About the Transgender Community

Check out the google + page that I got these from My Transexual Date! 

Be an Ally, Spread the Word

 Categorization places an understanding of certain things as being weaknesses where these particular things are more of a judgment. It is as plain as our understanding of right and wrong. Right and wrong are judgments just as it is a judgement to believe we know what is best for others, or the judgment that someone is going to fail because of where they are at in life/upbringing, or even the ridiculous belief that some races or sexualities are better then others. Maybe oppression has become so natural that we begin to oppress ourselves. The feeling of something wrong and being wrong has intertwined and created a society where it is not okay to be not okay. Without categorization it would be difficult to make these distinctions but it is something that seems to arise in different ways in culture and throughout the ages. It is something that can only be combated by a conscious mind and a united front. It is a job that a team of people must face together in every aspect to create a more equal and educated world. Our judgments and stereotypes are products of misunderstanding and all oppression when brought to light can disappear with just a little more knowledge.      

ULSU Pride Centre Queeraoke!

"Come out' for our monthly Queeraoke events. Starts at 10 or 11, ends at 1am, and will probably feature more show tunes than you'll know what to do with. This is our big social event, so come to meet new people, rejoin with old friends, and get that epic love ballad out of your system.
Events are 18+ and it is necessary to bring ID.

The next Queeraoke will be held on Friday, March 21 at Club Didi (517A 4th Ave S) @10pm!" 

Finding Connections

We have found through various means that connecting with the Lethbridge community at large is quite difficult for the LGBTQ community. Reasoning can be chalked up to a seemingly reoccurring theme from several of the individuals we interviewed describing Lethbridge mentality as “very redneck” and “conservative”.  However it is important to acknowledge the importance of local and understanding support; so how do we gain this sense of community?

Where the Lethbridge community is not accepting of this demographic, we have found a strong cohesion and support for the most part within the population itself. “I think the LGBT is incredibly important. I think that everyone needs to feel a sense of community, and that it is great for LGBT to have people that they feel safe around, and a group they can belong to.” The only problem is finding these groups of people. Though there are several groups there seems to be a general consensus that not many exist as a means to social interaction and events. In general most of the groups, excluding major ones within more accepting demographics such as the U of L PRIDE CENTRE, are aimed more around creating awareness and provide little support besides unity. Even though we have found that the community is interested less in “forcing [pride parades] on a small town like Lethbridge” and “interested more about meeting people within thecommunity”.  Stephan Dunbar-Edge commented in one interview that he used his Theatre group and friends as his “primary crutches”. All of this is an interesting concept to grasp as it only further excludes the population socially; however it provides a safe support.

Another important question to ask is what is the awareness level of these support groups that do exist? Interestingly enough it may not just be a lack of support in Lethbridge; and if it is a lack of support why? I think that there are a couple of reasons for both questions that became evident in answers:

1. Limited awareness of support: “we have a Pride festival… and isn’t there a thing at the water tower?”  
2. Fear of seeking support: “I definitely didn't have a connection to any sort of support system in the community. I had friends who helped me along the way, but I felt like I had to be very hushed about my sexuality. It didn't feel like an open or safe place for me to be honest with who I was, for fear of being discriminated against.” Another individual talked about being aware of their sexuality around 15 or 16 but not fully acknowledging it until about 20. She spoke of attending the pride festival for the first time around then and being scared but having her horizons broadened. Another individual said that in their opinion “there is a lack of support either because they don't want to find it or because they are scared.”
3. Improper or inadequate Support: Again talking about more socially based support that’s agenda isn’t necessarily LGBTQ awareness but connection to the community. “There are small support groups but for someone who might not be comfortable with themselves and can't admit to themselves”, creating a place for only portions of the community to gather. Not to mention the difficulty we had contacting some agencies within the Lethbridge community that are supposed to provide certain support.  With our original group PFLAG we found that many of their social media outlets were severely outdated, upon trying to contact them via email we were unable to obtain a response and calling did not gain much support either.

Ultimately I found that to create more support within the community there is a need for creating less “closeted” groups so to speak and promoting safe social gatherings that don’t necessarily involve commitment or acknowledgement from the general public. This isn’t to say we should create an us vs them mentality and that awareness campaigns are useless.  A steady communication should be maintained to provide an environment of security for new individuals while preserving this vital cohesive community atmosphere. Awareness campaigns are a very essential part of social change and should be an integral part of the macro level community which creates visibility and internationality for the group.

Anonymous Interview

Anonymous
Age: 24
Identified sex: Female
Identified Orientation: Lesbian

Are you aware of the supports available to the LGBTQ community in Lethbridge?
We have a Pride festival… and isn’t there a thing at the water tower?

Have you ever attended any events or supports?
Only the Pride Festival.
She talked to me about the experience and described it as being a scary and a new experience. She defined it as being eye opening and a whole different world was revealed to her providing new horizons. When she had attended the Pride Festival she was just beginning to explore herself in the light and was dating her first girlfriend. Anon was very open with her experience and provided insight to me about how her first girlfriend had both opened her eyes and broken her heart.

In your opinion is the Lethbridge community accepting of LGBTQ?
No... well maybe besides the flag flying during the Olympics.

When did you begin to become aware and acknowledge your sexuality?
I was about 15 or 16

What was your high school years like?
knowing she had gone to a catholic school and thinking back on others experiences I was curious as to how her sexuality had effected this time in her life. She began describing it as being a terrible experience as most people seem to agree and talked about being closeted. Anon said she spent most of her time hanging out with the nerdy guy crowd and shied away from girls. As a middle schooler she had hung around girls all the time and was friends with them; but as her feelings towards them began to change she felt she couldn't spend time around them any longer. When asked what may have been holding her back she said she wasn't really sure. At the age of about 20 she was finally able to come out to her family and in many ways to herself with her first girlfriend.

What was it like coming out to your family?
She explained that for her dad it was particularly hard as he is set in his own ways and follows religion to some degree. However her mother and sister were quite understanding and actually already seemed to have guessed. Most people don't know about her sexual orientation; at her place of work she is not vocal about her personal life and feels it isn't something people should necessarily ask. We joked about how people never ask others if they are straight and concluded that it should be much the same for her.

What do you want to see within the LGBTQ community?
Less about awareness, more about meeting people; I would go to more things  like that.

Interview With Female Univeristy Student

Age: 24

Gender you identify as: Female

Sexual Orientation you identify with: Lesbian

1) What is your opinion on the LBGTQ community?

I strongly dislike the LGBTQ community I find it cliquey and dramatic.

2) What are your opinions on pride parades and other community events used to support LGBT?

Community events and parades are needed social tools to help LGBTQ persons feel like part of the community.

3) Do you know someone in your life who is a supporter/member of the LGBT community? If so how is your relationship with that person?

Everyone in my life is a supporter of equal rights, if they don’t support it they have no place in my life.

4) How do you feel about homophobia? How does homophobia affect you?

Homophobia is disgusting and practiced by uneducated people, it doesn't affect me because I'm bigger than it.

5) How do you feel about public displays of affection between two people of the same sex?

PDA between two same sex people bothers me just as much as PDA between same sex couples.

6) What is your standpoint on same-sex marriage? If you do not support, explain why.

I support it because I support all aspects of equal rights.

7) Do you support adoption by same sex couples? If not, explain why.

Yes I do. Same sex couples plan to have kids and give them loving homes. Same sex couples are more likely to adopt kids with special needs more so then opposite sex couples.

8) If you have a friend in the same-sex community can you explain how others outside of the community react?

Strangers are normally homophobic towards them.

9) If one of your family members would want to undergo a sex change or gender re-assignment what would your opinion be?

I would be okay with it because I love them for who they are, not what parts they have.

10) If you are in the LGBT community please explain how your "coming out" felt (this may be to other people and/or coming out to yourself). What resources did you turn to, if any?

Coming out was the absolute worst experience of my life. There were no resources available for me in Lethbridge.

11) If you are in the LGBT community please explain the reaction your parents and close family members gave you after expressing your sexuality.

My father told me he didn’t want lesbians in his house and my mom didn’t talk to me for 5 years.

12) Do you feel people treat you differently? If so, explain how?

No.

13) Do you feel that because of your sexual orientation that you are discriminated against?

Only in high school.

14) Do you feel that in Lethbridge there is a support system or community for you? Explain.

No. When kids come out as teenagers or younger the school systems do not have anything. If you are older you can go to support meetings or events.

Transphobic violence

There is a massive precedence for violence against LGBTQ individuals, with the worst and most renowned violence committed against Transexuals. While all individuals within the LGBTQ community are at a higher risk of violence and discrimination, Transsexuals are at the highest risk. Violence may be committed by the state (as in the case of corporeal punishment for homosexual acts), or by individuals engaging in mobbing, assault, intimidation, lynching or even murder.

8 countries enforce the death penalty for homosexuality and dozens more enforce life in prison for confirmed homosexual acts. 75 countries total recognize homosexuality as illegal. In Iran, if individuals are found to be homosexual within the army they are forced to undergo a sex change from male to female (at no personal charge), however the subsequent suicide rate is quadruple the normal rate. Homosexual acts are legal in most Western countries and in many of these countries violence against LGBTQ identity individuals is regarded as a hate crime.

Individually, transsexuals face the most discrimination with the highest rates of brutality and rape of any sexual minority. Often when transsexuals suffer from violence due to their (perceived) sexual and/or gender identity, it is horrific and brutal violence. In many cases, transsexuals are brutally raped and tortured before they are killed. Many times, the perpetrators of said actions are or were consensual sexual partners.


http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=6053237&File=24#1

Homosexual Legality Around the World

Source: www.ilga.org

Interview

Age: 21

Gender you identify as: Female

Sexual Orientation you identify with: Lesbian

1) What is your standpoint on the LGBTQ community? Do you support it? If not, explain why.

I think the LGBT is incredibly important. I think that everyone needs to feel a sense of community, and that it is great for LGBT to have people that they feel safe around, and a group they can belong to.

2) What are your opinions on pride parades and other community events used to support LGBT?

I think that they are so fun! It is a great way to celebrate something that makes me who I am, and I think it also helps anyone in the LGBT community to see they aren't alone.

3) Do you know someone in your life who is a supporter/member of the LGBT community? If so how is your relationship with that person?

Yeah, a lot of people in my life are! Myself included. Since I am a part of this community, it is something that is a necessity to me for people in my life.

4) How do you feel about homophobia? How does homophobia affect you?

I haven't ever had a personal experience with homophobia, and I consider myself incredibly lucky. Because I have tons of people in my life who are homosexual, including my girlfriend, it is something that I know will be a struggle in my life.

5) How do you feel about public displays of affection between two people of the same sex?

I don't really like public displays of affection between anyone, regardless of sex! Hahaha, I think it is tacky. But I think that anyone has the right to be affectionate with the people they love. And when it is sweet things like holding hands or tiny kisses, I think it is very sweet to see a couple being loving towards each other.

6) What is your standpoint on same-sex marriage? If you do not support, explain why.

Yesssssss I definitely think that same-sex couples should be allowed to be married. If two people love each other, there is no reason why they shouldn't be able to spend their lives together in marriage.

7) Do you support adoption by same- sex couples? If not explain why.

Yep! I think as long as there are loving parents, that there is also no reason why a child should not be able to grow up with two moms or two dads. Children grow up in single-parent homes all the time, and they wind up being not only successful, but also grow up in a family full of love. The gender of your parents doesn't change how much they love their child.

8) If you have a friend in the same-sex community can you explain how others outside of the community react.

I have a lot of friends who are in that community, and I haven't had a lot of other people who would react negatively towards them. However, I do believe that there are a lot of people who would change their behaviour towards someone when they found out they were LGBT, which I think is unfair. 

9) If one of your family members would want to undergo a sex change or gender re-assignment what would your opinion be?

As long as they are happy, I am happy. I would be supportive for them no matter what.

10) If you are in the LGBT community please explain how your "coming out" felt (this may be to other people and/or coming out to yourself). What resources did you turn to, if any?

Coming out is hard, and it never really gets easier. Every time I have to come out to someone new, I still am terrified of being treated differently, or of someone not accepting me as to who I am. Coming out to my family was the hardest, because they are the people who I care about most, and their opinions of me matter the most. When I first started coming out, and when I was figuring my sexuality out for myself, I was also attending counselling sessions, which were beyond helpful. I also had a friend who was a lesbian, and she helped me to come out to a lot of people.

11) If you are in the LGBT community please explain the reaction your parents and close family members gave you after expressing your sexuality.

They were totally accepting. Some of my family saw it coming, my mother was surprised but loved me no matter what. My mom told my grandparents, and they are also incredibly accepting. My whole family has met (and loves) my girlfriend, and they make me feel just as loved and accepted as I did before I came out.

12) Do you feel people treat you differently? If so, explain how? 

Not really. I think that the group of friends I have don't really see it as me being different at all. That being said, there are definitely situations in my life where I have withheld the information of my homosexuality because I know the people around me would treat me differently. 

13) Do you feel that because of your sexual orientation that you are discriminated against?

I think there are definitely situations where I would be discriminated against if I was out in them, places where I need to hide it in public, people I keep it quiet to, etc. I guess that, no, I never am in situations where I am, but I think the fear of being discriminated against often leads me to be someone I am not. 

14) Do you feel that in Lethbridge there is a community or support system for you? Explain.

When I was in Lethbridge, I definitely didn't have a connection to any sort of support system in the community. I had friends who helped me along the way, but I felt like I had to be very hushed about my sexuality. It didn't feel like an open or safe place for me to be honest with who I was, for fear of being discriminated against.

Types of Homphobia

There are many types of homophobia, but four are generally identified: 

1.       Internalized/Personal homophobia: personal feelings of sexual prejudice towards homosexuality. People in (as well as those not in) the LGBTQ community may experience this.  For LGBTQs this may lead to depression, a desire to change one’s sexual orientation, and in some cases, suicide.

2.       Interpersonal homophobia: the actions one takes in response to their personal homophobia – this includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse. Evidence shows that many homophobes react by shutting out LGBTQ people from their lives.

3.       Institutional homophobia: the ways different institutions (business, religious sects, governments, etc.) act in discriminatory ways towards LGBTQ members. 

4.       Cultural homophobia: the actions made by the media (television, online, newspapers, etc) exhibit heterosexism. The majority of television sitcoms do not contain homosexual characters, and when they do it is normally in a negative way, this is an example of cultural homophobia.

**It is important to note that internalized homophobia generally stems from the fear of being labelled as gay or deviant. In an attempt to reaffirm one’s self into the heterosexual role in a heteronormative culture (not wanting to be the “Other”) one may participate in acts of discrimination. 

Blumeld, W.J. (1992). Homophobia: How we all pay the price. Boston: Beacon

Issues in Uganda

A bill was passed December 20, 2013 and signed February 24th, 2014 by the President of Uganda criminalizing homosexual acts, relationships, marriages, aiding and abating homosexuality, and has made not reporting any of the above offenses illegal.

Currently, financial aid from Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, the World Bank, and Denmark to Uganda has been cut or stopped. Numerous other countries around the world have threatened to cut financial aid, including Canada and the United States of America.

To see Bill No. 18 "Anti Homosexuality Law" please click the following link:
http://www.parliament.go.ug/new/images/stories/bills/The%20anti%20homosexuality%20bill%202009.pdf

Conservative Calgary Newspaper Response to Theatre Outre Closing

Lethbridge theatre group plays homophobia card to spark unfair witch hunt 

By Michael Platt
January 29th, 2014

It’s one way to start a witch hunt: publicly cry homophobia, and then lay low as the venom flies.

That’s what operators of a Lethbridge acting outfit did Wednesday, after announcing their brand-new alternative-lifestyle theatre was being forced to close, with the blame squarely upon intolerant neighbours in their building.
“In the span of just the past few days, ignorant and homophobic neighbouring tenants in the McFarland Buidling have made it clear in various ways that we are not welcome in their midst,” wrote three people behind Bordello, home of Theatre Outré.
The three — Richie Wilcox, Jay Whitehead and Aaron Collier — say homophobic letters and a petition sent to their landlord halted their plans to develop a new space for Bordello, known for its risque, queer-lifestyle shows, including “Homo for the Holidays” and “A Tribute to the Tallywhacker.”
“Two hateful, hurtful and defamatory emails were sent to our landlord questioning our integrity based on moral grounds and challenging our co-existing alongside their businesses,” reads their website, which promotes Theatre Outré as “extravagant, perverted and queer”.
“(The) actual complaints lobbied against us in emails expressed hypothetical concerns about exposure to homosexual lifestyles, ‘transsexual endorsement,’ child molestation, rape, indecent exposure and acquiring STDs from the building’s toilets.”
Not surprisingly, such inflammatory language has fuelled anger and outrage in defence of the theatre.
Wilcox, Whitehead and Collier outed the neighbours, offering the names and numbers of two tenants — an insurance broken and a music teacher — who they claim wrote the letters and started a petition to drive the theatre out of the building.
“If you need someone to talk to about this, please call or email the following people,” they wrote.
But the three accusers weren’t willing to answer questions themselves, failing to respond to repeated calls and emails.
The trio chose to hide, ducking the storm of fury triggered by their allegations, which also accused Lethbridge of “road-blocking” development permits in response to homophobia — and now, stories have run across Canada, pointing to the intolerant city in southern Alberta.
Unfortunately for diverse, educated Lethbridge, the three men are twisting the truth.
City councillor Jeff Carlson, who knows the Theatre Outré crowd, says the letters have nothing to do with the theatre’s woes — and in fact, the Bordello has yet to even apply for permits needed to operate as a business.
He points out that the same theatre operated without a peep of opposition in its previous location, and to sully Lethbridge’s reputation with allegations of intolerance is unfair.
“This painting the whole city with the same broad brush — it is very damaging to Lethbridge,” said Carlson.
And then there are the two business owners who’ve been turned into pariahs over allegations of homophobia.
“I am not homophobic — I’m rooted in a faith which is Christianity, and to be homophobic would be the wrong approach on my part,” said Dale Reimer, who owns the insurance company, and openly admits to serious concerns about the new theatre.
But rather than hateful, Reimer says his opposition is strictly based on the proximity to children, many under the age of 12, who attend classes in the day and evening beside the theatre — sharing an entrance, halls, toilets and a wall, through which sound can be clearly heard.
“To have this theatre situated right next to a children’s music education centre, through an adjoining wall, is not appropriate,” said Reimer.
“They could be heterosexual or homosexual, my stance would be the same, in that we can not put children at risk of walking though those doors or hearing the happenings next door.”
The letters themselves may contain harsh, unfair allegations about the queer lifestyle, but the concern about children being exposed to adult activity and inappropriate content is share by every city — not just Lethbridge.
When a theatre promotes itself as perverted, they have to expect backlash — and crying homophobia and then hiding only serves to mask legitimate concerns.
One of the Bordello’s recent plays was entiled the “The Case of the Fraudulent C**k”.
This may well be the case of the fraudulent victim.

Access the column and comments at:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/01/29/lethbridge-theatre-group-plays-homophobia-card-to-spark-unfair-witch-hunt