HELLO INTERNET I have Canadian study permit questions!

I am a USian filling out the study permit application - am I going to get hassled if I list my chosen name under “aliases/nick names” or select “unknown” as my sex?

I was sort of excited to see both options but if they don’t mean anything except “you will be asked more questions” or worse, “you will be denied entry since you’re legally not of unknown sex”, I would like to skip out on that invigorating life experience.

If anyone has filled out study permit applications and can advise, please and thank you!

topsidepress: Donate to the new incarnation of the Fully Functional Cabaret! This performance collaboration needs just $2500 to get everyone to NYC for a whole series of shows on the East Coast. The perks are cool and every little bit helps. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-fully-functional-goes-east YES donate donate thank you please!
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topsidepress:

Donate to the new incarnation of the Fully Functional Cabaret!

This performance collaboration needs just $2500 to get everyone to NYC for a whole series of shows on the East Coast. The perks are cool and every little bit helps.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-fully-functional-goes-east

YES donate donate thank you please!

interpretivescreaming: A Fundraiser for the Incredibly Funny Orchiectomy of Red Durkin Every year, thousands of testicles are removed across the country. Most of them are lost reluctantly, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Comedian and pillar of the community, Red Durkin, has a couple of troublesome testes she wants to sacrifice to the Mother Goddess. She can’t do it alone. Donate today! Hey Red, what the heck is going on here? It’s pretty simple. I’m trying to raise money for my orchiectomy, which is fancy doctor talk for getting your nuts cut off. I work as a freelance graphic artist and performer, so I don’t have health insurance and will need to pay for this procedure totally out-of-pocket. So I’m turning to my friends for help. How much money do you need to raise?I’ve already raised $628 at my show earlier in November, which is a great start. I estimate that total costs for this procedure will come to just under $6000, including doctor’s fees, anesthesia, travel, hotel, and lost work time. During this big push, I’m hoping to raise $5000. Wait a minute, is this a kickstarter?Sort of—You can donate any amount you like and there are a bunch of prizes, just like kickstarter, but without the middle man/woman/other taking a cut. Every single dollar you donate will go directly to helping me get this gender-affirming surgery and help put right what once went wrong. I’m a trans woman who wants to crowdsource funding for all or part of my surgery, how do I do this? I’d be thrilled to help more people set up fundraising pages like this! Without the generosity and support of a community that should, ostensibly, love to usher one more pair of testicles out of the world, none of this would be possible. The least I can do is help make it happen for another lady in need. Shoot me an email at red@reddurkin.com.
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interpretivescreaming:

A Fundraiser for the Incredibly Funny Orchiectomy of Red Durkin

Every year, thousands of testicles are removed across the country. Most of them are lost reluctantly, but it doesn’t have to be that way!

Comedian and pillar of the community, Red Durkin, has a couple of troublesome testes she wants to sacrifice to the Mother Goddess. She can’t do it alone. Donate today!

Hey Red, what the heck is going on here?

It’s pretty simple. I’m trying to raise money for my orchiectomy, which is fancy doctor talk for getting your nuts cut off. I work as a freelance graphic artist and performer, so I don’t have health insurance and will need to pay for this procedure totally out-of-pocket. So I’m turning to my friends for help.

How much money do you need to raise?
I’ve already raised $628 at my show earlier in November, which is a great start. I estimate that total costs for this procedure will come to just under $6000, including doctor’s fees, anesthesia, travel, hotel, and lost work time. During this big push, I’m hoping to raise $5000.

Wait a minute, is this a kickstarter?
Sort of—You can donate any amount you like and there are a bunch of prizes, just like kickstarter, but without the middle man/woman/other taking a cut. Every single dollar you donate will go directly to helping me get this gender-affirming surgery and help put right what once went wrong.

I’m a trans woman who wants to crowdsource funding for all or part of my surgery, how do I do this?

I’d be thrilled to help more people set up fundraising pages like this! Without the generosity and support of a community that should, ostensibly, love to usher one more pair of testicles out of the world, none of this would be possible. The least I can do is help make it happen for another lady in need. Shoot me an email at red@reddurkin.com.

Jumpstart The Collection - preorders open this month!

queerbookclub:

I have a story in a little book (no ok a huge book) titled The Collection. It’s first of its kind, a book of short fiction featuring transgender protagonists, and the first publication by a press dedicated to trans narratives.

Pre-orders started today, and I am beyond excited - I am thrilled. Besides being able to get copies of the book for yourself, your loved ones, your book club, your library or your classroom, Topside Press is offering early supporters an opportunity to donate a copy of The Collection to trans and queer people in prison. I am so, so happy to be working with this publisher. Oh yeah - and early supporters will also be thanked by name in print when the book comes out.

Beyond these amazing deals, the stories in this book are so, so amazing. I’ve read an advanced copy, and I’d be telling you to order this book whether I had a story in it or not. Preorder ASAP!

THT publish sexual health guides for trans people

hellyeahscarleteen:

The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has published two groundbreaking booklets on sexual health for trans people. Each one contains basic – yet valuable – information on trans bodies and health needs.

Each booklet tackles a whole bunch of common questions, such as: do post-op trans women still need prostate examinations? and: can trans guys get pregnant after going on T? There’s some trans specific information on HIV prevention, and also some more general health advice.

The language is broadly respectful and acknowledges the great range of trans identities. There isn’t as much of a binary division as might appear to be the case from the titles, with each booklet noting that the information contained within is also relevant to queer or non-binary individuals…

Read the rest from transactivist here (and thanks to our user Redskies for the heads-up!).

Neeeeeat

interpretivescreaming:

The full text of a love letter from the Fully Functional Cabaret:

“Dear Trans Women,


I love you because sometimes you’re weird looking the way I’m weird looking and you understand that weird looking and bad looking aren’t always the same. I love you because you’re beautiful, not in a “we are all the special and perfect creations of a loving god,” kind of way. You’re beautiful in a “crawled out of the muck and evolved,” kind of way. I love you when you’re graceful and I love you when you’re mean. I love your big hands and your busted teeth. I love your high voice and your low voice, your broad shoulders, your dainty feet. I love you for your perfect face, your teenage tits, your impeccable style, and your coy, glittering laugh. I love you when you say stupid shit like, “questioning your beliefs is the dictionary definition of thinking.” I love you when you scream powerful shit like, “revolution now!” and “gay power!” at the top of your lungs and then your voice cracks and you cry because you care so fucking much, but you’re exhausted. I love you when no one else can see you and I love you when you refuse to go unseen. I love you even when you won’t make eye contact with me on the subway. I love you even when you stare. I love you because you’re witches and programmers and lawyers and punks and beauty queens and, yes, sometimes drag queens. I love you because you’re loud and shy and glamorous and plain. I love you because you’ve got swagger, because you’re clumsy, because you’re delicate, angry, imposing and gracious. I love you because you believe in god and magic and all kinds of ridiculous crap. I love you because you drink too much. I love you because you’re idealistic and jaded and you wear leather jackets and fair-trade high heels. I love you because you teach yoga and physics and you know how to sew. I love you because you work at Jamba Juice and lobby in congress and make your own clothes. I love you because you suck at video games, because you grew up on food stamps, because your parents paid for your surgery. I love the songs you write and the jokes you tell. I love you when you’re HIV positive! When you’re in prison! And when you die! I love you when you’re scared and when you’re proud; when you’re bored and when you’re bleeding. I love you because I don’t have to love you or even like you. I love you because I can disagree with you, be devalued by you, and be offended by you. I love you because we can come from such different worlds that I actually hate you. I love you because you’re just as human as I am and I love the shit out of you!

Love,

You”

interpretivescreaming: NEW YORK: The Trans Ladies Picnic! An afternoon of food, fashion, and trans women’s community building! August, 12th! Starts at noon!We’re having a picnic for trans women only! Food will be provided, including meaty and vegan options, however, folks are also HIGHLY encouraged to bring something to share. We’ll try to accommodate all dietary needs, but the best way to ensure that yours are met is to come with something you can eat.And for the first time we’re adding a clothing swap to the mix! Bring clothes you wanna share and be ready to come home with some killer new duds!PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH CLOTHES BEFORE BRINGING THEM TO SHARE! PLEASE DO NOT BRING CLOTHES IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE AT RISK FOR BED BUGS, ETC.We’ll be setting up in Prospect Park near the Picnic House, which is accessible from the 3rd street or 9th street entrance. Check out the interactive park map for more info. ***We will try to make the location accessible to anyone with mobility issues, but please be advised that we will be in a public park and spots are secured on a first come, first served basis.*** (There may be a more accessible after-event. stay tuned!)FAQYOU SAID I’M HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO BRING SOMETHING. LIKE, WHAT?potato chips! veggie burgers! a frisbee! old skirts! homemade quinioa salad! shoes! hostess cupcakes! cowboy hats! beef jerky! a kickball! hummus! a boom-box! Jello! sunscreen! lingerie! a 10-foot sub! shirts! mosquito repellent! overalls! Anything picnicy that you wanna share and any clothes you can’t use but think another trans lady might appreciate! *** Vegan treats are encouraged. Please be considerate of the dietary needs of others and be prepared to communicate whether your food is vegan, vegetarian, or neither! (all of which are okay!)****WHY IS THIS EVENT JUST FOR TRANS WOMEN?Trans women don’t always have the easiest time meeting each other or feeling comfortable in large groups. This picnic is an opportunity for trans women to socialize and have fun in a low pressure environment that is not a support group. As trans women, the organizers of this event have recognized a trend of anti-social behavior among and between trans women in mixed company. We want trans women to talk to each other, make friends, and have fun and we feel that the best way for that to happen is for our allies and counterparts to sit this one out.I IDENTIFY ON THE TRANS FEMININE SPECTRUM, BUT I’M WORRIED THAT I DON’T BELONG AT THIS EVENT. ANY ADVICE?We’re not the gender police and we’re not in the habit of kicking people out of our picnic. If you are a trans feminine person that’s comfortable around the term “trans woman,” you’re welcome to come. Presentation, transition/surgical status, and “goals” need not keep any ladies from joining us. Nor should race, class, education, ability, sexual orientation, etc. etc. etc.MY BOYFRIEND IS A TRANS MAN, CAN HE COME?No, because trans men are not trans women. We love trans men, but we need our space on this one.I CAN’T GET TO NEW YORK/AM NOT A TRANS WOMAN/DON’T HAVE THAT DAY OFF/HATE RED DURKIN! WHAT ABOUT ME?!Hey, this is a totally decentralized concept. Be the Trans Ladies Picnic you want to see in the world!Folks that can’t come to the picnic for whatever reason, but like the idea and want to support it are highly encourage to donate money to cover the costs and/or send food/clothes along! (obvs, we’re not Goodwill. Please no large piles of unwanted hand-me-downs)If you have any questions and/or would like to help/contribute in any way, please contact Red Durkin at reddurkin@gmail.com
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interpretivescreaming:

NEW YORK:

The Trans Ladies Picnic! An afternoon of food, fashion, and trans women’s community building! August, 12th! Starts at noon!

We’re having a picnic for trans women only! Food will be provided, including meaty and vegan options, however, folks are also HIGHLY encouraged to bring something to share. We’ll try to accommodate all dietary needs, but the best way to ensure that yours are met is to come with something you can eat.

And for the first time we’re adding a clothing swap to the mix! Bring clothes you wanna share and be ready to come home with some killer new duds!

PLEASE BE SURE TO WASH CLOTHES BEFORE BRINGING THEM TO SHARE! PLEASE DO NOT BRING CLOTHES IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE AT RISK FOR BED BUGS, ETC.

We’ll be setting up in Prospect Park near the Picnic House, which is accessible from the 3rd street or 9th street entrance. Check out the interactive park map for more info. ***We will try to make the location accessible to anyone with mobility issues, but please be advised that we will be in a public park and spots are secured on a first come, first served basis.*** (There may be a more accessible after-event. stay tuned!)

FAQ

YOU SAID I’M HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO BRING SOMETHING. LIKE, WHAT?

potato chips! veggie burgers! a frisbee! old skirts! homemade quinioa salad! shoes! hostess cupcakes! cowboy hats! beef jerky! a kickball! hummus! a boom-box! Jello! sunscreen! lingerie! a 10-foot sub! shirts! mosquito repellent! overalls! Anything picnicy that you wanna share and any clothes you can’t use but think another trans lady might appreciate! *** Vegan treats are encouraged. Please be considerate of the dietary needs of others and be prepared to communicate whether your food is vegan, vegetarian, or neither! (all of which are okay!)****

WHY IS THIS EVENT JUST FOR TRANS WOMEN?

Trans women don’t always have the easiest time meeting each other or feeling comfortable in large groups. This picnic is an opportunity for trans women to socialize and have fun in a low pressure environment that is not a support group. As trans women, the organizers of this event have recognized a trend of anti-social behavior among and between trans women in mixed company. We want trans women to talk to each other, make friends, and have fun and we feel that the best way for that to happen is for our allies and counterparts to sit this one out.

I IDENTIFY ON THE TRANS FEMININE SPECTRUM, BUT I’M WORRIED THAT I DON’T BELONG AT THIS EVENT. ANY ADVICE?

We’re not the gender police and we’re not in the habit of kicking people out of our picnic. If you are a trans feminine person that’s comfortable around the term “trans woman,” you’re welcome to come. Presentation, transition/surgical status, and “goals” need not keep any ladies from joining us. Nor should race, class, education, ability, sexual orientation, etc. etc. etc.

MY BOYFRIEND IS A TRANS MAN, CAN HE COME?

No, because trans men are not trans women. We love trans men, but we need our space on this one.

I CAN’T GET TO NEW YORK/AM NOT A TRANS WOMAN/DON’T HAVE THAT DAY OFF/HATE RED DURKIN! WHAT ABOUT ME?!

Hey, this is a totally decentralized concept. Be the Trans Ladies Picnic you want to see in the world!

Folks that can’t come to the picnic for whatever reason, but like the idea and want to support it are highly encourage to donate money to cover the costs and/or send food/clothes along! (obvs, we’re not Goodwill. Please no large piles of unwanted hand-me-downs)

If you have any questions and/or would like to help/contribute in any way, please contact Red Durkin at reddurkin@gmail.com

The Fully Functional Cabaret is, at its heart, a love letter to trans womanhood. Take a step back, and you will see a familiar story of people seeking healing by shining a light all up in society’s dark places. Come for the camp, glitter, song, dance, shadow puppets, inflatable genitalia, a barbershop quartet, and hilarious good time and stay for the surprise profundity, magic, healing, and human connection we all crave. You might remember me encouraging you to fund this show via indiegogo or encouraging you to go see this show but even if you did neither you are in luck, because the whole of this wonderful show’s opening night has been recorded and put online so far-away-from-SF peoples like you and I can watch it. And we should. Watch it and share it! I can’t say enough good things about it.Part 1Part 2Part 3
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The Fully Functional Cabaret is, at its heart, a love letter to trans womanhood. Take a step back, and you will see a familiar story of people seeking healing by shining a light all up in society’s dark places. Come for the camp, glitter, song, dance, shadow puppets, inflatable genitalia, a barbershop quartet, and hilarious good time and stay for the surprise profundity, magic, healing, and human connection we all crave.


You might remember me encouraging you to fund this show via indiegogo or encouraging you to go see this show but even if you did neither you are in luck, because the whole of this wonderful show’s opening night has been recorded and put online so far-away-from-SF peoples like you and I can watch it. And we should. Watch it and share it! I can’t say enough good things about it.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

prettyqueer: San Francisco/Bay Area! Come see PrettyQueer managing editor, Red Durkin, in the Fully Functional Cabaret!! Written by collaborative process of its all-trans woman cast, Fully Functional was divined by taking our unheard, inappropriate, and deeply true stories and slathering them in a glittery coat of raw-hearted wit. We are women, whole and complete, and our lives are long obscured by the hideous apparitions of the medical industry, the mass media, and even some feminists! Fully Functional takes these unfortunate mantles and runs with them, shouting “NO SOB STORIES!”  Starring: Bryn Kelly, Red Durkin, Ryka Aoki, Shawna Virago, Star Amerasu, and Annie Danger!$12-$20 sliding, No One Turned Away for Lack of Fundshttps://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/246311 Made possible by the National Queer Arts Festival, Queer Cultural Center, and SF Arts Commission. DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW! YOU WILL REGRET IT!
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prettyqueer:

San Francisco/Bay Area! Come see PrettyQueer managing editor, Red Durkin, in the Fully Functional Cabaret!!

Written by collaborative process of its all-trans woman cast, Fully Functional was divined by taking our unheard, inappropriate, and deeply true stories and slathering them in a glittery coat of raw-hearted wit. We are women, whole and complete, and our lives are long obscured by the hideous apparitions of the medical industry, the mass media, and even some feminists! Fully Functional takes these unfortunate mantles and runs with them, shouting “NO SOB STORIES!” 

Starring: Bryn Kelly, Red Durkin, Ryka Aoki, Shawna Virago, Star Amerasu, and Annie Danger!

$12-$20 sliding, No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/246311

Made possible by the National Queer Arts Festival, Queer Cultural Center, and SF Arts Commission.

DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW! YOU WILL REGRET IT!