Chelsea Manning – STORY BY JAMIE LEE

THIS IS JUST COMMING OUT, IN THE NEWS…….I DON’T KNOW WHAT SHE DID, TO GO TO PRISON, BUT SHE NOW IN AN ICON, IN THE TRANSSEXUAL COMMUNITY.    WE ARE MOVING FORWARD FOR OUR ACCEPTANCE, AND FREEDOM AS TRUE TRANSSEXUAL WOMEN……AND PLEASE NOTE, WE ARE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE, AND NOT Masquerading AROUND, AND DECEIVING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE WE ARE NATEL WOMEN , FOR OUR BLOGS OR FOR MONATERY REASONS.  WE ARE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE STAND FOR………………………….JAMIE LEE – A TRANSSEXUAL WOMAN AND PROUD.                       DECEPTION I DECEPTION – IF THE SHOE FITS WEAR IT………..

 

NEW YORK — Chelsea Manning’s lack of access to hormone therapy in military prison could spark a lawsuit and potentially set a military-wide precedent for transgender servicemembers.

On Thursday, one day after she was sentenced to 35 years in prison for sending classified documents to WikiLeaks, Manning confirmed what had been suspected for years: that she identified as a woman and no longer wanted to be called Bradley. But as Manning arrived at military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., officials there said that they do not offer the hormone therapy that Manning has said she wants, and which accepted medical practice says could be used to treat her diagnosed gender dysphoria.

Manning’s defense attorney David Coombs vowed Thursday to do “everything in my power to make sure they are forced” to provide her hormone therapy at Fort Leavenworth. But because the prison is citing an Army regulation banning transgender people serving in the military as its basis for denying Manning treatment, it will only provide her hormone therapy if it is forced to.

“Chelsea Manning’s refusal of treatment by the military could turn into a very, very interesting game-changer,” said Brynn Tannehill of the LGBT servicemember group SPART*A. “This is a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

The ACLU said in a statement following Manning’s announcement that denying her treatment might violate her constitutional rights.

Manning will not be eligible for parole for at least eight years, potentially leaving her without access to appropriate care for the gender dysphoria, intense stress caused by discomfort with one’s assigned gender, that a military psychologist diagnosed her with just before her arrest.

Although the military ended its Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy barring openly gay servicemembers in September 2011, the Army still bars transgender servicemembers as “administratively unfit.” The official Army regulation uses medically outdated terminology referring to “transvestism, voyeurism, other paraphilias, or factitious disorders, psychosexual conditions, transsexual, (or) gender identity disorder.”

Transgender servicemembers are supposed to be administratively separated from the Army, and cannot receive treatments for gender dysphoria like hormone therapy or sex-reassignment surgery. But administrative separation is not an option for soldiers sentenced to prison like Manning, whose rank will soon be reduced to Army private.

A Fort Leavenworth spokeswoman confirmed to HuffPost on Thursday that the military’s refusal to provide hormone therapy to its prisoners is derived from that official Army regulation, not simply a matter of prison policy or practice.

Army regulation stands in sharp contrast to the policies of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the Endocrine Society, all of which acknowledge hormone therapy as an effective treatment for people who need to transition because of gender dysphoria.

“To deprive someone of this treatment is simply inhumane, and it’s no different than denying someone of their blood pressure medication or antibiotics,” said Lauren McNamara, an activist who exchanged Internet chats with Manning in 2009, before she sent files to WikiLeaks and before they both came out as transgender.

“Not allowing people people to have access to this is basically holding them hostage to their own bodies and denying them their autonomy,” said McNamara. “It is really no different than taking a woman and involuntarily exposing them to testosterone.”

There are a wide range of views within the LGBT community about how Manning’s decision to send files to WikiLeaks should be viewed. Some fear that her actions could be used to paint other LGBT servicemembers as traitors, and groups that are generally referred to as mainstream, like the Human Rights Campaign, kept their distance throughout his trial. To other activists, however, she is a hero.

Nevertheless, the military’s post-sentencing treatment of Manning seems to be uniting LGBT groups. The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement calling for her to receive appropriate care.

Tannehill was careful to state that Manning’s identity does not mitigate the charges on which Manning was convicted. But, she said, “I want for any prisoner to be treated with accepted medical standards of ethics, and that’s regardless of what she did.”

The Palm Center, a think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was awarded a $1.35 million grant to study transgender military service in July. The Palm Center’s research also laid the groundwork for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

But that’s about as much progress has been made on official acceptance of open transgender servicemembers, Tannehill said.

Talks with military officials are “informal, below the water lines, one-on-one,” and she said that even under the best of circumstances, she can only imagining the Army repealing its outdated regulation in five years.

Tannehill and some others in the transgender community are concerned that the intense publicity around Manning’s decision to come out as a woman could set back the cause of allowing transgender servicemembers to serve openly.

“I don’t know if this is going to be the best test case for that both in terms of publicity and focus,” said Nathaniel Frank, who wrote a widely-cited book about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2009. He doubts that a lawsuit aimed at Manning’s prison conditions would have an impact on the wider Army regulation.

Still, he said, “I do think because of the publicity around Manning, this could be a test case for how transgender people are treated when incarcerated.”

Access to hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery are contested issues far beyond the military. Many state prisons do not provide one or both, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons only reached a settlement in 2011 to allow prisoners to start hormone therapy while incarcerated. Transgender inmates everywhere, meanwhile, face disproportionate exposure to the rape endemic to America’s prisons.

“I do think the publicity focused around this, even though some of it is negative, both reflects the pace of change and could help focus attention on the experience and needs of transgender people,” Frank said.

A POST DEDICATED TO TRINITY & ASHLEY – LA VITA e BELLA

” LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL”

EXPRESS YOUR SELF

So there is was just sitting and minding my own business, and I decided to call my, Niece Melanie, who resides in New York

We haven’t talked to each other for possibly a year, because we have been busy.

Melanie has two beautiful daughters:

Trinity & Ashley

An amazing conversation took place with Melanie saying that she was always following my Blog, an she said, that she was proud of me, and my courage!

For fighting for the rights of  myself, and Transsexual woman.

THEN TRINITY AND ASHLEY, HER DAUGHTERS TALKEED TO ME ON THE PHONE, AND SAID HOW PROUD AND ACCEPTNG THEY WERE, OF ME,  AS JAMIE LEE.

WHAT IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL, IS THE FACT THAT!

Here are two young and beautiful girls and woman, who are related to me, and have been following, me and have learned about the Transgendered Community, from the Education, which I have posted, and they both made sure to tell me that they will support, and stand up for the transgendered Community for the rest of their lives, because, they understand. 

ASHLEY & TRINITY

Thank you from the bottom of my Heart – Jamie Lee

AND THIS CURTSY IS FOR YOU – I love you guys

And as Trinity said:  La Vita e Bella – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL !

AND ONE MORE STATEMENT FROM THIS YOUNG LADY :    Express Yourself – Trin

A MESSAGE FROM JAMIE LEE…………….

 

 

 

 

A MESSAGE TO MY COMMUNITY:

 

I have hid, struggled my whole life, to exist and to be.  I have transitioned and have crossed so many obstacles.  I have broken down walls. I have cried, suffered, and hated myself, over and over again.

I have despised my mirror, my image.  I have been on hormones and estrogen for over 7 years now!  I am being treated medically aw a transsexual woman (NOT A NATAL WOMAN)

I am at the stealth of my Transition, other than having the SRS.  I am happy with myself for the first time in so many years.  I know who I am!  I am Jamie Lee, a gift that was born differently, with Masculinity and Femininity.   More feminine that masculine!  

What is outrageous to me is the idiots, in my own Trans Community, who deceive the public and society into thinking that they were born, as a natal female, whether, it be by deceit, photos or words. We should be proud of who, we should be or need to be,  instead of why can’t we be!

Sure we have a right to identify ourselves as women, but when it comes to friends and especially relationships, we have a responsibility to identify ourselves as being born males in life, and educate them about our plight.

I also believe, It is highly disrespect to natal born females, that we suggest that we fit into the same category.    BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why can’t we be proud of who we are, and what we have gone through in our transitions to become divinely Feminine………………..

I am Jamie Lee and I am proud that I am a Transsexual Woman, and have come this far.

You all know who I am talking about !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Jamie Lee

MY STRUGGLE WITH SELF-WORTH BY: JAMIE LEE

HOW TO CREATE SELF WORTH

One thing that almost all transsexuals, indeed almost all people at all, suffer from is a very low level of self-esteem.

Confidence, empowerment, the feeling of having value to one’s self, and to others, is greatly desired. For a great part of my life, I have known such a deep feeling of worthlessness that it was impossible for me to imagine just what feeling good about myself would be like. I understood intellectually that such a feeling must be better than what I knew, that there must be a positive way to feel about my own existence, but I simply could not imagine how it might be achieved.  One thing I often wished for in those times was for someone to explain to me exactly how to achieve real and lasting self-worth. No one could, with simple admonishments to ‘cheer up’, or mindless brush-offs in the form of ‘you’ll get over all that in time’ being the rule.

I have learned the secret that I sought long ago, and I imagine I am not the only soul to have been so desperate simply to feel some degree of goodness about myself. Perhaps others might wish to know the mechanism by which self-worth is generated. Here it is.

Self-worth depends on just a few basic factors.
 
 
Self-worth comes greatly from feeling that one has taken a sufficient degree of useful and valid action in the world. The nature and type of that action is irrelevant. What matters is that one feels that the actions taken are both useful and valid.

By useful, the action must accomplish something that provides benefit of some sort to one’s self or to others, or both.

By valid, the action must fit within the individual’s personal ethical framework. The action must be considered appropriate, necessary, correct, proper, or acceptable to the self.

By sufficient degree of action, the amount of action taken must feel like it is enough…for now. This last point is absolutely vital, and is often a stumbling block for people. It must be incorporated into the individual that there is such a thing as having done enough for a given period of time. This may require determining real and concrete rules for action in relation to time. Vague estimates may sometime lead to a condition of feeling like one has never done enough. This is detrimental, and ultimately, destructive. One must develop a reasonable concept of effort.

One way to develop a reasonable concept of how much is enough is to truly incorporate the bromide of ‘Having Done One’s Best’. It is reasonably easy for most people, unless they are incapacitated by clinical levels of depression more suited to medication than words, to judge when they have more or less done the best that they can.

To judge that one has done one’s best, within the time available, with the available resources, and under whatever duress was ambient, is useful in learning how to determine when one has done enough. Use this tool, it is a cliché for a reason: it works.

A last part of relating to action in the world is actually remembering the things one has done, and thinking about them. Self-reflection is important to self-worth. One must make the effort to consistently, and as dispassionately as possible, reflect upon the actions one has taken. The important part here is not to fuss over the action, but to be able to feel the sheer weight of the effort. One has to actively make one’s own actions count.

Indeed, the concepts listed above for achievement can be broken down into some basic rules to observe:

 LEARNING TO WALK

Self-worth is not instant. It is a process, not a thing! Self-worth is constantly being sapped and demolished by the nature of our society, and even the physics of our universe. A person is responsible for their own happiness, and also for their own self-worth. Neither can really be bought, sold, given or accepted, despite all fuss to the contrary. Self-worth, and happiness for that matter, must be CONSTRUCTED OVER TIME.

A baby cannot immediately run, but must first crawl, then walk. Self-worth cannot be truly, permanently gained overnight. At best an illusion of self-importance can be gained by fame or sudden success, but this mirage quickly fades. Lasting good feelings can only be achieved by developing a basic technique of constantly generating them.

The technique is simple and must forever be used: there is no point at which one may slack off. One must DO. Take action, small at first, then gradually greater, building up. It is that simple.

One note about the nature of action: one ALWAYS takes action. Doing nothing is also an action. The key is to do whatever one does deliberately, even if that action is to do nothing. One must make the effort to take responsibility for both action, and inaction. Always be aware that one cannot help but choose. Choice is not a privilege; it is a fact of existence.

Choose actions to take that are well within the realm of success. Successes build self-confidence, and so one must stockpile them up. The successes do not need to be great, they need to be abundant.

This is an important point. There is sometimes the confusion that one must achieve great things to feel great. This is often counterproductive, because it can lead to attempting things far out of one’s league, and thus produce ego shattering failures. It is easy to understand that abundant failure breeds self-loathing. The reverse must be understood to be true as well. Abundant successes…even small ones…gradually create self-worth.

Huge successes are dramatic and can boost self-worth a great deal, if briefly. However the risk of failure is greater, and at the lowest levels of self-esteem this becomes critical. Tiny successes may seem too small to be satisfying, but over time they stockpile. Enough tiny successes can create sufficient confidence and self-knowledge to make larger action successful.

This too can be put into simple rules:
 
 
 LIFE SUPPORT

Even if one diligently applies all of the concepts above, it can come to naught if the drain of the environment is too great. Human beings are social creatures, we require other people -or at least other animals- and we gain much of our orientation and validation from social contact.

Other beings are our mirrors, they reflect to us what and who we are by the effect we have upon them. It must be understood, however, that not all mirrors are equal, and that some mirrors totally distort what they reflect.

If an individual is very lacking in self-worth, this can become a difficult issue. As social animals we hunger for company, and if we are low in self-esteem, we may feel unworthy of decent company and grateful for any attention at all. Poor quality attention, from unworthy people, is often worse than being alone for a while.

There is a fairly easy way to determine if the company one keeps is worth keeping, or should be actively avoided. Judge whether you are being raised or lowered emotionally. Does your companionship make you feel good?

If your companions consistently degrade you, if their comments and the overall emotional effect of them makes you feel bad about yourself, life, your plans and attempts at achievement, your happiness and usefulness, then your companions are destructive to you.

A worthwhile companion, a worthy friend, consistently helps to lift your spirits. This does not mean that they agree with you on everything, or support every plan you construct, rather it means that overall, they encourage rather than condemn, offer help rather than despair, and show that you are worth their time and effort, by consistent mutuality.

Unworthy people must be avoided. No matter who they are, what their relationship to you is, or their social or emotional connection. This is not a matter of ego or whim; this is a matter of survival. Avoid those who drag you down, who minimalize or abuse you, or otherwise depress and sadden you. Loneliness can be cured in time, but a bad relationship can drag on indefinitely and limit the chances of gaining better relationships.

A valid relationship is a mutual thing. It must be. If it is not, it is not real, and is best left. To be mutual, a relationship must show roughly balanced interaction: What is done is returned in kind. A valid relationship builds up, and enhances power, self-worth, and provides support and assistance. It is trustworthy and useful for all parties involved. If it is not, even if it be a bond of blood or law, it is poison, and must be abandoned if it cannot be changed into a valid form. This must be followed.

If the basic concept outlined above is consistently and diligently followed, the result will be a gradual build up of self-worth and confidence. With it will come an increase in satisfaction, contentment, and add to overall happiness. The basic principle is simple: start out with small successes, keep trying slightly greater things to achieve still greater successes, and surround yourself ONLY with supportive, mutual, encouraging people.

Over time it then becomes inevitable that self-worth and confidence will be the result. Here is a summary list of the basic rules as give
If one makes even a partial effort along these lines they will be rewarded by feeling better about themselves, and any progress helps make for more progress yet.

Diligent effort will be rewarded with maximum gain. Even if one cannot imagine what self-worth feels like, even if one is afraid of self-worth, these rules put forth a simple and functional plan to cling to, in order to achieve lasting and real self-worth. For those with gender issues, self-worth can often spell the difference between survival and destruction. Every living thing has the basic natural right to fight for it’s own survival. Bother to do so.

The basic principle is simple: start out with small successes, keep trying slightly greater things to achieve still greater successes, and surround yourself ONLY with supportive, mutual, encouraging people.

WHY CAN’T WE BE FREE BY: JAMIE LEE

 

 

MY PERSPECTIVE

 

So many of us have suffered the loss of family in becoming
the human beings we were meant to be.

There were so many times when I hesitated and questioned the cost of transition, not only the financial burden but the true cost we all pay in losing so much of our former lives,
because, others simply cannot accept that their reality isn’t necessarily our
reality.

And it is in our own reality, and not theirs, in which each of us must live in order to survive.  We have all struggled to exist in the Lie because we were all born with an identity that did not match our bodies. All of us have gone to extreme measures to help others love us by striving desperately to live their expectations for, and of, us. Some of us have even
managed to live out nearly our entire lives existing on the edge of sanity for the
sake of acceptance and what passes for love in our society.

I don’t have  that kind of strength and I discovered that I didn’t need “that kind” of
love, nor did I love anyone else so much that I was willing to sacrifice my sanity and eventually my life simply because they couldn’t accept me for who  I  am.

So I quit questioning the cost of transition because I decided that what I was really “buying” was my own life.

There’s a quote I like from a movie character that has often been satirized in the media (most often on radio shows). The movie was    “Shawshank Redemption”, the character was Red (played by Morgan Freeman) and  the quote is simply this “GET BUSY LIVING OR GET BUSY DYING” . I spent most of my life trying to sit on the fence between the two and what’s funny about that is that there isn’t any there!

There is life and there is death and nothing in between the two. and the choice was mine to make. There is no pain in death; it’s one of the reasons so many of us look to make it our choice. There is no love, no anger, no fear, no humiliation, no rejection, no hate, no depression, no loneliness, the list goes on for what there “isn’t” in death and it’s a very long list because it incorporates everything in life…everything.

We have all made that choice and sometimes we struggle but we’re here and that means our realities exist and are just as valid as those of the people who would deny us for the sake of their own comfort.
None of us need ever face this kind of battle again alone and isolated, nor need we ever doubt that finding our true selves and living as we choose to present ourselves is ever wrong, it isn’t. For those who find they cannot live with us as we are, then let them live without us and in time they will discover the loss and feel the; emptiness left where our love used to be.

It’s a void that cannot be filled by righteous indignation, self-serving feelings of betrayal,or immature embarrassment at the life-celebrating actions of another. It’s a
void that will last a lifetime and be felt by the generation who follows and inherits the actions of their parents.

And it is to them that we must show the most patience and love because it is through no fault of their own that they were born in an age of intolerance and self-serving egocentrism. Look to the future when your grandchildren have grown up hearing about this mystery person, maybe half remembered, which became someone else and was shunned for doing so.

I promise when they become young adults  (teenagers off to college etc.) that they will contact you because, if nothing else, the curiosity will drive them crazy. It’s then that they will come  to know You as you would like them to know you and not as those around them may have portrayed you.

You are a wonderful, courageous, and loving person so smile, knowing that we’re here and we care and make this your motto:

Noli nothis permittere te terere (Don’t let the bastards get you down).

JAMIE LEE – A Transsexual woman…………………….

DECEPTION – JAMIE LEE

MY OPINION – FACT OR CRAP

We in the Transgendered Community, have come a long way, recently, in Education, Laws, Acceptance,

and freedom, by leaps and bounds!

EVEN WITH THE LABELS AND TERMS USED

A few years ago, naturally born women were called “Genetic Females” and we were referred as Cross-dressers, in the Transgendered Community,   I and some others are called “Transsexuals”

Then an intense study was done by the Medical and Scientific Community, and they found that,

Trans-sexuality is caused by “Genetics” !

Hmmmmm.  Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy !  Now I have the reason I was born this way, an answer if been seeking all my life!

AND IT POINTS OUT,  THAT I AM A FEMALE BORN IN THE WRONG BODY!!!!!!

(INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN PLAY WITH VERBAGE ALL THEY WANT}

BUT THE FACT ARE WE ARE NOT, NATAL WOMEN !!!!!

When the above Study was completed, it then allowed us transsexuals to refer to ourselves as Genetic Woman, Justifiably so!

So this changes the terminology in the following manner:

1. A naturally born woman is now referred to as a “NATAL WOMAN”

2. Transsexual woman are and can be referred to as “GENETIC WOMAN”

BUT, WE ARE NOT NATAL WOMEN, AND TO DECEIVE ANY ONE, IN PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY IN THE TRANSGENDERED COMMUNITY IS WRONG !!!!!!!!!   And especially to rely on the ignorance of the public, where they don’t understand the terms, into thinking we are “NATAL FEMALES”

I EVEN TOOK MY OPINION TO THE NEXT STEP, AND CALLED A FEW OF MY LONG TERM FRIENDS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ASKED THEIR OPINION!

HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID:

1. They agreed with what I said above.

2.  They said it was ok to identify ourselves in public, as being born female and on the internet, etc, which I agree with.

3.  We all agreed. that we can refer to us as females, but the moment it becomes a friendship with anyone, we need to be honest and truthful, and not deceive them into thinking we are “NATALLY BORN WOMAN”

AND I SAY, EXPECIALLY WHEN A PERSON IS TRANSGENDERED, AND PLAYS WITH WORDS, TO DECEIVE US, AS SISTERS IN THE COMMUNITY, ABOUT THEIR TRANSITION!

IT IS IGNORANT AND DISRESPECTFULL TO US AND TO NATAL WOMAN!

Jamie Lee – Genetic Transsexual Woman

GLBT ADOVOCATE

NOTICE:

I AND MY CRYSTAL CONNECTION IS ABOUT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT!  I AM GOING TO BE BOLD ENOUGH TO SAY , I KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS ABOUT THE TRANSGENDERED COMMUNITY.

I APPOLOGIZE FOR MY BRASHNESS SOMETIMES, BUT I THINK THAT COMES FROM,  BEING EX-LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 30 YEARS.  IF ANYONE DISAGREES WITH ANY STORY, STATEMENT, OR OPINION SEEN ON THE “CRYSTAL CONNECTION”   I INVITE YOU TO CORRECT ME, OR SAY WHERE I AM WRONG

Thank you – Jamie Lee

OH, by the way, I want to warn you!

Don’t ever get into a pissing contest with a skunk!  You will always lose!

and

Never try to “BULLSHIT a “BULLSHITTER”

JAMIE LEE – ME & MY MIRROR

WHAT MORE CAN BE SAID………………………………………………………………………………..Jamie Lee

for infinity

I am Jamie Lee

I APOLOGIZE

I APPOLIGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE FROM THE CRYSTAL CONNECTION

I TAKE PRIDE IN THIS, AND I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO STAY UP-DATED IN NEWS, EDUCATION AND POSTS.

I have been extremely busy recently:

1.  I have the Crystal Connection.

2. I currently,  am having a Book written about my life.

3.  I have been recruited by a Modeling Agency, and am,  involved in Acting, Modeling and voice over.

I HAVE HAD ALOT ON MY PLATE

JAMIE LEE

MASK OR MIRROR

In our transition,  and for our own acceptance, the anger, sadness and intensity, can at times be overwhelming !

In my case, sometimes to the point of insanity.

The individual who wrote this, has been a Dear friend of mine, for approximately 20 years.

THESE WORDS MAKE ME CRY!

These words reflect me, and probably a lot of us, struggling in our Community, to be free, to be accepted and to be heard.

To my Dear friend who wrote this, and submitted it for my blog, I say to you, THANK YOU.

THIS POST IS IN HONOR OF YOU

Jamie Lee

Not long ago, a couple of months now, it was time to don a mask for “fat Tuesday” and celebrate Mardi Gras.  There are other times when we put on a mask, like Halloween, New Year’s eve parties or any masquerade ball.  There are times when we try to deceive others as to who might be behind the mask.  There are those in our society, unfortunately, who will wear a mask to hide their identity for illicit purposes.  Sometimes we wear a mask to hide and become someone else such as a political figure, action figure  or cartoon character.

Now I stand before a mirror.  Am I creating another mask as I apply my foundation and use color sticks to create a more feminine shape?  Maybe a little powder and blush will make me appear happy if not content.  This reminds me of a movie, “What lies beneath?”  No, I’m not going to the depths of the ocean.  What I might be doing is much more dangerous.  That statement reminds me of my granddaughter.  When ever she did not want to do something when a very young child, she would exclaim, That’s dangerous!”  Is it dangerous to explore the depths of your being?  Water is clear, deep water appears blue just like space, so this calls for blue eye shadow.   And yes, blue eye shadow is back in vogue.  The light brown eye liner and blue shadow bring out the blue specks of my hazel eyes.  Use those eyes, what do I see?  What or who is in the mirror?  The eyes sparkle, they are not empty or dead.  Okay, I am alive, but all that foundation did nothing to hide the deep lines.  Grandmother didn’t have botox.  She didn’t use much makeup, ever.  She called them her life lines.  Are these life lines?  I know what kind of a life she had.  Does the number and depth of the wrinkles tell the story of anger and frustration?  Could it be that if her life or mine was lived differently that there would be no lines?  Well, maybe, smaller ones.

Now to put on the finishing touches of mascara, lip liner and gloss.  How strange, the right eye has long curved lashes and the left eye has nearly none.  Funny, when I was young and growing up all the women in the family used to say what wonderful long lashes I had and too bad they were wasted on me.  Wasted?  On me?  Is that what I am, a waste, to be thrown out with the rest of the trash?  Maybe that is why I won the “Miss Trash” contest a couple of years ago.  Oh well, pucker up, return a smile.  My lips look like my sister’s, rather thin.  I can use the lip liner to make them look fuller but not much.  Now I must remember to curve the liner up at the corners of my mouth.  That’s it, create at least a hint of a smile, try to look happy.  Surprise!  There are not a lot of lines around the mouth, even at my age.  What age is that?  My wife tells me that I should dress my age.  Am I so old that I can’t wear fashionable clothing?  I like my skirts and dress length to cut just at the top of my knee.  She used to tell me that my best feature was my legs.  So, what do I consider my age?  What happened to the girl in her teens?  Where did the young woman in her 20’s and 30’s, looking for a career, go?  Was she ever there visible and not seen?  Am I to be my own grandma?

There is only the lip gloss to go.  Look, look deep!  What is it that I see; a mask or a mirror?  Is this a mask hiding my maleness?  Think of all those lives that I’ve lived and touched; a real family guy and bread winner, Boy Scout leader,  soldier (airman really), university administrator, teacher, church deacon; everyone who has known the “real” me.  Look closer!  Can this not be a mirror, a mirror of what could be or could have been?  Is this a mirror of what my soul cries out?  What is real, mask or mirror, neither or both?  Who am I?

By: Suasann Irene Simms

SPEAKING OF MASK OR MIRROR

Why do so many members of the Transgendered Community, wear a mask to hide their, hidden agendas

To express, themselves in one way, but have,  fetishes, denigration, and filth, in their lives?

I WILL SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME.   WE WILL, AND CAN NEVER BE, NATAL WOMEN

We have a right to identify ourselves as women, but, WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIEVE ANYONE!

Whether it be Religion, Posting, or other forms

And when these individuals express themselves as Advocates and Teachers, in our Community, need to show themselves, with respect, integrity to the Readers of their Life and Transition! Without deception.

And while,  I mentioned Religion

I want to make a statement !

In my life and transition, I have studied basically all the Religions, AND I RESPECT THEM ALL!

BUDISM, PROTASTANT, CATHOLIC, MENNONITE, MUSLIMS, MIDDLE EASTERN, AND A MANY, MANY,  OTHERS!

AND THIS IS MY CONCLUSION

All religions point to one thing!  A DIVINE ENTITY AND/OR BEING!     Maybe it is called God, Goddess or anything else, but they all point to one thing “LOVE”

The pathetic part is that some religions think that their religion, is better than any other, That their Religion has all the answers, but others don’t!

YADDA, YADDA, YADDA

ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED, WHEN YOU USE ANY RELIGION DO DECEIVE OTHERS, TO MAKE YOU SEEM, SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT!

THEN THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL………..

I unfortunately, and sadly, have seen so many of our Transgendered Sisters, kill themselves, because of all the issues above.

DO YOU CARE?

There was a young Trans person who was married.  Her wife initially was supportive.  However, one day she visited a site from a transgendered individual;, and not only saw that the person was Transgendered, but involved, in BDSM, other PERVISIONS, And the filth!

She told her husband that she was not going to invest in their relationship and wanted a divorce!

SHORTLY THERE AFTER,  SHE KILLED HERSELF !!!!!!!!!

WHY?  BECAUSE OF SOME OF YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO WHAT IS IT?  MASK OR MIRROR

JAMIE LEE

APPROVE SAME SEX MARRAGE-THIS IS AMAZING-JAMIE LEE

WONDERFULLY STATED…………………………………….JAMIE LEE