Remember Veruca Salt? No, not the band, but the character in the film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” She’s famous for uttering the line (in a whining selfish voice) “I want it now” - thankfully before disappearing down the bad egg chute.
Veruca Salt syndrome seems to be afflicting society more and more nowadays. With radio, telephones, television, direct satellite transmission, internet, facebook, SMS and twitter the idea an instant response is compulsory spirals out of control. Don’t answer a text within 5 minutes and people call saying “are you ok?” Pedestrians deliberately cross the road against the lights because they won’t wait.
This is having its effect on life for trans* folk too. The journey of watching my body change to match my gender identity was exciting. I enjoyed that journey. I was happy to make sure that physically and psychologically I went through proper medical processes. Any pharmaceutical (for that matter many over-the-counter products) can have side effects and I wanted to be sure all was ok. This seems logical, sensible, in my interests and in the interests of the health professionals treating me.
But some people don’t think so. They think they have a right to everything without proper checks. They double or triple dose running the risk of blood clots. They even give some of their own hormone medications to others which is not only dangerous and stupid, but a criminal offence for both the supplier and recipient.
The Universe will work at the pace it needs to work. It happens for a reason. It’s time as society we slowed down and took a deep breath. Maybe some of the violence, aggro and stress will diminish. And maybe trans people will be better off too.
http://tinyurl.com/ycw64mj refers to the law in Victoria, Australia. Check your state or territory for relevant laws.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Book Review: Catalyst - Stories of Awakening
“Catalyst: Stories of Awakening” is the first book by Kyra-Ly (KL) Joy. Based on her observations of the Melbourne BDSM/kink scene, it is a series of stories that are largely self-contained yet simultaneously are part of a developing holistic scene that moves to a dramatic and moving climax. As her first book it shows a very sound foundation as a writer that will clearly see more (an excerpt from her second offering is included as a teaser).
The characters in the stories develop and grow, always showing different aspects to their multi-dimensional personalities. No-one is 100% dom(me) or sub, either in kink or life in general and while this is obvious for someone like Kate aka Lady Morghana, it is subtly there for all the main players.
The scenes cover a range of BDSM from the more obvious spanking through to quieter scenarios and are entertaining as well as being educational but not preachy. They also cover all sexual orientations without batting an eyelid. The genuine affection KL has for the people of the scene glistens from opening to closing page via the characters portrayed
One scene stands out as particularly beautiful. So as not to spoil your appetite, I’ll just say it is one towards the end of the book following a very powerful and unexpectedly climactic moment. It is a moving endorsement of the true beauty of the BDSM/kink scene that happily nukes the inaccurate perceptions held by many outside it. The result is a demonstration of high level of self-awareness/personal development/emotional intelligence needed to be a true BDSM player.
Even those on the fringes of the scene will recognize some Melbourne figures and venues. The curious, beginners, intermediate and advanced alike will find enjoyment in Catalyst. Given the mention of trams the tourism commission should also recognize Melbourne. Melbourne is, after all, a city that celebrates diversity so let’s bring in the tourist kinksters!
And filmmakers take note. The book would work well with only little adoption required to make the transformation onto the screen. In the meantime, buy Catalyst, read...and enjoy.
The characters in the stories develop and grow, always showing different aspects to their multi-dimensional personalities. No-one is 100% dom(me) or sub, either in kink or life in general and while this is obvious for someone like Kate aka Lady Morghana, it is subtly there for all the main players.
The scenes cover a range of BDSM from the more obvious spanking through to quieter scenarios and are entertaining as well as being educational but not preachy. They also cover all sexual orientations without batting an eyelid. The genuine affection KL has for the people of the scene glistens from opening to closing page via the characters portrayed
One scene stands out as particularly beautiful. So as not to spoil your appetite, I’ll just say it is one towards the end of the book following a very powerful and unexpectedly climactic moment. It is a moving endorsement of the true beauty of the BDSM/kink scene that happily nukes the inaccurate perceptions held by many outside it. The result is a demonstration of high level of self-awareness/personal development/emotional intelligence needed to be a true BDSM player.
Even those on the fringes of the scene will recognize some Melbourne figures and venues. The curious, beginners, intermediate and advanced alike will find enjoyment in Catalyst. Given the mention of trams the tourism commission should also recognize Melbourne. Melbourne is, after all, a city that celebrates diversity so let’s bring in the tourist kinksters!
And filmmakers take note. The book would work well with only little adoption required to make the transformation onto the screen. In the meantime, buy Catalyst, read...and enjoy.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A fair cop
Have to send this around after being involved again in this today (3/9)...
Cheeyars
Sally
On Thursday 6 August, I had the exciting opportunity to be involved in a new addition to training for police recruits. Along with Greg Adkins of the Anti-Violence Project, Jamie Gardiner, people from the indigenous community, a hard-of-hearing person, and people originally from Chile, Burma, Sudan and the Congo we took part in the second cultural diversity training exercise.
The program involves the 50 or so recruits at the academy being divided into groups of 6 or 8 and each community representative spending about10 minutes with each group, then rotating around (no, it’s not speed dating!). Seriously, the onus was on the recruits to take the initiative and ask questions about our experience, as well as asking re issues that may affect their duties e.g. the correct pronouns to use, what happens when a transgender person unfortunately ends up in custody. More a “living library book” type approach than speed dating…
My personal highlight was when I mentioned a favourite queer DVD, only to have one participant pipe up with “that’s my favourite too!” We agreed on our 2nd favourite too! Dare I say a case of the police “recruiting” queers?
I can understand the hurt created by police discrimination of the past (I’ve copped some myself) and appreciate it might not be easy for some to let it go. However, I’m now firmly convinced that if individual police might be homophobic in their private lives, they won’t have the opportunity to be that way in the job, as there has been an overwhelming turnaround in the culture of Victoria Police.
Recruits gave feedback that this was the highlight of their training. All participants want to take the idea further with something like an informal barbeque where we could connect further – we’ll make it happen!
Mention must be made of people like Jill Wood and Dave Truman who stood up in darker times; Melinda Edwards, Scott Davis and the GLLO team; former Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon who led the first official VicPol contingent in the 2002 Pride March and Simon Overland for his support of IDAHO in May this year. Apologies if I've missed anyone.
It’s 40 years since Stonewall when police systemically harassed queers and 40 years since Woodstock . The times definitely are a’changin’ in Victoria.
Cheeyars
Sally
On Thursday 6 August, I had the exciting opportunity to be involved in a new addition to training for police recruits. Along with Greg Adkins of the Anti-Violence Project, Jamie Gardiner, people from the indigenous community, a hard-of-hearing person, and people originally from Chile, Burma, Sudan and the Congo we took part in the second cultural diversity training exercise.
The program involves the 50 or so recruits at the academy being divided into groups of 6 or 8 and each community representative spending about10 minutes with each group, then rotating around (no, it’s not speed dating!). Seriously, the onus was on the recruits to take the initiative and ask questions about our experience, as well as asking re issues that may affect their duties e.g. the correct pronouns to use, what happens when a transgender person unfortunately ends up in custody. More a “living library book” type approach than speed dating…
My personal highlight was when I mentioned a favourite queer DVD, only to have one participant pipe up with “that’s my favourite too!” We agreed on our 2nd favourite too! Dare I say a case of the police “recruiting” queers?
I can understand the hurt created by police discrimination of the past (I’ve copped some myself) and appreciate it might not be easy for some to let it go. However, I’m now firmly convinced that if individual police might be homophobic in their private lives, they won’t have the opportunity to be that way in the job, as there has been an overwhelming turnaround in the culture of Victoria Police.
Recruits gave feedback that this was the highlight of their training. All participants want to take the idea further with something like an informal barbeque where we could connect further – we’ll make it happen!
Mention must be made of people like Jill Wood and Dave Truman who stood up in darker times; Melinda Edwards, Scott Davis and the GLLO team; former Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon who led the first official VicPol contingent in the 2002 Pride March and Simon Overland for his support of IDAHO in May this year. Apologies if I've missed anyone.
It’s 40 years since Stonewall when police systemically harassed queers and 40 years since Woodstock . The times definitely are a’changin’ in Victoria.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wash your pink jocks
What is it in the GLBTI community re the constant nuisance that are “pink shock-jocks?” This World Wrestling Entertainment style of media i.e. pre-fabricated non-genuine emotion and shock value always seems to rear its ugly head. It’s well known in the wider community, e.g. Alan Jones, Ray Hadley, Steve Price and Derryn Hinch. In the GLBTI community it usually takes the form of anyone who doesn’t fit gay male stereotypes. And interestingly, all the community media examples I can think of ultimately self-identify as gay male.
In the past we’ve seen Lance Spurr (real name Adam Carr) and Kaye Sera (Daren Pope), the latter noted for the infamous 2004 “heel turn” (to keep the WWE analogy going) which was justified by “well, it won me a Rainbow Award.” Interestingly, both these occurred under the editorship of Bill Calder. More recently it’s been JOY’s Tim Newton and Tim Wilson, the latter a well-known Liberal party hack and employee of the Institute of Public Affairs, the well-known right-wing think tank. (Hang on, right-wing think-tank is an oxymoron, but I digress…)
One could possibly rationalize this approach for commercial media. Commercial media need to make profits, if this style brings in the masses that lead to ratings that lead to advertising dollars, so it’s justifiable…possibly. But can GLBTI community media, with its more qualitative aims follow such a line? Respected pink media types, particularly Doug Pollard, think so. But there’s a difference.
The GLBTI and allied community are overall better educated than others – in 2 ways. Sure, there is more formal education re tertiary degrees etc. More importantly, our life experience enables us to see through many falsehoods and cover-ups more often than your average punter. So we are not going to be sucker-punched by pink jocks. More likely, we’ll switch channels because we don’t want to have our intelligence insulted. So this style of media is clearly detrimental re achieving aims, financial or qualitative.
Columnist Cheeky Biscuit wrote a few years back that all the shock-jocks, pink or otherwise were all right wing. Would a left-wing shocker work? I don’t think it’s any different…it’s still lowest common denominator stuff.
So my take is if you can’t present community media without genuine passion, then don’t do it at all. There are enough issues in this community that can move the heart and sway the emotions- positively – without having to resort to cheap and lazy approaches. Unless you’re happy to be known as cheap, lazy...and fake.
In the past we’ve seen Lance Spurr (real name Adam Carr) and Kaye Sera (Daren Pope), the latter noted for the infamous 2004 “heel turn” (to keep the WWE analogy going) which was justified by “well, it won me a Rainbow Award.” Interestingly, both these occurred under the editorship of Bill Calder. More recently it’s been JOY’s Tim Newton and Tim Wilson, the latter a well-known Liberal party hack and employee of the Institute of Public Affairs, the well-known right-wing think tank. (Hang on, right-wing think-tank is an oxymoron, but I digress…)
One could possibly rationalize this approach for commercial media. Commercial media need to make profits, if this style brings in the masses that lead to ratings that lead to advertising dollars, so it’s justifiable…possibly. But can GLBTI community media, with its more qualitative aims follow such a line? Respected pink media types, particularly Doug Pollard, think so. But there’s a difference.
The GLBTI and allied community are overall better educated than others – in 2 ways. Sure, there is more formal education re tertiary degrees etc. More importantly, our life experience enables us to see through many falsehoods and cover-ups more often than your average punter. So we are not going to be sucker-punched by pink jocks. More likely, we’ll switch channels because we don’t want to have our intelligence insulted. So this style of media is clearly detrimental re achieving aims, financial or qualitative.
Columnist Cheeky Biscuit wrote a few years back that all the shock-jocks, pink or otherwise were all right wing. Would a left-wing shocker work? I don’t think it’s any different…it’s still lowest common denominator stuff.
So my take is if you can’t present community media without genuine passion, then don’t do it at all. There are enough issues in this community that can move the heart and sway the emotions- positively – without having to resort to cheap and lazy approaches. Unless you’re happy to be known as cheap, lazy...and fake.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
back on deck
Sorry it's been so long between posts - might write as to why at some point. Stuff coming soon.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
a bit of gender fun
Hi all
A bit of fun that happened at the recent "Play Like a Girl" jam session
Yours truly has been mucking around playing drums lately and this is a great way to do it every month.
Anyway, after I'd had a bash, a guy comes up to me and says "I've always wanted to play drums, can I borrow your skirt?"
Love it.
check out http://www.myspace.com/iplaylikeagirl
A bit of fun that happened at the recent "Play Like a Girl" jam session
Yours truly has been mucking around playing drums lately and this is a great way to do it every month.
Anyway, after I'd had a bash, a guy comes up to me and says "I've always wanted to play drums, can I borrow your skirt?"
Love it.
check out http://www.myspace.com/iplaylikeagirl
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Diary of a Confest Virgin
“We’ve both had a stressful start to the year, so we’re going to Confest to chill out.”Sounded like my long time friend Mandy had a good idea re getting away over Easter, but what we doing?
According to http://www.dte.org.au/NextFest.html ConFest was started as an “alternative living' festival in the 1970's by Jim Cairns (then Deputy Prime Minister) and his assistant Junie Morosi and many others.” It’s camping, it’s in the bush and it’s largely primitive, although there was a marketplace selling (amongst other stuff) cooked food and lattes for those needing their morning fix.
Being a first timer was a bit overwhelming. However the spirit of Confest is that anyone can run a workshop/gathering on anything (regardless of expertise). 2 gay guys had the sensible idea of holding a queer “meet and greet” on Friday morning, which for a first time attendee was very helpful in feeling more settled.
Saturday was a much noisier with almost 15 hours of tribal drumming which sent me a bit spare. Even the quiet area (also drug and alcohol free) wasn’t completely quiet. To lift myself on Sunday, I decided to put on 2 workshops myself. Old habits die hard and one was “Transgender 101.” Happily no-one turned up. Happily - yes: maybe that no-one was interested meant that no-one there gave a damn about transgender. Hallelujah.
A lovely Hindu gay guy from the Sunshine Coast facilitated a workshop re gay/queer spirituality, specifically is there a queer spirituality or can we be part of mainstream spirituality – an article in itself.
At Confest, clothing is optional re both style and amount. i.e. people can walk around nude if desired and guys wear dresses. In a “gently challenging” way,seeing the nudity was helpful for me. As a transsexual this brought to the surface the internalised transphobia I’ve swallowed re feeling negative about my body and that I need to let that transphobia go. Something to work on…
Overall queerdom was a non-issue; making Confest a sort of queertopia. One gay guy said he’d received a comment there were “no queers here,” (pretty odd given the signs locating the queer village), but that was it.
Undaunted by the nil response to the trans workshop, I tried again and ran a workshop on the “Highly Sensitive Person.” Being relatively unprepared moved me out of my comfort zone, but the results were worth it. 9 other people turned up, only one of whom who knew of the material. The other 8 were “just curious.” However, on finding out that there were other people like themselves and knowing about relevant resources, they walked away happier and feeling less isolated… the highlight of my weekend.
Which is what Confest is about. Giving. Respect for each other. Which begs a question. If it’s so easy for Confest to be respectful of humanity without a whole lot of rules, how come it’s so hard for society to do it?
PS This article was submitted to a local pink newspaper for possible publication: no response, so blogreaders, you get the exclusive!
According to http://www.dte.org.au/NextFest.html ConFest was started as an “alternative living' festival in the 1970's by Jim Cairns (then Deputy Prime Minister) and his assistant Junie Morosi and many others.” It’s camping, it’s in the bush and it’s largely primitive, although there was a marketplace selling (amongst other stuff) cooked food and lattes for those needing their morning fix.
Being a first timer was a bit overwhelming. However the spirit of Confest is that anyone can run a workshop/gathering on anything (regardless of expertise). 2 gay guys had the sensible idea of holding a queer “meet and greet” on Friday morning, which for a first time attendee was very helpful in feeling more settled.
Saturday was a much noisier with almost 15 hours of tribal drumming which sent me a bit spare. Even the quiet area (also drug and alcohol free) wasn’t completely quiet. To lift myself on Sunday, I decided to put on 2 workshops myself. Old habits die hard and one was “Transgender 101.” Happily no-one turned up. Happily - yes: maybe that no-one was interested meant that no-one there gave a damn about transgender. Hallelujah.
A lovely Hindu gay guy from the Sunshine Coast facilitated a workshop re gay/queer spirituality, specifically is there a queer spirituality or can we be part of mainstream spirituality – an article in itself.
At Confest, clothing is optional re both style and amount. i.e. people can walk around nude if desired and guys wear dresses. In a “gently challenging” way,seeing the nudity was helpful for me. As a transsexual this brought to the surface the internalised transphobia I’ve swallowed re feeling negative about my body and that I need to let that transphobia go. Something to work on…
Overall queerdom was a non-issue; making Confest a sort of queertopia. One gay guy said he’d received a comment there were “no queers here,” (pretty odd given the signs locating the queer village), but that was it.
Undaunted by the nil response to the trans workshop, I tried again and ran a workshop on the “Highly Sensitive Person.” Being relatively unprepared moved me out of my comfort zone, but the results were worth it. 9 other people turned up, only one of whom who knew of the material. The other 8 were “just curious.” However, on finding out that there were other people like themselves and knowing about relevant resources, they walked away happier and feeling less isolated… the highlight of my weekend.
Which is what Confest is about. Giving. Respect for each other. Which begs a question. If it’s so easy for Confest to be respectful of humanity without a whole lot of rules, how come it’s so hard for society to do it?
PS This article was submitted to a local pink newspaper for possible publication: no response, so blogreaders, you get the exclusive!
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