Martina
Forum Replies Created
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The new Constitution of Thailand, drafted by the military junta (to ensure they remain the predominant force in Thai politics), talks about “equal rights” for all in general terms but there is no mention of specific groups such as LGTBQI, – it was widely rumoured that transgender people would be given greater recognition and, in particular, legal status by the new constitution, but it never happened.
I expect that the Thai parliament, in its usual way, will apply constructive procrastination to this issue and nothing will happen. This is a great pity as transexuals are generally recognised and accepted by the community at large and can be found in a wide range of professions. But the fact remains that they can take physical steps to adopt a gender different to their birth gender, but that, under existing law, will never be acknowledged. Birth and other documents can only show their birth genders and cannot be changed.
By the way, the Nation article talks about “imprisonment in the correct cell based on their new sex” . This sounds a bit odd, to me as Thai prison cells are communal and you can find up to 50 people or more in the same cell; so I am not sure how that might work. I wish the petitioners luck, but am not optimistic about the income.
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Yes, I find myself on the wrong side of Brisbane Waters but it is in the right suburb.
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I will be there! Hell or high water won’t stop me! (I am coming from Thailand for this; just hope the planes are on time ). :kiss:
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This is a lovely story, Adrian, and indicative of a growing willingness by the wider community to acknowledge and deal with transgender issues. I admire your sensitive and sensible approach to the problem with which you were faced and similarly admire the sensitive and sensible response from your gym manager. It gives us all hope for a better future for the TG community.
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Most Australians seem to prefer to go to a consultant to try on a range of wigs and get advice. I have never done that myself, but I know people who have with varying results. At the worst, they end up with something that disappoints and costs the earth. Just remember, you can always say NO.
As a first step, and this will cost nothing, have a look through a website called http://www.voguewigs.com which stocks a vast variety (at last count 2688) of both synthetic and human hair wigs from just about every manufacturer on the planet. Prices start at US$ 21.25 and go up to the stratosphere. It’s worth buying one or two cheap ones so you can learn what you do and, more importantly, don’t want from a wig.
In my early days, I spent a fortune on synthetic wigs but found they never worked for me, even the more expensive ones; they always looked, well, wiggy. So I moved to human hair wigs which require more maintenance and a user-friendly hairdresser (I have one on NSW Central Coast where I sometimes live) and believe they look and feel more natural. Of course, what works for me may not work for you and vice versa, so I encourage you to experiment and explore carefully. (Human hair wigs start at less that US$30 but don’t expect high quality.)
Now put your pith helmet on and go exploring. Good luck with that!
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Hello Paula and welcome. I too was a late starter but it has been a wonderful journey for me and I’m sure your experience will be similar. You are certainly in the right place. Just don’t let Aunty Emma lead you astray, unless of course you like that sort of thing!
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Great story Emma and so glad that things have worked out so well for you. Children can be hard work and trying to help them, when they don’t want to be helped, can push us to the very limits of our mental strength.
I also agree that simple pleasures are a far more effective medicine than the chemical kind. It works for me. In that respect, I agree with Winston Churchill who said “my tastes are simple: I only like the best!” -
The hotel looks lovely. But when can we book rooms? I got the impression we are waiting for a special accommodation deal from the hotel. Is this the case? When will it be finalised?
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Perhaps the tide is turning in America. New York State, which now has a Democrat majority in its Senate, has just passed a Gender Discrimination Act which provides protections for the LGBTI community.
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A famous American President, who brought dignity to his office (rather than what we are getting from the current incumbent) once said: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”. There is ample evidence that there is a growing awareness and acceptance by Australians of transgender issues. I have some old friends staying with me who have no knowledge of my “other self “; however, when transgender issues arise in general conversation, it is very apparent that are aware of these issues and can discuss them in an intelligent and positive way. So something is obviously filtering through to people who in the past would have remained totally ignorant.
There will always be people restricted by the mantras of religion or ideology who will oppose those who don’t conform to their narrow-minded views of the world. Ignore these bigots, they are generally a waste of space and belong in the dustbin of history. We are here now and we are staying!
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For my human hair wigs, I go to a standard hair stylist. The first time I went there I had a wig that was too long and I wanted to change the colour. I showed Elizabeth the wig and she said: “Oh yukky colour, who’s it for?” I asked her if she would faint if I told her it was mine and she just laughed and said that was OK. I then asked if she minded if I came for the appointment as a girl and again she said no problem. I took two wigs so I could wear one while she washed the other; it was too difficult to wash the wig while still on my head. I now go to her regularly to have my three human hair wigs trimmed, washed and styled. Of course, trimming only needs to be done once or twice. Elizabeth charges me $50 per wig usually. Last time I went she only charged me $20. She is a real sweety.
So if you live anywhere near the NSW Central Coast, let me know and I will tell you where she is. Otherwise, you may be able to find a user-friendly hair stylist in your area. Of course, if you have synthetic wigs you will need to look for a wig specialist for help. -
People, especially minority groups such as transgender people, have a lot to fear from Republicans and the ideologies that drive them. Equality and freedom of the individual are incompatible concepts, as much as we would like to think otherwise. Conservative forces (eg Republican, Liberal) are happy to promote individual freedom at the expense of equality. Conversely, socialist forces (eg Democrats, Labor) aim to promote equality at the expense of individual freedom. Public sentiment wavers between the two, which is why we have periodic changes of government.
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One of my American TG friends refers to “DT” as President Chump and has a new slogan: Make America Decent Again! Hopefully, the mid-term elections will see a Democrat return to power in the House of Representatives and turn Chump into a lame-duck president unable to pass any of his obnoxious legislation. So there is some hope.
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Yes Jessica “we are all so different, but yet the same.” As the famed anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once said: “Just remember you are completely unique, just like everyone else!”
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Jessica, I totally identify with the sentiments expressed in your comments above. Although I respect that many transgender people feel a desire to be “one” or the “other”, I, like you, rejoice in my dual personality. Wikipedia defines you and me as being “bigender”, a sub-category under the transgender canopy. So, if that is the case, let’s enjoy our mutual madness. I certainly do.
(PS Nice make up by the way,)