Transgender Bodybuilder Chris Bruce Comes In Second In Female Bodybuilding

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/transgendered-bodybuilder-chris-bruce-comes-in-second_n_1069535.html

Bodybuilder Chris Tina Bruce didn't win her first bodybuilding competition in 18 years, but she still feels victorious.

That's because Bruce, a 43-year-old personal trainer in San Diego, is transgender and her participation in the Border States Classic Bodybuilding competition on Oct. 29 represented not just three months of intense physical preparation, but also a lifetime of coming to terms with her true identity as a woman.

The 6-foot, 3-inch Bruce dropped 40 pounds for the event, and while the organizers were OK with a former male competing as female, she admits she was nervous about the reaction her participation would engender.

Although she ended up coming in second in her event, Bruce says she still feels like a winner.

"I came in second and I understand why they couldn't give it to me," Bruce told The Huffington Post. "But I was treated with respect. People, including the other contestants, asked to pose with me. I went in there expecting the worst, but there was no booing."

However, that second-place honor may be as ambiguous as the concept of gender. According to contest organizer John Lindsay, Bruce was only competing against one other contestant, a 48-year-old female bodybuilder.

"Female bodybuilding is dead," Lindsay explained to The Huffington Post, adding that that category usually only attracts one or two contestants.

A female bodybuilder who wasn't at the event but who agreed to speak on background says its common for trophies to be handed out to the top five in each category and that it is also common for competitive bodybuilders who are only competitng against one other person to do as Bruce has and say they came in second.

Bruce says that while her event was on at the early portion of the evening, she believes her participation -- and the international attention it received -- helped attract a huge crowd.

"The parking lot was jammed," Bruce said proudly. "The promoter told me he had a dozen media requests for coverage, but turned them down out of respect to the other contestants. Which, again, I understand. It's a mental game."

Lindsay -- who emphasizes that he thinks Bruce is "a nice guy" and "am glad he participated" -- tells a slightly different story.

"I've been doing this for 25 years and sell out every year, so I see zero impact from him being in the show," Lindsay said. "I will say this, during the preliminary rounds, the other contestant had four supporters there and he had none."

Meanwhile, Bruce says the reaction and support she says she received represents a great moment in her life and she is pleased that other contestants did speak with her rather than be standoffish.

"It reinforced to me that I need to keep doing it," she said proudly.

If she does, it won't be with Lindsay's competition.

"I don't want to rain on the parade, but I was under the impression the hardware had been removed, and it hasn't been," Lindsay said. "We're not going to have men competing against women and I am not setting up a transgender category."

Bruce concedes that she has not surgically transitioned, but says that shouldn't mean anything.

"Hormones are what makes the difference between male and female," she said, adding that, at this point, her penis is just a urethra.

She also says that while she was only competing against one other person, she believes the No. 2 position is a great personal victory.

"Going through what I've gone through will make a person stronger than lifting weights," she said.

Although Bruce is keeping her eye on potential competitions, she also wants to build up her personal training business and has her eyes set on the perfect celebrity client: Chaz Bono, the transgender son of Cher, who has quick-stepped his way to controversy on "Dancing With The Stars" this season.

Gay Man Stabbed, Beaten & Set On Fire In Texas By Homophobes

via:http://perezhilton.com/

Our hearts ache for this guy. We can't even imagine the pain he is feeling, inside and out.

While you were probably out have a great time at a Halloween party on Sunday, this guys was being tortured ruthlessly by bigots, simply because he's gay.

Burke Burnett, a 26-year-old openly gay man in Reno, Texas was viciously attacked by some fellow partiers this weekend when he rubbed a group of man the wrong way. Understand that Burke did nothing but arrive at the party with some friends, leave, then return with another person, a close girl friend, before he was jumped by four guys, who had no mercy to show the man they called a “pussy-ass faggot,” “gay bitch” and “cock-sucking punk.”

According to Burke (and there are clearly pictures to prove it) he was relentlessly beaten by the man in the face, before the stabbed him TWICE with a broken beer bottle, once in the back and then in the arm. They then threw his weak body into a fire, where he sustained second degree burns. He also needed to have 30 stitches to close stab wounds to his back and forearm, as well as a cut above his left eye. (above)

Unfortunately, no arrests have been made at this time, but police have assured the public they are investigating the situation.

The unimaginable things that simple-minded people will do. Just look at that poor kid. He deserves that. He deserves such violence brought upon. Why? WHY?! To make those four guys feel like men? To try and rid the world of something that don't understand, so it must be bad?!

If everything is bigger in Texas, than we imagine these guys are the biggest homophobes in our country. We hope they pay for their ignorance.

University bans gay employees

in: http://www.starobserver.com.au

A university in the US state of Georgia is forcing its 200 employees to sign a statement declaring that they reject homosexuality.

Atlanta’s WSBTV news reports that employees at Shorter University, a Christian Baptist school, who sign the ‘personal lifestyle pledge’ must also reject premarital sex and adultery, and other behaviour the school deems to violate the Bible’s teachings. Anyone who doesn’t sign the pledge is at risk of losing their jobs.

The pledge also requires employees to be active in local churches.

The lifestyle statement was adopted by the school’s board of trustees last month and presented to employees three days later, on October 24.

All new employees will have to sign the pledge upon being hired, and all current employees will have to sign it in order to renew their contract. The pledge notifies employees that they can be fired for violating the new policy.

“We now will live in fear that someone who doesn’t like us personally or someone who has had a bad day will report that we’ve been drinking or that we are suspected of being gay,” an anonymous employee told gay newspaper, Georgia Voice.

“There is no defined process and even if there were, there is no way to absolutely prove or disprove the accusation.”

Shorter president Don Dowless told WSBTV that the goal wasn’t to offend people, and that lots of Christian schools have similar pledges.

“These are biblical positions,” he said.

School officials said that since the school doesn’t receive federal funding, it believes its actions are perfectly legal.

In Victoria this year, the Baillieu Government passed the controversial Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill which made easier for religious organisations to discriminate against LGBT people.

The new bill reversed the former Brumby Government’s legislation — due to come into effect in August — which included an inherent requirements test provision requiring religious bodies to establish that their ability to discriminate for a particular job was an ‘inherent requirement’ for the role.

LGBT Quote of the day

"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? "


~Ernest Gaines

GIRL SCOUTS OF COLORADO RELEASED STATEMENT WELCOMING TRANSGENDER YOUTH

http://www.glaad.org/blog/girl-scouts-colorado-released-statement-welcoming-transgender-youth

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 organization and we accept all girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade as members,” the statement says. “If a child identifies as a girl and the child's family presents her as a girl, Girl Scouts of Colorado welcomes her as a Girl Scout.” Girl Scouts of Colorado also asserted that it is reaching out to the family of the excluded child and will be altering its training programs so that all girls are supported.

Corey Barrett of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Community Center of Colorado commented on the matter, saying that as children explore their gender identity and expression, “I think it's all about providing a healthy environment for them for that to happen. Everyone needs to be prepared or at least have an idea from a policy and procedure stand point how they're going to address that.” According to their statement, Girl Scouts of Colorado is committed to providing that environment. “Our requests for support of transgender kids have grown, and Girl Scouts of Colorado is working to best support these children, their families and the volunteers who serve them.”

Transgender Woman Expelled from Riverside University After Appearing on MTV's 'True Life'

in: http://laist.com/

After appearing on MTV's Reality Show "True Life," Domaine Javier - a transgender woman - was expelled from her nursing program at California Baptist University (CBU) in Riverside. The 24-year-old student revealed on the show that she is biologically male, inciting a major roadblock in her career path.

The private university claims that Javier was expelled for "committing or attempting to engage in fraud, or concealing identity" and for presenting false or misleading information in university judicial processes, reports The Press-Enterprise. Javier, who has identified herself as a female since she was a toddler, did so on her CBU application form.

"I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Javier. "They said, ‘On your application form you put 'female.' And I was like, 'Yeah, that’s how I see myself.'"

The expulsion became effective on August 30, just one week before Javier was slated to begin the nursing program. She had recently transferred to CBU from Riverside City College (RCC). "Devastated" by her expulsion, Javier returned to RCC but cannot enter the nursing program until next fall. "This totally ruined my career path," she said. "I've been trying to finish as soon as possible." Her graduation will be delayed by at least one year.

Mark Wood, an attorney with San Francisco-based Transgender Law Center, says that, although California law prohibits employment, housing, government, insurance and other types of discrimination based upon gender identity, private universities are generally not covered by the discrimination law.

CBU is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, which is the most conservative major Baptist denomination. Javier, aware of the university's religious foundation but unaware of its affiliation, says she "didn't know they were that extreme."

Raising awareness and support on transgender issues were two major reasons why Javier applied to appear on the reality show episode "I’m Passing as Someone I’m Not," which aired in April. Despite the detrimental backfire, she does not regret her decision to publicize her gender identity. “I’m a happier person now,” she said, having received much positive feedback from supporters.

Trans Representation in the Media

in:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emerson-whitney/trans-media_b_1031747.html

Last night, I slouched in the center row of a mostly empty theatre while a gaggle of teen queers passed around a fuzzy microphone, reflecting on the importance of the Gay-Straight Alliance at their local high schools.

A teen with flamingo-pink leggings and immaculate eye makeup stood to address the crowd. "I don't know if you guys watch TV," they said, "but you've probably heard of Chaz Bono."

The audience cooed.

"Most of the things I've found online about him are ugly and bigoted and awful. People call Chaz 'she,' and people call Chaz 'it.' Chaz is not an 'it.' Chaz is a man. When is this going to stop?" the high schooler begged. "I am a transgender person. And the things I hear about transgender people and read about us in the news hurt. Treatment of gay and lesbian people have changed a lot, but respect for transgender people is really far behind."

This young-adult queer very clearly articulated to a room full of dumfounded adults how they are failed by consistently negative and uninformed media coverage of trans and gender-variant people. I couldn't help but hang my head.

I am a thread -- albeit tiny -- in the current media fabric. I work as a professional reporter and writer, and I am also a flaming gay, glitter-loving transgender person.

Last week, I was disgusted by the media's response to coverage of Tammy Lobel, an 11-year-old transgender girl who was recently featured in a CNN article titled "Transgender kids: Painful quest to be who they are." The article detailed the use of hormone blockers as part of "gender identity disorder" treatment for some underage kids.

Fox News in particular -- no surprise there -- launched an attack on Tammy's parents, who are, coincidently, lesbian-identified and therefore, according to Fox, are making Tammy into their own image of sapphic femininity. The article screamed of "child abuse."

But Fox News is only the most obvious media specter. An overwhelming majority of news media have fallen short of earnest reportage by sticking with transgender story headlines that read like: sex, hate crime, job discrimination, sex, death, jail, sex, suicide, porn, child abuse, sex, sex.

And unfortunately, using "it" as a pronoun for trans people is not at all uncommon. Recently, in an episode of the USA Network show Psyche, a main character proclaimed, "Forget about her, or him, or it -- if it's transgender." (Screen shots here.)

Last February, GLADD published an article titled "Ignorance of Transgender Issues Apparent in Media" after a now-infamous Saturday Night Live skit that openly mocked trans women on hormones.

"The media's main problem -- and its biggest responsibility -- both come from the fact that it delivers the vast majority of the messages the public receives about what it actually means to be transgender," wrote Aaron McQuade, GLAAD's Deputy Director of News and Field Media. "The simple fact is that an overwhelming majority of Americans simply don't know any transgender people. According to a study we commissioned in 2008, only eight percent of Americans said they knew someone who was transgender."

And maybe even more troubling is the percentage of actual trans people behind the making of news -- just in case you weren't sure, it's jaw-droppingly low.

As a budding reporter, the only reference point I had for a writer like me was that of a Los Angeles Times sports correspondent who came out as trans and then, horrifically, committed suicide.

Because of sheer oversaturation, I imagine that someday we will move away from the trans narrative that is now so familiar to us: a white, privileged person is "trapped in the wrong body." Questions about genital status and other bodily changes related to hormone therapy ensue. Followed by an inevitable over-sexualization, sideshow-esque curiosity, or hopeful period of normalization.

I welcome a new news, a positive, inclusive, varied account of trans people within a larger conversation of race, gender, and class.

As a trans person, I do not readily fit the description of those most often portrayed. My gender identity is androgynous. My preferred pronoun is "he," with a masculinity that is most closely related that of Shakespearian fairies -- fluid and slight. I am bookish, fay and a glam-rock fanatic.

As a reporter, I hope that new media will grow to encompass transgender and gender-variant expressions as varied as my own. Awareness of trans issues is expanding, and we deserve expansive news sources, too -- a news media that opens to a new level of earnest sensitivity and accountability for information they provide about trans/genderqueer people, if only for those teen queers looking for positive, accurate reflections of themselves in the world.

The Best and Worst Trans News Last Week

Best: The Root, "Black and Transgender: A Double Burden"

Worst: Fox News, "Male or Female? Boy Given Drugs So He Can Pick Gender"