GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

Quick question. Were all of us men before transition. One usually learns more by turning these questions around to be self facing.

Did you don your Nomex suit before asking that question?

I believe were we to do a poll here, the majority would say they were women both before and after transition, with a sizable minority saying they weren't a man, but weren't yet a woman.

My vote is in the always a woman camp.

Always a woman.

Well some of us meet with public safety this week to work on a hate crimes bill for the city.

O.K. It's been interesting seeing some of the in-fighting based on some of the semantics in the article / video clip...

Just a question- How many of us have had encounters with the police and have NOT run into any problems? I know I have. And it kind of sucks to not be able to protect yourself even when you had been a law-abiding citizen at the time. Kind of makes it feel like all that time you had spent studying martial arts when you were a kid was a big fat waste. But, if you try to bring up charges, you out yourself further and that just lets them off the hook.

And don't get me started on the bathroom issue...

Yet in the larger view, we still need pigs. Rather depressing, really.

Even I have caught a break from the "Beloved Boys in Blue" twice. I haven't been a model citizen in the past. The police have been known to be brutal/extra harsh on transsexuals. I'm not sure if that will ever change?

July 5th just past I was arrested and tried about every stunt I could think of to set them off. While they were having serious problems with me I was never treated or handled poorly. About the only thing I did not do was strike an officer. I was proud of them all.

This week for my community service I will volunteer to conduct sessions on diversity and C.A.L.E.A. standards and well as the professional Jail standards. I am going to do this for at least 2 sheriff's offices and 2 Jails plus a Jail annex. In addition I will make the same offer to a number of 501c3's that work with homeless, drug addicts and other problem human beings.

My take on all of this is that I should do something pro-active instead of watching videos and news reels and criticizing the police forces of the world. I believe the vast majority of officers want to "do the right thing" just like most of society "wants to do the right thing". That means it is incumbent on us to work with them if we want to see a good transition in interactions with law enforcement.

We all want to do "the right thing," the problem is that what is "the right thing" varies with point of view. For some, "the right thing" to do to us would be electroshock therapy.

You were not mistreated because: a) you are white (sorry but that matters hugely even now); b) you knew the officer in command and mentioned it early.

Good luck with that D. Tell us how it went.

I've mainly been harassed in my car by police, like getting pulled over for not having a front license plate when there was one mounted right where it belonged and the ticket I got for doing 56 mph in a 55.