So you have a friend who just came out of the closet. Or maybe you have a family member who is struggling with their transition and you aren't sure how to be supportive. I, a femme transman, have written this guide just for you. I will teach you how to not only be a good ally and friend, but also how to help the trans friends in your lives retain their human rights.
1) Start learning about what it means to be trans.
Many different gender identities fall under the transgender umbrella. Not only are there FTM (female to male) and MTF (male to female) , there are people who are gender non-conforming, agender, neutrois, genderfluid, genderqueer, and so on. Realize that all of these gender identities are valid. Also, gender identity is different than sexual preference. There are straight transwomen and gay transmen. You can find a great resource for learning about gender identities, sexual orientations, and queer community terms in general HERE.
2) Ask your loved one what their pronouns are and what they wish to be called.
Your sibling may have been named Alexander at birth but now wishes to be called Allanah and use she/her pronouns. Your new friend Darcy is genderfluid and uses they/them pronouns. Honor their request, and apologize if you get it wrong. Don't make a huge deal out of apologizing, either. Just quickly say sorry and move on. It's perfectly normal to make this mistake a few times, since you may have known this person a long time and gotten used to thinking of them a certain way. Over time, it will become second nature.
3) Never intentionally misgender someone.
Okay, you don't like Caitlin Jenner. I understand. She is extremely problematic and probably not the best representative of the transgender community. But do not call her a man or by her deadname if you choose to talk badly of her. This reinforces the notion that a person's identity can be taken away from them by a cisgender (as in: not trans) person at any second and your acceptance of transfolk is arbitrary. You may make your trans loved ones wonder if you would do the same to them if you were angry at them.
4) Do not "out" your trans loved one.
Hate crimes are huge problem in the United States (where I live); LGBT people are more likely than any other group to be targeted. So it stands to reason that "outing" your loved one is never a good idea. You do not know who they are out to, and they may actually be living stealth for safety reasons. When you're introducing them to others, just say something like, "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Stephen. He's that awesome guitarist I was telling you about." Stephen may disclose his trans status if and when he feels like it, if he chooses to at all. Point being, it's his choice, not yours.
5) Don't ask invasive questions.
"What's your REAL name? Are you going to have 'the surgeries'? Do you have a penis or vagina? How do you have sex? Are you on hormones? What does your partner think?" These are all invasive questions. Trans people, like you, are entitled to their privacy. If you would not ask these of a cis person, then why would you do the same to someone who is trans? Curiosity is natural, but again, a trans person will tell you these things if and when they're comfortable. Or they may not.
6) Understand that the gender reassignment process is long, difficult, and expensive.
Gender reassignment may include hormones, name change, surgery, and psychotherapy. A trans person may undergo all, some or none of it. It depends on their financial/health insurance situation and their personal choice. As of this writing, most health insurance does not cover transgender services, and if it does, it only includes limited options. Many transgender people cannot afford to pay for surgery (which can cost tens of thousands of dollars). Even getting a name change can be costly depending on where you live. Transgender youth often live in homes that are unaccepting of their trans status so they have no access to services at all. Whatever is the case, respect your loved one's pronouns and gender identity.
7) Call out transphobia when you see or hear it.
Let your friends, family, coworkers know that it isn't OK to share transphobic jokes, memes, or banter. Don't just do this in the presence of your trans loved one, do it all the time. It can be a little daunting at first, but remember that you have privileges that your loved one does not. Use it. Not only will your loved one know they can trust you as a friend, you're making small steps towards normalizing transness. At the same time, do not share anti-trans stuff on your social media, even if just to denounce it. You're giving the people who create that media legitimacy and spreading ignorance, even if it's unintentional.
8) If your trans friend is scared to go to the bathroom by themselves, go with them.
With the passage of HB2 (also known as the "bathroom bill") in North Carolina and other states looking to do the same, it's understandable that a trans person may find a public restroom a scary place. Many transfolk do not "pass" for their gender identity so they could walk into a restroom and raise a few eyebrows... and possibly fists. Offer to go with them whenever possible. There is also a registry of "safe" restrooms on the REFUGE restrooms website found here. You can also add to the database to help other trans people find safe restrooms.
9) Know that transgender people have a high risk of suicide.
According to this USA Today article, 41% of transgender people attempt to commit suicide at least once in their lives, compared to 4.6% of the general public. As a population, we deal with discrimination, harassment, bullying, lack of acceptance, and violence. Many transgender people also have gender dysphoria, which means that they suffer extreme distress from their gender not matching their body parts. Dealing with all of this is tough, especially if you don't have much of a support system, and some people just cannot cope. If your loved one is showing signs of suicidal ideation, have them call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. If the person severely distressed and has already taken steps to end their life (or you are reasonably sure they have done so) don't hesitate. Call 911, and follow these steps to make sure they get back to a safe state of mind.
10) Advocate for your trans loved ones any way you can.
Educate yourself on the issues that trans people are facing today. If you can, donate to charities that support transgender equality, such as The Trevor Project and The National Center for Transgender Equality. You can also post links educational and informative articles on your social media. Most importantly, make your voice heard in Washington by voting and encourage others to do the same. With LGBT rights under attack by politicians, this is one of the best ways to support trans loved ones, by making sure their rights are protected by law.
---M. Dos Santos
Monday, March 6, 2017
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The Honest Guide to Cannon AFB
So, you (or your spouse) have gotten orders to Cannon. You've heard all the rumours. You're not sure if you should sigh in resignation or paste a smile on your face and give it the ol' college try. After all, anywhere's better than Minot... (Pretend you didn't just see that.) Well, I'm here to help. I've lived in New Mexico for 25 of my 29 years and I've been living in the Clovis/Portales area since 2010. I don't pretend to be an expert on the area, but I've been around long enough to know a thing or two about a thing or two.
The roads are horrid.
Potholes. SO MANY POTHOLES. I've heard many a spouse say they've had to replace the shocks on their cars several times because of the, ahem, bumpy rides around here. Clovis and Portales do not have adequate drainage on the streets either, so when it rains, floods force many of the main roads to close. In the country many of the roads are unpaved. Summer rains turn them into mud pits (hope you have good tires) and in the winter, the extreme cold causes the dirt roads to turn into muddy slush. Your little city Miata wasn't built for this kind of abuse. You've been warned.
That smell? Why, it's the smell of money...
As the locals will joke over and over until you can't fake laugh at it anymore. This area is home to many dairies which have been here for generations. As such, the air often smells like a wonderful mix of rotting hay and manure. Agriculture is big business here, so get used to the smell. Supposedly you won't even notice it after awhile. That's what I was told, anyway. It's been five years, and...
Target? Panera? (Insert name of business you liked back home)
We don't have any of them here, and they're probably not coming any time soon, so don't even bother to ask. Clovis/Portales are rather isolated. The nearest large towns are Amarillo and Lubbock, which are roughly a two hour drive. Roswell, NM is about 1.5 hours south and has some wonderful thrift shops (no extraterrestrials, though.) In New Mexico and West Texas, some businesses have no presence at all. In-N-Out, Wawa, Publix... Only in your dreams, amigo. (Side note: Starbucks recently opened up on base this year, so maybe this is proof that God loves us and doesn't want us to suffer.)
The area is full of wonderful gems and hidden treasures.
Clovis is a thrift store lover's dream. There are many locally owned consignment and "gently used" shops full of antiques, vintage clothing and fun little tchotchkes for your mantel. The Cannon Spouses Club also runs a thrift shop on base which donates all profits to the morale and welfare of the base. Some more discerning palates may disagree, but there are great places to get your grub on too. Try the bread pudding and green chile potato soup at Gallery 15. Indulge yourself in some excellent Italian at Roma's. Want authentic Mexican food? Espiga de Oro and La Paz (in Portales) have you covered.
Do all of the sightseeing while you're here.
A lot of times, spouses shut themselves up in their houses and pine for home (or their last base), becoming virtual hermits save for social networking. Don't make this mistake! New Mexico is chock full of culture and numerous sights to behold. Plus, most everything is a day trip away. Go see the Gathering of Nations in April, the world's biggest Native American Festival. Hike the La Luz Trail or at Bandelier National Monument. Get your (sand) sled on White Sands. See the Trinity Site, where the world's first atomic bomb was detonated. Take a relaxing dip in the refreshing hot springs of Ojo Caliente or at rustic Faywood. Go see the ancient, massive Valle Caldera. Decide for yourself if Georgia O'Keefe's paintings were really flowers.
Crazy weather and BUGS.
We live on the prairie, which means that the weather can be extreme. (Kinda gives you a new respect for the old-time pioneers, huh?) Summers are blazing hot, winters are bitter cold, and gusty wind occurs year round. It doesn't rain often, but during monsoon season heavy rainfall causes flash floods. Severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes are not uncommon. Be prepared for many types of bugs in your home as well, such as wolf spiders, roaches, and lots and lots of flies.
Clovis Schools are excellent.
Think that just because you're stuck in the boonies, your kids won't get a quality education? Think again! Clovis has a wonderful school system. They have programs to encourage kids to be good citizens and many parents say that teachers and administration are very proactive. For music, Clovis is top notch. When I was in band in Los Alamos, they were the ones we always feared because we knew they would beat us.
Volunteering, leadership opportunities, and socialising can all be found....
... when you join the Cannon Spouses Club. This organisation brings spouses, active-duty, retirees, reservists and base-affiliated civilians together for fun, friendship, and to make a difference in our community. For just $45 a year (your first event is free), you can experience everything CSC has to offer. The Cannon Spouses' Club also gives away scholarships and has an annual charity auction. Wanna get involved? Check out their website HERE for more information.
Sometimes living here feels like a time warp.
With the dearth of big-city businesses, ultra conservative values (we are on the edge of the Bible Belt, after all), surrounded by crumbling remnants of a bygone era, living here can seem rather surreal at times. The mall is full of empty storefronts. Since this area is so isolated, many of the fads and trends in other parts of the country have not made it here yet. The good news is, if ever there is a zombie apocalypse, it won't hit us till two years after it happens.
YOU WILL SURVIVE.
Got kids? Join a playgroup. Love to read? Join a book club. Once you get involved in the community, you'll feel much better about being at Cannon and actually enjoy your time here. Since Cannon is a small base, the community is tight-knit. The base also has many, MANY resources for spouses looking for jobs, trying to finish their education, or just needing someone to talk to. (Call the AF&RC at 575-784-4228 to learn more). Get to know your spouse's squadron's key spouses... and for heaven's sake, if you don't know what squadron your spouse is in, ASK! Your key spouses are invaluable resources and they know how to get you to the right people for whatever you need. (Not to mention, I've heard stories of some Key Spouses bringing soup when you're sick and being great shoulders to cry on, but that could be an urban legend.) Point is, you're not alone and no matter how tough things get, someone has your back. This is important to remember when the inevitable Deployment Curse strikes.
I hope you found this useful. The best part of military life its transience: you won't be here forever, so make worthwhile memories while you wait for your BOP to come through, or your spouse to separate. :)
-Matti
The roads are horrid.
Potholes. SO MANY POTHOLES. I've heard many a spouse say they've had to replace the shocks on their cars several times because of the, ahem, bumpy rides around here. Clovis and Portales do not have adequate drainage on the streets either, so when it rains, floods force many of the main roads to close. In the country many of the roads are unpaved. Summer rains turn them into mud pits (hope you have good tires) and in the winter, the extreme cold causes the dirt roads to turn into muddy slush. Your little city Miata wasn't built for this kind of abuse. You've been warned.
That smell? Why, it's the smell of money...
As the locals will joke over and over until you can't fake laugh at it anymore. This area is home to many dairies which have been here for generations. As such, the air often smells like a wonderful mix of rotting hay and manure. Agriculture is big business here, so get used to the smell. Supposedly you won't even notice it after awhile. That's what I was told, anyway. It's been five years, and...
Target? Panera? (Insert name of business you liked back home)
We don't have any of them here, and they're probably not coming any time soon, so don't even bother to ask. Clovis/Portales are rather isolated. The nearest large towns are Amarillo and Lubbock, which are roughly a two hour drive. Roswell, NM is about 1.5 hours south and has some wonderful thrift shops (no extraterrestrials, though.) In New Mexico and West Texas, some businesses have no presence at all. In-N-Out, Wawa, Publix... Only in your dreams, amigo. (Side note: Starbucks recently opened up on base this year, so maybe this is proof that God loves us and doesn't want us to suffer.)
The area is full of wonderful gems and hidden treasures.
Clovis is a thrift store lover's dream. There are many locally owned consignment and "gently used" shops full of antiques, vintage clothing and fun little tchotchkes for your mantel. The Cannon Spouses Club also runs a thrift shop on base which donates all profits to the morale and welfare of the base. Some more discerning palates may disagree, but there are great places to get your grub on too. Try the bread pudding and green chile potato soup at Gallery 15. Indulge yourself in some excellent Italian at Roma's. Want authentic Mexican food? Espiga de Oro and La Paz (in Portales) have you covered.
Do all of the sightseeing while you're here.
A lot of times, spouses shut themselves up in their houses and pine for home (or their last base), becoming virtual hermits save for social networking. Don't make this mistake! New Mexico is chock full of culture and numerous sights to behold. Plus, most everything is a day trip away. Go see the Gathering of Nations in April, the world's biggest Native American Festival. Hike the La Luz Trail or at Bandelier National Monument. Get your (sand) sled on White Sands. See the Trinity Site, where the world's first atomic bomb was detonated. Take a relaxing dip in the refreshing hot springs of Ojo Caliente or at rustic Faywood. Go see the ancient, massive Valle Caldera. Decide for yourself if Georgia O'Keefe's paintings were really flowers.
Crazy weather and BUGS.
We live on the prairie, which means that the weather can be extreme. (Kinda gives you a new respect for the old-time pioneers, huh?) Summers are blazing hot, winters are bitter cold, and gusty wind occurs year round. It doesn't rain often, but during monsoon season heavy rainfall causes flash floods. Severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes are not uncommon. Be prepared for many types of bugs in your home as well, such as wolf spiders, roaches, and lots and lots of flies.
Clovis Schools are excellent.
Think that just because you're stuck in the boonies, your kids won't get a quality education? Think again! Clovis has a wonderful school system. They have programs to encourage kids to be good citizens and many parents say that teachers and administration are very proactive. For music, Clovis is top notch. When I was in band in Los Alamos, they were the ones we always feared because we knew they would beat us.
Volunteering, leadership opportunities, and socialising can all be found....
... when you join the Cannon Spouses Club. This organisation brings spouses, active-duty, retirees, reservists and base-affiliated civilians together for fun, friendship, and to make a difference in our community. For just $45 a year (your first event is free), you can experience everything CSC has to offer. The Cannon Spouses' Club also gives away scholarships and has an annual charity auction. Wanna get involved? Check out their website HERE for more information.
Sometimes living here feels like a time warp.
With the dearth of big-city businesses, ultra conservative values (we are on the edge of the Bible Belt, after all), surrounded by crumbling remnants of a bygone era, living here can seem rather surreal at times. The mall is full of empty storefronts. Since this area is so isolated, many of the fads and trends in other parts of the country have not made it here yet. The good news is, if ever there is a zombie apocalypse, it won't hit us till two years after it happens.
YOU WILL SURVIVE.
Got kids? Join a playgroup. Love to read? Join a book club. Once you get involved in the community, you'll feel much better about being at Cannon and actually enjoy your time here. Since Cannon is a small base, the community is tight-knit. The base also has many, MANY resources for spouses looking for jobs, trying to finish their education, or just needing someone to talk to. (Call the AF&RC at 575-784-4228 to learn more). Get to know your spouse's squadron's key spouses... and for heaven's sake, if you don't know what squadron your spouse is in, ASK! Your key spouses are invaluable resources and they know how to get you to the right people for whatever you need. (Not to mention, I've heard stories of some Key Spouses bringing soup when you're sick and being great shoulders to cry on, but that could be an urban legend.) Point is, you're not alone and no matter how tough things get, someone has your back. This is important to remember when the inevitable Deployment Curse strikes.
I hope you found this useful. The best part of military life its transience: you won't be here forever, so make worthwhile memories while you wait for your BOP to come through, or your spouse to separate. :)
-Matti
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Call Me Matti: The Beginning
I was born Veronica Renee Archuleta in Las Cruces, NM. I was named partially for my dad, Ronnie (which is short for Veronica) and Renee, (meaning "reborn" in French) is my mother's favourite name. At birth, I was designated female. For most of my first year of life, I wore the same little pink outfits because my parents were very young, poor, and couldn't afford to buy me many new clothes. When I was a small child, I was not really too aware of the differences between male and female. I wore feminine clothes because that is what my mother bought for me. I remember taking my role of "big sister" very seriously when my siblings were born.
Sometime during elementary school (I do not know exactly when) I started realising I didn't quite fit in with other girls. I hated wearing dresses to church. I enjoyed rough-housing, reading, and playing football with the boys way more than I enjoyed putting on lip gloss and gossiping with the girls. Around this time, I met a kid in Sunday School named Ashley. Ashley's hair was short and she wore suits to church. The girls would tease her behind her back, and they called her names I didn't quite understand, like lesbian, dyke, and tranny. It was clear that she wanted to be thought of as a boy but our classmates would have none of it. When I tried to defend Ashley, they teased me too. Soon enough the family quit attending our church. I sometimes wondered if I was a person like Ashley. I had no concept of the word "transgender" at this time, and the way that Ashley dressed and acted was very contrary to the way I was taught that girls should dress and act. Since I didn't know how to express myself, and had no one to advise me on the subject, it retreated into a dark corner of my mind.
So life went on. I entered junior high as the same rambunctious tomboy I was in elementary school. I learned that I was very good at making people laugh; I used this to earn friends and weave my way into many different cliques. I didn't quite fit into any of them, but I was popular in my own right. I started experimenting with wearing makeup, and as it turned out, when I fixed myself up just right I was an attractive girl. Boys started noticing me, and I had a string of boyfriends (whom I kept strictly at school since I wasn't allowed to date.) I envied the popular girls and did everything I could to emulate them: I read fashion magazines, I wore the nicest clothes that our tight budget could afford, and I sought their advice on hair and makeup.
When I was in my late teens, I started experiencing gender dysphoria for the first time. Gender dysphoria means basically feeling distress at being in the wrong body. The wide-eyed, curvy girl in the mirror did not match who was inside. It didn't help that friends always joked that I would have made a better guy. One of them even said, "V, you just don't know how to 'act pretty.'" I had no idea what she meant by that. Apparently this meant I was too opinionated, brash, forward, sloppy. etc to be a girl. She echoed what my mother had always told me growing up. Mum was constantly on my case for not being ladylike and for choosing t-shirts and jeans over dresses and cardigans. Once again, having no real outlet for my feelings, I chose to bottle them up and continue with life, hoping one day I would be what a girl was supposed to be.
It was not until my mid-twenties that I watched a movie called "Boys Don't Cry" that the question of my gender identity resurfaced. The film focused on the life and death of Brandon Teena, who was a stealth, non-op transman. In 1993, he was murdered after being found out by two acquaintances. As the credits rolled, I remember thinking to myself, "I'm Brandon." I was excited to finally put a name to what I'd been feeling for so long, but also terrified. I'd grown up a lot since I'd first met Ashley, and I knew the world was not kind to transgender people. I was afraid of alienating my family, losing my friends, and my then-fiance. I wanted desperately to start transitioning.
At first, I opted to do it gradually. I decided that I needed a masculine name. I chose the name Matti because it was a) ambiguous sounding (not many in the US know it's a Finnish boy's name) and b) I thought it suited me more than Veronica ever did. I had my friends, family and coworkers start calling me this. Over the next year or so I started dressing more masculine, though I was still not out of the closet to anyone but my fiance and a few close friends.
My first attempt at transition was a disaster. Once people started getting the hint, I noticed that they started treating me differently--sometimes, in bad ways. I worried that my fiance, who had started dating me as a bisexual woman, would not be attracted to me any more. I broke up with him and entered into a very unstable, unhealthy relationship. I became so depressed and hopeless that I attempted suicide and was hospitalized for five days. When I got home, I knew I wasn't ready yet. Transitioning went on the back burner. I started dressing and presenting as a woman again.
In 2013 I met my husband, and it was with him that I felt like I could truly be myself for the first time in my life. I didn't have to hide or pretend to be someone I wasn't. Part of me was still scared to tell him, and I didn't reveal my trans status until a few months after we were married. He was a little shocked, but he told me that he had seen it coming. With his support, I came out publicly on Facebook and to my siblings. Our families still do not know. We have decided that, for now, it is best for them to keep seeing me as a woman.
At this point, I am not on hormone therapy. That's another obstacle I have to overcome. Trying to find a doctor who will treat a transgender patient is very difficult. Furthermore, as of this writing my medical insurance does not cover transgender services. In the future, I am hoping to get surgery to remove my breasts and get a more masculine contour. Again, this is going to be very expensive, not covered by insurance, and difficult to obtain.
I do not hide my past; I am not ashamed of it. I only wish it hadn't taken me so long to come out. The road ahead is long, but the future is bright. I can't wait until the world sees the man I have always been!
Matt
Sometime during elementary school (I do not know exactly when) I started realising I didn't quite fit in with other girls. I hated wearing dresses to church. I enjoyed rough-housing, reading, and playing football with the boys way more than I enjoyed putting on lip gloss and gossiping with the girls. Around this time, I met a kid in Sunday School named Ashley. Ashley's hair was short and she wore suits to church. The girls would tease her behind her back, and they called her names I didn't quite understand, like lesbian, dyke, and tranny. It was clear that she wanted to be thought of as a boy but our classmates would have none of it. When I tried to defend Ashley, they teased me too. Soon enough the family quit attending our church. I sometimes wondered if I was a person like Ashley. I had no concept of the word "transgender" at this time, and the way that Ashley dressed and acted was very contrary to the way I was taught that girls should dress and act. Since I didn't know how to express myself, and had no one to advise me on the subject, it retreated into a dark corner of my mind.
So life went on. I entered junior high as the same rambunctious tomboy I was in elementary school. I learned that I was very good at making people laugh; I used this to earn friends and weave my way into many different cliques. I didn't quite fit into any of them, but I was popular in my own right. I started experimenting with wearing makeup, and as it turned out, when I fixed myself up just right I was an attractive girl. Boys started noticing me, and I had a string of boyfriends (whom I kept strictly at school since I wasn't allowed to date.) I envied the popular girls and did everything I could to emulate them: I read fashion magazines, I wore the nicest clothes that our tight budget could afford, and I sought their advice on hair and makeup.
When I was in my late teens, I started experiencing gender dysphoria for the first time. Gender dysphoria means basically feeling distress at being in the wrong body. The wide-eyed, curvy girl in the mirror did not match who was inside. It didn't help that friends always joked that I would have made a better guy. One of them even said, "V, you just don't know how to 'act pretty.'" I had no idea what she meant by that. Apparently this meant I was too opinionated, brash, forward, sloppy. etc to be a girl. She echoed what my mother had always told me growing up. Mum was constantly on my case for not being ladylike and for choosing t-shirts and jeans over dresses and cardigans. Once again, having no real outlet for my feelings, I chose to bottle them up and continue with life, hoping one day I would be what a girl was supposed to be.
It was not until my mid-twenties that I watched a movie called "Boys Don't Cry" that the question of my gender identity resurfaced. The film focused on the life and death of Brandon Teena, who was a stealth, non-op transman. In 1993, he was murdered after being found out by two acquaintances. As the credits rolled, I remember thinking to myself, "I'm Brandon." I was excited to finally put a name to what I'd been feeling for so long, but also terrified. I'd grown up a lot since I'd first met Ashley, and I knew the world was not kind to transgender people. I was afraid of alienating my family, losing my friends, and my then-fiance. I wanted desperately to start transitioning.
At first, I opted to do it gradually. I decided that I needed a masculine name. I chose the name Matti because it was a) ambiguous sounding (not many in the US know it's a Finnish boy's name) and b) I thought it suited me more than Veronica ever did. I had my friends, family and coworkers start calling me this. Over the next year or so I started dressing more masculine, though I was still not out of the closet to anyone but my fiance and a few close friends.
My first attempt at transition was a disaster. Once people started getting the hint, I noticed that they started treating me differently--sometimes, in bad ways. I worried that my fiance, who had started dating me as a bisexual woman, would not be attracted to me any more. I broke up with him and entered into a very unstable, unhealthy relationship. I became so depressed and hopeless that I attempted suicide and was hospitalized for five days. When I got home, I knew I wasn't ready yet. Transitioning went on the back burner. I started dressing and presenting as a woman again.
In 2013 I met my husband, and it was with him that I felt like I could truly be myself for the first time in my life. I didn't have to hide or pretend to be someone I wasn't. Part of me was still scared to tell him, and I didn't reveal my trans status until a few months after we were married. He was a little shocked, but he told me that he had seen it coming. With his support, I came out publicly on Facebook and to my siblings. Our families still do not know. We have decided that, for now, it is best for them to keep seeing me as a woman.
At this point, I am not on hormone therapy. That's another obstacle I have to overcome. Trying to find a doctor who will treat a transgender patient is very difficult. Furthermore, as of this writing my medical insurance does not cover transgender services. In the future, I am hoping to get surgery to remove my breasts and get a more masculine contour. Again, this is going to be very expensive, not covered by insurance, and difficult to obtain.
I do not hide my past; I am not ashamed of it. I only wish it hadn't taken me so long to come out. The road ahead is long, but the future is bright. I can't wait until the world sees the man I have always been!
Matt
Sunday, June 28, 2015
How to Become A Slave to the System
Work. Buy. Consume. Die. --OTEP, "Smash the Control Machine"
Chances are, you're already on the path to becoming a mindless drone, but by reading this blog, you've become aware that you aren't doing nearly enough. Well, I'm going to show you exactly how you can live a purposeless, meaningless, consumerism-driven life. It's not as hard as you think. Trust me.
Get a job you absolutely hate (but pays really well).
I want you to think really long and hard about what you wanted to be when you were a child. Did you want to be an astronaut? A firefighter? A farmer? A fairy princess? Grand High Pooh-Bah of the Starflowers and Unicorns? Wrong, it was always your dream to become Senior Vice Executive Assistant to the Manager of Finance. It must have been, because that is what you wasted your four years in college (no wait, two in community college to save money) studying to be. You wanted to get a real job because your well-meaning parents told you that your dream of being a music producer was impractical, or your high-school sweetheart said you'd never make it as an artist. Success is measured in the amount of zeroes in your salary. That being said, now that you make a lot of money, it's time to
Spend, spend, spend on stuff you don't need.
So, it's Black Friday-- That wonderful day after Thanksgiving where, after sleeping off your turkey coma, you can go to just about any big-box store and stand in horrendously long lines whilst you wait to get the best deals on useless crap you'll throw out in six months. That huge big-screen TV that says "I'm cool because my TV is as wide as I am tall?" Thanks to the wonders of planned obsolescence, it is flimsy and made to break after a couple of years, thus requiring you to purchase a new one. But who cares? Status is the name of the game. Go to as many tag sales, door-busters, and grand openings as you can. Accumulate stacks of merchandise that will rival any hoarder's. You'll find a use for those twenty cosmetic bags... Eventually. You've spent a lot of money so step two is:
Get yourself in a mountain of debt.
Well, say you don't have enough money for all the stuff you want, thanks to all those student loans from college to get you the education for the job you hate. You've had your eye on that expensive, fancy smartphone from Best Buy for weeks now, but its $250 dollars, not to mention the two-year contract. No problem! That's where credit cards come in. Credit cards make it easier for you to buy now and pay later. Sure, you'll have to pay for it SOMEDAY, but for now, you get the instant gratification of being the envy of your friends. You can do the same thing with that fancy car you want. Lots of car places will give you a loan so you can have it now and pay it off for the next six years. Oh, and that big house you want? Get a mortgage! You'll be paying it for twenty-five or thirty years, but that's okay. At least you have lots of space to put your useless stuff.
Have no idea what's going on in the world.
This is probably the most important rule of becoming a slave to the system. If you know too much of what's going on in the world, you might suddenly start caring and doing things to change them. Corporations are counting on you to keep buying, Hollywood is counting on you to see their latest mind-numbing blockbuster, and television channels would rather you watch their latest Kardashian special rather than the news. If it doesn't affect you, it doesn't matter. Never mind that your trendy Hollister shirt was made by a ten-year-old working in squalid conditions. Never mind that we always seem to be at war with someone. The less you know, the happier you'll be.
Have no idea what's in your food, either.
Eat whatever the fuck you want. Life's short and we're all gonna die anyway, so why not have that Triple Whopper with cheese? And who cares about all the poison that's in processed food. If it tastes good, eat it. With medical technology advancing so much, they can fix just about anything that happens to you with pills or surgery. There's no need to torture yourself by living off bland rabbit food. But what if that excellent job you have doesn't give you health insurance? Well, that's just more debt you can add to your credit cards, car payment, house payment, and costly data plan.
Get married and have kids.
This is what society expects you to do, that way you'll always be slaving. Kids are also mini-consumers and have lots of disposable income (yours). Teach them that they need things to be happy, and shower them with fancy electronics so they can keep themselves out of your way so you can catch up on online shopping or the soap operas you have on the TiVo.
And there you have it folks. Now get crackin'! There's a sale at KMart you're missing.
M.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
She's with the Angels (SONG LYRICS)
She puts the makeup on her face
Silently she closes the door
Pulls the dress over her shoulders
She doesn't have to hide anymore
She's always known her body was a mistake
"Cheer up, boy," they say, "One day you'll be a man"
Just looking in the mirror causes so much pain
They want her to be someone she can't
And she's with the angels now
In a far more loving place
She's with the angels now
In a quiet, safer space
But I wish that she could see
The beautiful person she was meant to be
Mom and dad, they don't understand
They think they did all they could, raised her right
Why does she insist on wearing a suit to church?
Why does cry herself to sleep at night?
She closes her eyes
She knows it will be over soon
Stayed up all night writing her last good byes
Didn't sleep till half-past noon
Makes her way onto the street
Why oh why did that guy have to speed?
He couldn't stop in time, but that's just fine
It's over now
It's over now
And she's with the angels
She no longer has anything to fear
But she doesn't belong with them
Because we need her here
Because we need her here
--M. Dos Santos
Silently she closes the door
Pulls the dress over her shoulders
She doesn't have to hide anymore
She's always known her body was a mistake
"Cheer up, boy," they say, "One day you'll be a man"
Just looking in the mirror causes so much pain
They want her to be someone she can't
And she's with the angels now
In a far more loving place
She's with the angels now
In a quiet, safer space
But I wish that she could see
The beautiful person she was meant to be
Mom and dad, they don't understand
They think they did all they could, raised her right
Why does she insist on wearing a suit to church?
Why does cry herself to sleep at night?
She closes her eyes
She knows it will be over soon
Stayed up all night writing her last good byes
Didn't sleep till half-past noon
Makes her way onto the street
Why oh why did that guy have to speed?
He couldn't stop in time, but that's just fine
It's over now
It's over now
And she's with the angels
She no longer has anything to fear
But she doesn't belong with them
Because we need her here
Because we need her here
--M. Dos Santos
Monday, December 15, 2014
29 Things I've Realised by (Almost) 29
Earlier this year, I wrote a post called "28 Things I've Realised by (Almost) 28" a week before my 28th birthday. I didn't expect it to be so well-read and received; as a matter of fact, it is probably my most well-read non-recipe post to date. Now I'm looking 29 (aka practically 30) in the face. I'm still waiting for gravity to make everything sag (inevitable) and for my biological clock to start ticking (never going to happen.) Here are 29 more things I've learned this year.
1) Stop making excuses for why you can't get started on your goal of having your own business, learning a new language, taking over the world, etc. There is no better time than right NOW, right this very second. Quit wishing and daydreaming and get on that shit.
2) Don't worry about what people who don't even like you think about you. Sure, you could change, but they still won't like you... They'll just find something new to dislike about you. Their opinions don't matter. So forget them.
3) It's not about who you spend the most time with, it's about who you have the best time with.
4) A lot of people spend their 20s spouse-hunting rather than building their career and investing in the future. Be patient; love will come to you at the right time. Go back to school, learn a trade, make yourself useful. That way you'll have something to fall back in in case Mr./Ms./Mx. Right doesn't work out.
5) When you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say to yourself, "I am f***in' awesome." Repeat until you believe it.
6) Be realistic about your goals. You'll probably never be the next American Idol, but you can be the winner of your school's talent show. You might never be president of your country, but you might be able to be PTA president one day.
7) The amount of people you sleep with has no bearing on how good of a person you are.
8) If something seems to good/scary/weird to be true, it probably is. Say it with me: "When in doubt, Snopes that shit!"
9) If you don't forward that email or share that picture on Facebook, a little dead girl is not going to kill you in your sleep. Sorry to disappoint you.
10) Own at least one outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks. (Just make sure it doesn't cost a million bucks.)
11) Rich people (that is, normal rich people, not celebrities) don't blow their money on frivolous crap like 30 dollar hairspray and 500 dollar handbags. You know who does? Poor people trying to look rich. Companies know this, and that's who they market to. Don't fall for the hype.
12) Being a parent doesn't automatically make you an expert on anything... except maybe your own kids.
13) Make a budget and stick to it. Stop impulsively spending money on stuff you don't need with money you don't have. When you have a million dollar nest egg to retire on, you'll be grateful.
14) Every day, do something that makes the world a little better. Buy a homeless person a meal. Donate to a charity. Say "good morning" to your neighbour you never talk to. Smile at a child.
15) There is ALWAYS room for dessert.
16) Sometimes, you just need to spend the entire day in bed, doing nothing productive. If this becomes a habit, however, you should probably go to the doctor because you might have depression.
17) Got a crush on someone? Ask them out. The worst they can say is "no."
18) You can't fix anyone. Loving someone will not make them a better person. Don't fall into the trap.
19) When you meet someone who laughs at the same stupid crap you do, marry that person. A sense of humour will get you through life much better than a huge bank account or good looks ever will.
20) Break up with the person who makes you feel like crap. Quit your soul-sucking job. Stand up to the person who picks on you.
21) It's a lot harder to fall for the charlatans and snake oil salesmen of the world when you've got a strong set of core beliefs. The old saying "if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything" is truer than you think.
22) There's no shame in being wrong. It's a learning opportunity.
23) There's no shame in crying. Having strong emotions doesn't make you weak, it makes you human.
24) If you're at that point in the night where you're asking if you should stay for another drink or go home, it's time to take your drunk ass home.
25) Don't believe anything you see on Natural News or Fox News.
26) If you can't take care of a pet, you sure as hell can't take care of a kid. Keep this in mind every time you get baby rabies.
27) Stop comparing yourself to Photoshopped models. Stop comparing yourself to other people, period.
28) In college, major in what will get you a good job. Minor in something you love.
29) Humans never outgrow the need to play. It's perfectly okay to let your inner kid out. Swing on the swings at your local park. Play a sport. Get into video or computer games. Don't let anyone tell you that you're immature because of this.
-- M. Dos Santos
1) Stop making excuses for why you can't get started on your goal of having your own business, learning a new language, taking over the world, etc. There is no better time than right NOW, right this very second. Quit wishing and daydreaming and get on that shit.
2) Don't worry about what people who don't even like you think about you. Sure, you could change, but they still won't like you... They'll just find something new to dislike about you. Their opinions don't matter. So forget them.
3) It's not about who you spend the most time with, it's about who you have the best time with.
4) A lot of people spend their 20s spouse-hunting rather than building their career and investing in the future. Be patient; love will come to you at the right time. Go back to school, learn a trade, make yourself useful. That way you'll have something to fall back in in case Mr./Ms./Mx. Right doesn't work out.
5) When you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say to yourself, "I am f***in' awesome." Repeat until you believe it.
6) Be realistic about your goals. You'll probably never be the next American Idol, but you can be the winner of your school's talent show. You might never be president of your country, but you might be able to be PTA president one day.
7) The amount of people you sleep with has no bearing on how good of a person you are.
8) If something seems to good/scary/weird to be true, it probably is. Say it with me: "When in doubt, Snopes that shit!"
9) If you don't forward that email or share that picture on Facebook, a little dead girl is not going to kill you in your sleep. Sorry to disappoint you.
10) Own at least one outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks. (Just make sure it doesn't cost a million bucks.)
11) Rich people (that is, normal rich people, not celebrities) don't blow their money on frivolous crap like 30 dollar hairspray and 500 dollar handbags. You know who does? Poor people trying to look rich. Companies know this, and that's who they market to. Don't fall for the hype.
12) Being a parent doesn't automatically make you an expert on anything... except maybe your own kids.
13) Make a budget and stick to it. Stop impulsively spending money on stuff you don't need with money you don't have. When you have a million dollar nest egg to retire on, you'll be grateful.
14) Every day, do something that makes the world a little better. Buy a homeless person a meal. Donate to a charity. Say "good morning" to your neighbour you never talk to. Smile at a child.
15) There is ALWAYS room for dessert.
16) Sometimes, you just need to spend the entire day in bed, doing nothing productive. If this becomes a habit, however, you should probably go to the doctor because you might have depression.
17) Got a crush on someone? Ask them out. The worst they can say is "no."
18) You can't fix anyone. Loving someone will not make them a better person. Don't fall into the trap.
19) When you meet someone who laughs at the same stupid crap you do, marry that person. A sense of humour will get you through life much better than a huge bank account or good looks ever will.
20) Break up with the person who makes you feel like crap. Quit your soul-sucking job. Stand up to the person who picks on you.
21) It's a lot harder to fall for the charlatans and snake oil salesmen of the world when you've got a strong set of core beliefs. The old saying "if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything" is truer than you think.
22) There's no shame in being wrong. It's a learning opportunity.
23) There's no shame in crying. Having strong emotions doesn't make you weak, it makes you human.
24) If you're at that point in the night where you're asking if you should stay for another drink or go home, it's time to take your drunk ass home.
25) Don't believe anything you see on Natural News or Fox News.
26) If you can't take care of a pet, you sure as hell can't take care of a kid. Keep this in mind every time you get baby rabies.
27) Stop comparing yourself to Photoshopped models. Stop comparing yourself to other people, period.
28) In college, major in what will get you a good job. Minor in something you love.
29) Humans never outgrow the need to play. It's perfectly okay to let your inner kid out. Swing on the swings at your local park. Play a sport. Get into video or computer games. Don't let anyone tell you that you're immature because of this.
-- M. Dos Santos
Monday, November 3, 2014
Please Don't Say (Poem/Song Lyrics)
Never thought I'd see your face again
Never thought we'd be in this place
Once upon a time, we were in love
Then you disappeared without a trace
We were young and hopeless
Fate was never on our side
And now you want to pick up where we left off
Like we never ever said good-bye
Please don't say we've both changed
And we could make it if we try
Please don't say it's not too late
And it'll be different this time
You left me cold and broken-hearted
But I managed to move on with life
I found myself a soulmate
He's always by my side
I'll be honest, though, it's tempting
To relive those beautiful days
Before you make another promise,
Make sure it's one you won't break
If I let you stay the night
If I let you in my heart
I could throw my whole life away
And make a brand new start
But I'm too old to be chasing ghosts
The fleeting dreams of my youth
I just wish I had an answer
No freedom in the truth
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