[Carol]

This has gone on a long while but since Cruz has withdrawn and Trump (pro-bathroom equality) is the presumptive Republican candidate perhaps long enough. Part of me though wishes the test was whether a prostate is there or not. By that test I’m a woman. Pity about the other surplus bits of my anatomy that the surgeons haven’t got around too.

[Carol]

Powerful stuff Liz which resonates completely with me. Even the cannon fodder reference. When I joined the cadet corps at my all boy school I was promised a commission in the next war!

[Carol]

“Pissoir” rimes with “sheduoir”. Maybe we should adopt that.

[Carol]

There’s a great article by Josephine Tovey in the Sun Herald today (1 May). The article covers North Carolina’s law on “places of public accommodation”. See I didn’t use the word “bathroom”.

[Carol]

I haven’t googled unisex names but can easily think of heaps of them. The first to leap into my mind was “Jan” as in Jan Morris the author formerly known as “James” who deliberately chose her new name because it was androgenous. Even “Carol” can be a boys name for some people with an east european background.

[Carol]

Thanks Sara. I read this article without great hopes. I’ve read enough “expert” rubbish in my time. Like you though, I found my own life illuminated by a remarkably understanding author.

[Carol]

I watched The Project. It was a brief segment about 2 married couples where the transwoman partner was faced by the dilemma of being forced into a divorce if they proceeded with gender reassignment. The link to marriage equality as the solution was made explicitly.

[Carol]

As well as by you Caty, this was recommended to me by my wife and then by my female electrologist (who only knows one TG person, me). Goes to show these programs are watched by the general community. I caught it later on Prime 7’s internet catchup. It will be available there for 14 days after the original showing.

[Carol]

I watched the debate. The motion was “Society Must Recognise Trans People’s Gender Identities”. It will repeat at 4pm on Sat 19 Mar if you are interested.

[Carol]

Let’s hope that just for once a good set of facts can spoil a ridiculous transphobic rant.

[Carol]

Let’s look at the silver lining in all this. The hard right have regularly engaged in over-reach (remember “Work Choices”)?. At the moment the right wing of the of the Liberal party are busy exposing themselves as the puppet masters with the PM appearing to have less and less authority. The electorate doesn’t like it as demonstrated in the polls. Perhaps the other Liberals will wake up to what is happening before they go down the same track as the Republicans in the USA, slaves to the Tea Party.

Meanwhile in the USA the Catholic Archbishop of St Louis has taken on the Girl Scouts accusing them of supporting sex education, reproductive rights and of welcoming TG children.

We should apply the principles of judo – use the enemy’s strength to expose his weakness.

[Carol]

I think the ABC discussion was an item in “The Drum”. Eric Abetz argued that having LBGTI acceptance as part of a Safe Schools anti-bullying program was tantamount to promoting a Gay or Trans lifestyle. He had issues with students wearing the other gender’s uniform. Every member of the panel jumped on him from a great height, including Jane Caro who was in raptures about Newtown High School of the Performing Arts gender rules.
Eric’s best bit was when he complained about transgirls using the girls’ toilets. He said “It might make HIM feel better but what about how the other women feel”. Then he choked when he realised what he had said.

There is a huge amount of TG stuff in the media at the moment, possibly because we are in Mardi Gras season. Watch for Calpurnia Adams on One Plus One and Inside Story about a transitioning teen Thurs 7.30pm on Nine.

Also if you can find a repeat of the last Hatch, Match and Dispatch where Julia gets a name change but isn’t eligible for a gender change.

[Carol]

As someone who was too much of a coward to do anything serious about transitioning until after I had retired, I am continually in awe of those of you that take the leap while still working. Once retired though I can still throw immense tantrums when my journey hits a hurdle. Good luck Donna.

[Carol]

Remember Norrie who managed to use the courts to get the registry to issue a revised birth certificate as a non-specific gender person. Norrie starred in episode 1 of the ABC documentary “Hatch, Match and Dispatch” wanting to marry a male partner. No joy, non-specific gender people can’t marry anyone. Roll on marriage equality.

[Carol]

I had a temporary disappointment when my local Hoyts advertised it as coming soon but removed it from the list by release date. I checked other chains and independents in the area and there it was. Look around Claire you might get lucky.