to check, have a look here at “Flexjobs, Telecommute Job Finder and Simply Hired Help You Find Jobs that You Can Do From Home“

MTPC has launched a new “kit” to help. The “Gender Marker Change Kit with New Passport Guidelines” is now available!  The kit, as MTPC describes it in their announcement:

MTPC’s Gender Marker Change Kit includes all the necessary forms and instructions to change one’s gender on all major legal documents: driver’s license, state i.d. card, Social Security Card, birth certificate and passport. The kit also includes detailed instructions on how to fill out the forms, what you need to include with the forms or bring in person to government office. The kit includes a sample attending physician’s letter for attaching to the forms required to change gender on birth certificates.

It’s an open resource and available for download by visiting MTPC’s site at their link, “Changing Gender Marker on Legal Documents“

I think what struck me about Fran Dalton’s life was what a unique treasure she was to the Newburyport, MA community. She transitioned right where she was “unobstrusively as possible, but also unapologetically”, instead of going to another town. The entire town accepted her for the woman she was. She wasn’t afraid to stick up for what was right (you’ll note the story of her defense of a Newburyport residents new windturbine). She befriended those who had less than her though she didn’t appear to have much. She stayed in her community and, from the sound of things, made a positive difference to those around her. Now that’s what I’d called a successful transition.

You can read all about her at Newburyport Daily News story here: “Port remembers two identities, one unique person | Fran Dalton remembered“

In Massachusetts, starting in October 1, 2010, you may no longer text while you drive.  As if taking your hands and eyes off the road weren’t self-evident enough, the law makes it illegal to text while driving.  Here’s the full scoop as reported in Trucking Info:

Massachusetts has become the 29th state to ban texting while driving, bringing the country one step closer to a nationwide ban on texting behind the wheel.

The new Massachusetts law, signed recently by Gov. Deval Patrick, will fine adults $100 for texting as a first offense, $250 for a second offense, and $500 for a third.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has done a clear chart on which states ban what regarding cell phone use.  You can see it a their site:  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Cell Phone Laws

It took five minutes, including plug-ins…holy cow!

This should be awesomely fun perking up fresh posts…thank you all for reading by the way.   I really appreciate it!

Click over to this link to learn about the awesome wonderfulness that is WordPress 3.0

C O D E   I S  P O E T R Y

(Thanks to special correspondant Grace for pointing this article to us)

The State Department has revised its policy on changing passports for transgender people, announcing Wednesday night that a doctor’s note will now suffice in such cases.

Previously, the State Department had required that a person undergo sexual reassignment surgery before it would change the passport. The policy had outraged transgender advocates, who called for an updated approach.

Under the new policy, which takes effect Thursday, a doctor must attest that the person is undergoing clinical treatment for gender transition, State said. Limited-validity passports will also be available to applicants in the process of gender transition, the department added.

That’s pretty exciting news first thing this morning!   But what has prompted such an important change?   WPATH and the AMA!

State noted that its policy is “based on standards and recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), recognized by the American Medical Association as the authority in this field.”

The department also stressed that passport-issuing officials “will only ask appropriate questions to obtain information necessary to determine citizenship and identity.”

You can read the full article here at the Washington Post, “State eases rules for changing gender on passports”

You can also read the official statement by the U.S. State Department here: “New Policy on Gender Change in Passports Announced”

More news and other sources on this topic at Google News here.

When you put on new, fresh from the package, pantyhose, rolling it up one leg then the next, starting at your tippy toes, seems pretty straightforward.  But what if you just washed your stockings?  You don’t want to risk ruining a pair and wasting your hard earned money. Here’s the tip, for pantyhose or stockings, where  you have to slip your hand down them in order to prepare them to roll up your freshly shaven legs.  Wear white gloves.  That’s right.  Purchase a pair of inexpensive white gloves, don those first on your mitts, then commence with putting on your pantyhose or stockings.  You’ll avoid any chance of a run and be able to fearlessly slip them up your legs.

(many thanks to Jennifer for sharing this tip with our readers!)

This year, as last, MTPC invites you to march, work, and party with them!  Seriously great folks and fun too.  Besides that they do alot of work for our community on a shoe string budget.   I got an email from Gunner Scott, their Executive Director, with the following info; feel free to use at will fair readers:

Proud to be Transgender, Proud to be an Ally – March with MTPC!

Let’s make it the largest transgender and ally contingent Boston has ever seen this year!
MTPC is looking for members of our community, our friends, family and allies to join us at Boston Pride on June 12th

When: Boston Pride on Saturday, June 12th
What: Marching; we will meet at 11:30 am on Tremont St in South End – Exact meeting location will be  posted on our website and facebook page on Friday,June 11th (that is when Boston Pride tells us). You can just show up and
march with us!

What Else? Don’t like to march or want spend some time with awesome MTPC folks then come and donate an hour or two at our table selling t-shirts, talking up the legislation, and meeting lots of LGBT and allies. Join MTPC’s table at Boston City Hall Plaza, Tremont St. near Government Ctr. You can reach Government Center by the T

Volunteers needed for following shifts:

• 9 am -11 am (set up)
• 11 am – 1 pm
• 1 pm – 3pm
• 3 pm – 5 pm
• 5 pm – 6 pm (break down)

To RSVP to march, or to volunteer, e-mail Rachel at rachel@masstpc.org or call the MTPC office at (617) 778-0519.

Now about them Pride Parties MTPC is at…..

Sat June 12 – Pride Night official MTPC after party.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD: QUEER/TRANS PRIDE PARTY
9 PM-2 AM, Midway Café, 3496 Washington Street, $5 cover, 21+

“Don’t call it a comeback…” Remember when you were dripping with sweat from
dancing so hard? Boston’s only explicitly trans-welcoming queer dance
night, returns just in time for Pride with DJ D’hana and special guests DJ
Sir Loins and Stella.

Sun., June, 13 – JAMAICA PLAIN BLOCK PARTY
JP Block Party with Food Sales Benefitting Network/La Red
12-7 PM, Perkins Street, free entry from 12-1 and $10 after 1 PM
(This event tends to get more women, just as an FYI and the Stuart St block
party tends to get more men, but neither is gender exclusive, but just to
make folks aware.)

This year’s JP Block Party will feature DJ Jodi, DJ D’hana (of The
Neighborhood) and DJ Kristen Korpos. All are welcome, but you must be 21+
with ID to drink. Trans welcoming event!

(MTPC is looking for volunteers to table with us at the Block Party)

I visited Club Femme with my friend Paula in May.  Prior to that, I had several conversations with Club Femme’s promoter, Jon. Jon’s been a supporter of the transgender community for some time and told me his motivation for starting Club Femme. He really felt that the Greater Boston area needed a transgender friendly social space for the MtF transgender community, supporters and admirers to feel comfortable mingling together at.  He felt a transgender specific club would be especially helpful to those crossdressers and trans-women who had not had the opportunity to be out in public.

My first impressions?  Club Femme succeeds on most of its goals.  For those gals who like a bit more discretion or are starting to get their confidence up going out in public, Club Femme is really perfect since you will be with other trans-persons in a welcoming environment. If you are out and about in the world, Club Femme’s DJ is worth bringing friends with you to go dancing.  He’s that good and takes requests.  Parking is free and the entrance fee is $15.00, but, given that Boston clubs cost $10 to get in with $15 for parking, the $15.00 is reasonable.  Drink prices were reasonable.

For more info, email Club Femme’s promoter, Jon at hottimesforall@yahoo.com you can also join their mailing list off their Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsofclubfemme/

That being said, it would be good for everyone to know the current language in the bill and what Barney Frank’s clarifications of it are. First, what is some of the current language and then, what Representative Frank’s thoughts are.

Rebecca Juro reported, on May 4th in The Billerico Project:

• Employers will not be permitted to force a transgender employee to use a bathroom that is opposite of their gender identity, but they also will not be obligated to allow that employee to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity, as long as (currently undefined) reasonable accommodations are made.
• These rules may only be applied to transsexual employees who are currently transitioning, and those who have already completed the transition process will not be affected. What we don’t yet know here is what will be the requirements to be considered as fully transitioned.

Those are pretty powerful statements in terms of how ENDA is being drafted.  The key however, as Rebecca Juro writes in her piece, is that “none of this is written in stone”.   There may be changes yet.  Many thanks to local gal turned educator of our congress, Denise Leclair, for her unearthing this text from the ENDA document.

Congressman Barney Frank gave his views on the transgender piece of ENDA in a May 10th report in “Roll Call: the newspaper of Capital Hill since 1955“.  In the piece, “Backers Say Gay Rights Bill will Pass in House” Representative Frank stated that:

• Regarding Transgender protections remaining in ENDA, he said, “There’s no chance of doing it without it.”  He believes that at the base level, it’s about discrimination plain and simple.

Representative Frank noted in the Roll Call piece that alot of work went into the bill to meet moderate’s concerns such as:

• Transgender people with “one set of genitals” would not be able to go to a bathroom for people with another set of genitals.
• Transgender people would have to have a “consistent gender presentation” in order to be able to sue for discrimination.  “They can’t sit there with a full beard and a dress,” Representative Frank said.

So, the push isn’t over for ENDA yet.  Passing ENDA in the House of Representatives would be at least a step in the right direction to get the pins set for equality and protections in 2011.   I’d encourage our readers to check the following resources as well:

1. The comments section of Rebecca Juro’s post are vital to understanding and interpreting what is happening now.  You can reach that story at the Billerico Project at this link: “Current ENDA Language Regarding Transgender Revealed, Concerns Mount“
2. Wikipedia article on ENDA which contains a good number of reference links for those wanting to read more: Wikipedia article on ENDA

Women In Military Service to America Memorial

Military.com’s coverage of Memorial Day

TAVA, Transgender American Veterans Association

Starting a regular time of prayer can be challenge.  First, you feel guilty you’re sitting, kneeling or laying down.  Shouldn’t you be rowing that boat instead of laying about?  Then when you do, you’re not sure what to pray.

• Should it be formal,  “Our Father who art in heaven….”
• Should it be desperate?  “Help me out God, I need a little sumthin’ here”!
• Should it be conversational?  “Hey Lord, hows it going?  I thought I’d, ah, stop by and see if we could rap about a few items”

Heck, should you be praying at all for anything for yourself?  Why not just pray for world peace or your neighbor’s ill dog?

The fact is, that God loves hearing from us.  He loves hearing from everyone, including transgender men and women, the abused and the safe, the out of work and the employed, the bankrupt and the rich.  From the story of the Prodigal Son, to Abraham negotiating with God about saving his nephew Lot, to God telling Jesus the cup he had to drink from was not going to be removed, God accepts us, welcomes us and hears us.  And he knows what you need before  you even ask, what a great deal!   But, what if you don’t know how to pray?  What if your really afraid he might answer?  What then?

Well, first, you actually need to pray.  On the whole topic of “what if he answers”, well hold that thought for a minute.  Let’s talk prayer mechanics first!

1. 10 Minutes to Intimacy with God:  Sounds crazy I know.  But trust me, even without coffee, find a stop watch, and sit, kneel or lie prostate and just give your self 10 uninterrupted minutes.  That’s step one.
2. Open your Bible to the Psalms:   Now you may not have a physical copy of a bible or you may not be a Christian, no worries. If your a Christian without a Bible, or exploring Christianity, either go buy a bible, (The Biblegateway is a good place to start, or Amazon), or checkout The Bible Gateway for an online version.
3. Say Hello to God: God doesn’t take vacations with the Archangels, take sabbaticals or otherwise tune out.   He’s always here for us.  Start with a prayerful Psalm.  Now why do that?  Because many of the Psalms were in fact prayers that real people penned.  Some are from a heart of pain, others from joy, but they aren’t fiction.   But which ones?  Well any Psalm will work that feels right to you, but here’s a few you can try to get you going (thank you to The Prayer Guide & Awaken to Prayer for these ideas):
   1. When you really need some help?  Psalm 108
   2. Feeling like you won’t make your goals when others are?  Psalm 10
   3. Is someone falsely accusing you? Psalm 7
   4. Do you face trouble of some kind?  (whether your the source of your trouble or not) Psalm 33
   5. Are you being drawn to do things that are potentially harmful to yourself or others?  Psalm 55
   6. Wanna thank and praise God? Psalm 100 and 150
   7. When you want God’s protection, Psalm 27 and 91
   8. Need a little divine guidance?  Psalm 32 and 27

Now, the bible isn’t like a book of charms and God isn’t a divine vending machine.  If he were, Jesus’ prayer to not have to go to the cross to die for the sins of the whole world would have been answered.  God would have found another way. And this brings up the point, “what if he answers”?  What then??

From studying how other people prayed in the bible, and from more modern experience, I found God has three main general ways to answer:  Yes, No, Wait.   Having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is exactly that, a relationship.  So there are no formulas here on “if I do x, God will do y”.   But from my experience (and yes your mileage will vary)

• “Yes” – He may say yes and you may get what you need but God may provide it in a way you did not expect.  And it might involve your rowing that boat in a way that’s more risky than your used to.  You might even have to step out of your boat altogether!
• “No” – The big cosmic rejection at the buzzer.  Accepting a no might really be tough to swallow, but, wouldn’t you be glad he said no to get that new job if it turned out to be horrible scam that would have ruined you as it had the employees already at the zombie company you were eyeing?
• “Wait” – This is the longer part of “yes”.  This is the one where you pray, pray, pray hoping for an answer.  And God asks you to “hang in there” and wait for the right time.  For us as the prayee this requires patience, faith and trust on our part.  He might be waiting for you to see you already have your “no “or your “yes” – you just need to row your boat.

When you are facing challenges in life, such as being a transgender man or woman, or when you really need to celebrate the goodness in life on a deeper level, prayer is your answer.   So sit, kneel, or stand but definitely spend 10 minutes with God, you’ll be so glad you did.

Unbound By Body Party at Club Cafe, Boston MA

• What: Unbound By Body Launch Party
• When: June 3rd, 6:30pm-10:00pm
• Where: Club Cafe, Moonshine Room, 209 Columbus Ave, Boston

Funnest part of the party? Their 2011 Calendar featuring trans-identified community members from across the state of Massachusetts.
This event is free but bring some change to get your own calendar!

For those of you who can’t make the party, the calendar will be on sale online and at various events throughout the year after the party. For an idea of who is in the calendar, check out the blog of their photographer, Jess Dugan: http://jesstdugan.blogspot.com/2010/04/transgender-emergency-fund-calendar.html

If you have any questions, feel free to Jesse at jessep@aidsprojectworcester.org

Sat. June 12, 2010 The Neighborhood: Queer/Trans Pride Party
“Don’t call it a come back…”
9pm – 2am at The New & Improved Midway Café, 3496 WASHINGTON STREET JP, MA $5 – 21+
Remember when you were dripping with sweat from dancing so hard?
With Resident DJ: D’HANA (Nu Life//Bona|Fide, Kiki)
Special Guests:

• DJ SIR LOINS (Hot Lunch//QxBxRx)
• STELLA (Gross Anatomy//La Boum)

Visit http://theneighborhoodjp.blogspot.com
Produced by Chubrub Productions and XGender Productions
Always queer/trans/bi/cd/LGBT POC/femme inclusive

Walmart has an interesting record when it comes to how it deals with women:

• Women are only 33% of the company’s managers but comprise 65% of hourly employees
• Women were steered away from management positions into lower-level jobs without much advancement potential
• And an internal report in 1996 found “a pervasive hostility to women in management” and widespread agreement that “stereotypes limit opportunities offered to women” at the company

Discrimination against women is very real today.  As long as people exist on earth, I suppose discrimination will thrive as one class or group feels that another is not worthy of equal rights.   This is true even in the supposedly more egalitarian high tech sector where I work.  Still, in today’s “modern” world I still have to shake my head about how common this is, whether its discrimination against trans-persons for being who they are or persecution of Christians for believing in God.