Sex, Gender, Politics, and everything in between
New Call for Submissions flyer that includes the mailing address! PDF available upon request. If you know of an organization that serves people that might not be able to submit online or might not see the information here, please let me know!
In order to understand why transphobia and cissexism persist and are continually perpetuated throughout feminist communities, particularly the vegetarian-ecofeminist community, it is important to consider the origins of anti-trans advocacy as a conscious project of prominent, elite White feminists in the 1970s. In the late sixties and early seventies, trans people were very active in the women’s and queer liberation movements. The Compton’s Cafeteria and Stonewall rebellions of the sixties are evidence of that, as are women like Beth Elliot of the Daughters of Bilitis, Sandy Stone of Olivia Records, and Stonewall veteran Silvia Rivera who was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activist Alliance.
So it’s important to keep in mind that trans women, and trans people more generally, were an integral part of the early women’s liberation movement. But in the mid- to late-seventies, there was a transphobic backlash within feminism to systematically remove and exclude trans people, explicitly transsexual women, from the women’s and queer movements. For example, Rivera was targeted and physically attacked by cissexist women separatists at a gay rights rally. Elliot was targeted by Robin Morgan and separatists at a lesbian women’s conference. Stone was targeted by Janice Raymond and forced out of Olivia Records with threats of a boycott. And Gloria Steinem of Ms. magazine openly attacked trans women.
Over the last couple decades, there has been an increase in organizing and activism by trans people, yet we continue to be the targets of a systematic backlash from elite feminists. So-called ‘women-born women’ policies are still used to exclude transsexual women from participating in our own movement. And while trans women are disproportionately targeted by homelessness, prisons, and sexual and physical violence, an alliance between anti-trans feminists and the state has been used to circumvent human rights laws in order to bar us from many vital women’s facilities and services. Trans women have even been forced out of women’s services organizations they helped create.
Fisting!
Happy International Fisting Day from Sexualitea!!
A little behind on the times here…
James Darling is such a hottie
Obsolescenza del Genere - Installazione Umana #1
Gender Obsolescence - Human Installation #1
by Kyrahm and Julius Kaiser
Gender Obsolescence
The solemn ritual presents variety of genders and describes FtM (Female to Male) transition.
The naked body and the I. The mask and the stereotype. It’s a gynandroid performance where the transition process is intermingled with poetry. Sex is represented as skin, female, male. Gender is represented in the sense of self, of man, and of woman. A journey, a crossing, a transition. Naked bodies lined up slowly coming closer. Each individual has a story. They are holding hands. Changing sex is painful like birth. The golden masks on their faces are not to hide their identities: In fact as they come closer it is possible to distinguish their genders: a biological man, a trans man, a trans woman, a biological woman. From the bottom of the stage, a female creature unfolds from behind a black towel and goes to stand behind them: she walks across touching the bodies, one after the other. The pain is tiring, the flesh a substance to be shaped. The solemn rite of dressing up - in trousers, jacket and tie: it’s the return to the opposite. For a transsexual changing sex is not becoming a man but a return to being a man. There is no need to wear the masks anymore: the self is revealed.
AWARD: ARTE LAGUNA PRIZE - PERFORMANCE ART - 2009
(International Art prize - Venezia, Italy)
International Festivals:
IDKEX, Columbus (Ohio) - USA 2008
chosen among the 30 best gender exploration performances in the world
Berlin Drag Festival - Germany 2008
I made this stencil for a t-shirt! Yay transfeminism!
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Cool! I was thinking of making one for myself aswell! = )
La Cámara baja aprobó la denominada “Ley de Identidad de Género”
¡Vamos Argentina! La Cámara de Diputadxs le dio media sanción a esta ley con 167 votos a favor, 17 en contra y 7 abstenciones. Sólo falta la aprobación del Senado.
(En el link puede leerse el texto de la ley.)
The lower chamber of the Argentinean Congress passed the gender identity bill mentioned earlier today (167 votes in favor, 17 against, 7 abstentions). If the Senate approves, it’ll officially become law!
As we wrote before, this law would allow trans people to change their gender marker & name without needing any sort of medical/psychological permission or body modifications. Also, if it passes, hormones and surgery will be covered by health insurance and public hospitals.
It doesn’t take getting through more than a few seconds of most porn to become convinced of two things. It wasn’t made for us. It wasn’t made by us. And it truly requires “getting through” as opposed to getting off for many queer brown folks.
With “lesbian porn,” for instance, (if you can even call it that) you’ll likely encounter two straight women looking into the camera directly, performing what they think lesbian or bisexual sex should look like. In most cases it’s based on cues from a male director or prompts from a patriarchal society. But their “come hither” stares and long acrylic nails aren’t fooling anyone. A few quick licks, some short-lived grinding and flimsy finger action leaves much (so much) to be desired.
Compound that with the porn industry’s fixation on racial fantasies that reduce brown female bodies to ample asses and booty clapping, and we’re left with a market that generally overlooks or exploits brown queer people.
A look at trans porn verifies just that. Although trans porn emerged in the 1970s, it exclusively featured transwomen and catered to an audience of primarily straight men (noticing a trend here?). Some scholars suggest that transmen didn’t begin to star in hardcore porn until at least twenty years after transwomen did. And trans porn stars of color? Virtually nonexistent.
Fortunately, the tides are turning. While black and brown feminist porn directors are far and few, Sebastian Flowers, a trans-identified dog walker/DJ turned filmmaker found his calling.
“I got tired of not helping my community,” explains Sebastian. “As I was finding my purpose, I picked up my camera.”
Sebastian Flowers; Photo: Charla Harlow
As the Oakland resident was developing an eye for the camera, he was gaining knowledge and sexual resources through LGBTQ organizations like the Audre Lorde Project, FIERCE and the Anti-Violence Project. He was also acquiring an impressive following from DJing across the country.
“I thought to myself, ‘How do I put all these things together?’” Sebastian continues.
Noticing a shortage of folks catering to the queer community of color in the porn industry, he set out to create Queer Brown Porn (QBP), a production company that features brown people of all spectrums and caters specifically to our viewing pleasure.
“Every time we think about porn, it’s always something that’s deviant. I wanted us to see our bodies exposed in a way that’s revolutionary,” he tells ELIXHER.
What’s so groundbreaking about gay and trans folks of color pleasing each other on camera? Well…gay and trans folks of color pleasing each other on camera. With most porn being made only for the male gaze and pleasure, these films will be “equally sex positive while giving access to both passion and fucking and hardcore sex fantasies.” QBP aims to also challenge the limited gender representations we tend to see in pornography, and to also make both the actors and sets as relatable as possible. You’ll find beautiful brown bodies with kinky hair and cozy sets like a Brooklyn studio with brick walls.
To top it off, Queer Brown Porn is not just going to be a porn site but also a resource for natural health and organic remedies so that we can get in tune with our queer brown bodies. Pretty revolutionary, I’d say.
“When I talk to the applicants, it’s not just about you wanting to be part of the porn industry. It’s how comfortable do you feel being a part of the movement.”
Sebastian believes his trans identity makes him just the person for the job.
“My physical transition hasn’t washed away the things that I’ve gone through,” he explains. “I definitely try to put that into scope while I’m filming.” QBP takes under-explored angles into consideration. It also depicts people actually interested in getting to know each other’s bodies, and willing to take their time doing so.
Working along side Tara Huynh, an Asian-identified female boi and cameraman, their two unique perspectives fuse to create what Sebastian describes as “raw and very real” porn that the queer community can actually connect with.
When asked what would he like to see as the future of porn, Sebastian’s answer is pretty simple.
“Ourselves,” he responds. “This isn’t just lesbian porn. It isn’t just gay porn. This is porn for the people — brown people. Made by us.”
“TRANS” is a feature documentary now in post-production, scheduled for exclusive release in selected festivals and markets in early 2012. For more information, go to TransTheMovie.com. It offers a “up-close and very personal journey into the transgender world.” Watch the trailer.
Read more: http://www.andersoncooper.com/2011/11/15/trans-documentary/#ixzz1du3xjXvkTRANS (by SexSmartFilms)
inspired by: http://transqueersxxx.tumblr.com/post/6341511891/getting-ready-to-take-my-boyfriends-cock
PROUD MARY!
Balls sac still banging against thighs when walking naked.
To enlarge photo press…roberthand48
This November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hate and prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence. [tdor.org]
I urge my followers, and the followers of those who may have reblogged this to tint your icon purple on November 20th in honor and support to those who are transgender and to pay respects to those who have passed because they were simply being who they are. I think too often the T is thought of separate from the LGBT, but in reality we are all equal and we are in this life together, side by side.
Julia Serano, on gender sadness (via femmesandfamily)
oof. This just knocked the wind out of me and speaks so much to my experiences.
(via delisubthefemmecub)
this is me, I study anthropology, I consider myself an anarcha-feminist (if your wondering what that means, follow this blog!) ...oh and I love sex, photography (still & film) and asking way to many awkward and defying questions. that should suffice for now...
For comments, suggestions, submissions, complaints and not for spamming, you can write to me at anarchofeminist@gmail.com
