Nashville’s new glbt center: Out Central

Check out my newest you tube video for Out Central! To find out more info and how you can help go to outcentral.org
peace and love,
Val

avalonfarmblog.wordpress.com

Rep. Anthony Weiner - Employment Non Discrimination Act

I found this on Donna Rose's blog and I just had to share it too.

The whole LGBT community should see this! Especially the HRC and Barny Frank. I am proud of Rep. Anthony Weiner!!

Donna Rose - Does Videos

Donna is giving a heart felt description of her transition.


My goodness this was recorded yesterday (I bet she got the day right even tho she got the date wrong. LOL.)

She is talking about her "TransLives Project: Our Stories, Our Selves" project. I wish I had her nerve to be as open as she is. She open and Donna to the whole world. I wish I had that kind of courage.

'Gay' baby triggers row.

ninemsn.au - Posters of a rosy, puffy cheeked newborn baby have provoked controversy in Italy because the infant is shown wearing a wristband name-tag with the word "homosexual" written on it.

The photograph of the baby is part of a anti-discrimination campaign launched by Tuscany's regional government and is accompanied by the slogan: "Sexual orientation is not a choice."

"Homosexuality is not a vice and hence should not be condemned nor marginalised, or worse still persecuted," the Tuscany region's civil rights councillor Agostino Fragai told Milan-daily Corriere della Sera in a interview published.

Thousands of copies of the poster have been printed, and will go up on city walls and public offices around Tuscany with the sponsorship of Italy's centre-left government's Equal Opportunities Ministry.

Transgender Children-Out Of The Shadows

I saw Jenn Burleton at SCC this year and was very impressed with he dedication and her work.

In it's original release, this film by Jenn Burleton was viewed more than 300,000 times and translated into several languages. This Director's Cut version includes additional material more in line with the filmmaker's original vision.

It is a timely film about an issue facing children and youth that is far too often overlooked or sensationalized for political reasons.

If you support this film and the children and families it represents, then please consider supporting the organization that is working on behalf of these kids, TransActive Education & Advocacy.

Here is her almost unused blog transactive.blogspot.com/ Hopefully it will get better.

Here is another of her blogs with her SCC speech. transadvocate.com/transjennpdx Cool!

Donna Rose's "The TranSelf Project: Our Lives, Our Selves"

Donna wants us to share our stories. Read about it below.

I do want to share a couple of things today. One, I think, is particularly important.

As a follow-up to my discussion yesterday about the need to education others about ourselves and how critical that effort will be on an ongoing basis I'm planning to begin something I'm calling it "The TranSelf Project: Our Lives, Our Selves" (or TLP, for those of us who are techie like me need acronyms). I am inviting people from around the country to provide video of themselves and the people in their lives, telling their story. Tell me how you feel, what you think, how you're doing. Share your struggle. What have you lost, what has disappointed you most, what has hurt you? On the other hand share what you've gained, your perspective on yourself and your gender. All in all, this is free form so there is no fixed format. There is no "right" way to do this. Take all the time you need. Share your story, your life, the people in your world, and how you're feeling.

HRC has launched a similar effort as part of their "Coming Out Project". But as long as we allow others to tell our stories we find ourselves dependent, and the fact of the matter is that nobody can tell our stories better than we can. We need to own that, and that process starts now. I know a doctor who lives in North Carolina whose wife has stayed with her during transition, who was forced to leave her church, who was forced out of the medical practice that she helped to establish only to move across town and start all over again. I know someone in Dallas who was outed by a friend at work and showed up the next day and was told that she was no longer welcome at the company, despite a 12-year history of excellence there. I know someone in Phoenix who struggled with her gender issues but it wasn't until she was arrested for DUI, sitting in the Tent City jail, that she realized what she had to do. I know of people who are the children of a trans parent who are proud and supportive. I know of spouses who have struggled to accept something they can't begin to understand, and who come to a sense of peace. We need to tell these stories. We need to share them with each other, and with the world.

Watch the HRC video outlining what they're looking for (see it here, note: there isn't a single transgender face there). That's what we're looking for, too. Personal stories. Not necessarily simply of coming out, but of anything you want to share. Your life. Your family. Your job. Your relationships. Your spirituality. Your perspective. Your dreams and your fears. We want whatever you can share. If you go to that YouTube page and click on any of the Video Responses below it you'll see what people are doing. One is here.

Take the video. Use a webcam if that's all you have. You can buy a neat little camera that records video meant for uploading to the web (see one here) for less than $100. Or, use a regular video camera if you've got one. Video quality isn't necessarily important but audio quality makes a huge difference. Be creative. I'll edit them if necessary so don't worry too much about that.

I'm setting up a couple of different ways to get the videos to me. I'll be setting up an ftp site for those who know how that works. Also, I'll be providing a mailing address if you want to burn your video to a CD or send the raw video from your camera. Or, upload it yourself onto YouTube or some other video site and send me the link so I can post it. Don't trash people. Don't be disrespectful of others. But most importantly, be honest.

Our Lives, Our Selves. It will be as successful (or not) as the videos that you provide. I'll provide the hosting. I'll provide the effort to get the videos ready, and to upload them. All you need to do is to share. It's not that sharing our stories makes a big difference - it makes all the difference. I'll have more detail on this as it becomes real, but the time to start thinking about it and working on it is now.

Friday, October 12, 2007

The Tvals is on the ENDA list!

Roxie and I with the prodding of Katie Evens and the help of Fredrikka and Marisa, got the Tvals on the list. Thank you all!
Hugs,

Vickie

United opposition to sexual-orientation-only
nondiscrimination legislation

Recent Signatories, Oct. 16
The United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns
Knox Boyz of East Tennessee
Tennessee Chapter of Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA)
Alternative Counseling Center
TransMasculine Community Network
Pride At Work, Martin Luther King County WA Chapter
University of Minnesota Transgender Commission
American Veterans For Equal Rights
Pride Foundation
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG)
The Tennessee Vals
Santa Cruz County Task Force for LGBTIQ Youth (Santa Cruz, CA)
National Sexuality Resource Center

See this link for the whole list:

www.thetaskforce.org

The Right Brain vs Left Brain test

Thanks Helen Boyd for this link. She says she can control which way the girl spins. I only see clockwise.

Hugs,

Vickie

The Right Brain vs Left Brain test

The Right Brain vs Left Brain test ... do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?

If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.

Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking

God of Love - Produced by my new friend Joni Christion

God of Love/All the People


God of Love/Dreams Happen