Trans Universe

By Monica F. Helms

On October 20, 1994, the Navy lifted the ban on women serving on combat ships when the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) became the first US warship to deploy with women, departing Norfolk, Va. with 367 female sailors.  Six years later, in spring of 2000, Captain Kathleen McGrath became the first woman to command a combat vessel when she took over the frigate Jarrett, a 453-foot warship, with a 262-member crew.

On April 1, 1900, the US Navy commissioned their first submarine, the USS Holland (SS-1.)  In that short time, submarines have proven their worth to the fleet and our country.  In WWII, submarines sank 55% of all of the tonnage during the war, with just 1% of the Naval personnel.  However, they lost 52 submarines, 18% of all submarines which saw combat duty, and 3505 men, 13.3% of all of the WWII submarine personnel.  They know first hand that freedom is not free.

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By Monica F. Helms

The year 1969 has become an important year in history for many reasons. Some huge events affected the entire world, such as Neal Armstrong walking on the Moon, July 20, 1969. Others affect me in a more personal way, such as my graduation from high school. Hurricane Camille affected the lives of over a million Gulf Coast people on August 17, 1969. And one event, the Stonewall Riots in New York City, impacted my life many years into then future.

However, another event, the Woodstock Music Festival, defined my entire generation and in many ways, defined who I am and who I have become. It lasted from August 15 to August 18, 1969.

At age 18 and living in Phoenix, AZ, I didn’t hang out with the right crowd of people who would have known of Woodstock ahead of time, or would have driven the 2500 miles to get there. I saw bits and pieces on the evening news, but had no idea the scope of the event. My friends and I starting talking about it a month after because all of the print media on it. Information didn’t get out as quickly in 1969 as it does today. The World Wide Web was nothing more than a gleam in Al Gore’s eye at the time.

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By Monica F. Helms

‘Tis the season, where new Senators and Representatives begin getting used to their new jobs, while the cherry blossoms bloom in the springtime. Capital Hill has become ripe for the pickin’, so we need prepare ourselves to talk with them on our needs. It won’t be easy, yet a lot of new activists beam with enthusiasm to descend on the Hill to add their voices to our causes. I welcome them all.

Since a lot of people want to get involved, then they should be absolutely prepared for this new adventure in exerting their rights as American citizens. I have been to the Hill several times since my first visit in 1999 and at each lobby day I learn something new, and each time I bring with me a new weapon in educating people on our issues. I am not the absolute expert in lobbying, because many who read this will have done it more often. A good example is Ethan St. Pierre and his piece on TransFM. I just feel a need to impart some of what I learned and in a complete presentation. But please, ask others who have done this often because each of them will add something new to your knowledge.

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By Monica F. Helms

Also read the same article at: Project Q Atlanta.

After reading “Gay Atlanta City Council candidate apologizes for anti-trans comments,” I have to say that Charlie Stadtlander’s apology on how he characterized transgender people back in 2005 and 2006 is weak at best. Consider what he wrote just little more than two years ago:

“It would be a simple task to banter with the liberal and often times irresponsible gay rights movement, as to why events such as drag shows greatly harm the gay and lesbian community and set our cause back immensely.”

In two years, how much can Stadtlander deviate from his past ramblings? It makes it difficult for a transgender person to accept his apology. Consider this outtake from his 2006 newspaper commentary:  (Read quote after the break.)

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By Monica F. Helms

Read the article on The Bilerico Project, posted by Michael Crawford.  Send in your photo.

I put together this collage from pictures on line.  Many are have a copyright.  I honor those who took them.

“Steady boy. Just keep telling yourself you’re a girl.” – “I’m a girl…I’m a girl…I’m a girl.”

“Hormones are hormones. Yours and mine just happen to come in purple little pills.”

“I don’t want IT in my house.”

“When a straight man puts on a dress and goes on a sexual kick he is a transvestite. When a man is a woman trapped in a man’s body and has a little operation he is a transsexual. When a gay man has way too much fashion sense for one gender he is a drag queen.”

“I do wish we could chat longer, but I’m having an old friend for dinner.”

“Well, a boy’s best friend is his mother.”

“Attica! Attica!”

“You know, I used to feel that way too until I found out that Alexander the Great was a fag. Talk about gays in the military!”

“I’m not a fucking drag queen.”

“I was a better man with you, as a woman, than I ever was with a woman, as a man. Know what I mean? I just gotta learn to do it without the dress.” (more…)

It seems lately that a lot of people who have a tendency to post a great deal on the Internet has a famous – or not so famous – quote after their name. I refuse to do that because there are so many good quotes out there that picking just one may not fit the mood I’m in at the time. To me, different situation in activism requires different quotes. I have used many of them in the past, and even made a few of my own.

I figured that it would be fun to gather up some of the best ones that I remember, and some of the new ones I found on line and put them together in one place for everyone to choose from if the feeling hits them. Some of these quotes I will make comments about, so to distinguish the quotes from my comments, I will put them in bold letters, along with the person who said them.

One of the most respected historical figures who the LGBT community looks upon with respect has to be Dr. Martin Luther King. Yes, the Civil Rights Movement is not the same as the LGBT Movement, but his words ring true for many people and are universal in their relevance. There were too many to choose from, so I picked my favorites that I feel pertain to our situation best. (more…)

Monica Helms has been an activist in the transgender community since 1998, starting off in Phoenix, Arizona. She currently owns a home in Marietta, GA. She has been involved in several local, state and national organizations, serving on their boards or advisory boards. She was the Director of Operations of It’s Time Arizona from 1998 to 2000 and the Executive Director for Trans=Action in Georgia from 2000 to 2006.

In January 2003, Helms Co-Founded the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) with Angela Brightfeather and serves as the President since then. TAVA’s web site is www.tavausa.org.