TransPanTastic: Transgender parenting, work, marriage, transition, and life!

We have a funeral to attend halfway across the country, mostly to see Jess' family but also because there's a dead guy. Which means making arrangements for our responsibilities to be managed in our absence. But when Kid#2 just had his meds changed, Jess is staring teacher-transfer season in the face, and our pre-arranged childcare falls through, it's never easy. Ever.  We are here to share our ent...

Spring break happened. Child#2's teachers wanted to schedule a meeting ASAP before it did, and we were mildly concerned that it might be a problem, but it turned out to be mostly mundane. Which is good, because things are rarely, if ever, mundane with this kid. George took him on a vacation to visit family while Jess caught up on school work, and hijinks followed as usual.  (And the song is "Smoot...

Last week we heard the beginning of a really difficult story, about how our friend became a homeless transgender spoonie. This week we discuss her continuing struggles, and how to maintain hope in the midst of a struggle for rights, for support, and often even for survival.  Tasteless and occasionally very adult-oriented coping humour abounds, especially in the outtakes after, so be forewarned, we...

We've mentioned our tall friend a few times over the run of this show. We finally got to sit down and talk with her at a microphone, which we've been trying to schedule for a while. But scheduling is tough when you're homeless, which is often a result of transitioning. Not only is she homeless, she also struggles with chronic pain resulting from a hit-and-run. This week we'll hear the start of her...

"What should we talk about?"  "I don't know, what haven't we talked about in a while?"  "Religion?"  "Okay."  We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-question anonymous survey at vote.pollcode.com/32371374 . If you have a request/suggestion that isn't...

You sent in questions, we answered to the microphone. The pitch of our voices, romantic relationships, social interactions, healthcare and insurance, and feminism, all found their way to our brains and your ears this week!  Links from our healthcare/insurance question: http://www.healthcare.gov/transgender-health-care http://www.transequality.org/know-your-rights/healthcare We are here to share ou...

We have pictures and documents throughout our house that point to George's transition, if you know what you're looking at. Child#2's new babysitter hasn't said anything yet, so we don't know if she's noticed. Unfortunately, though, the kid's behaviour and emotions have become more of a struggle for him, for his teachers, and for us as parents.  We are here to share our entire intersectional experi...

Male privilege often makes the things George needs to accomplish easier than they were prior to transition, but sometimes the voice of a child or a little old lady will garner more support and sympathy when trying to get them the services they need.  We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. Yo...

"We should record about that." This phrase happens in our conversations at least once a week, often more. By the time we find a free hour to sit down with a microphone, the topic has completely escaped our memory... So this time George made a list! From Canadian masculinity compared to American masculinity, to the perpetual "bathroom dilemma" and losing STP enthusiasm, to Jess' "man tact", to deal...

Going to a large-scale social event such as a convention can be a bit apprehension-inducing for queers. But the environment at  Gallifrey One  was supportive and encouraging, and we had an amazing time. From the pre-con setup time volunteering with a bunch of staff and other volunteers, through meeting other podcasters and tons of other queers, it was an absolutely phenomenal experience. We refere...

We had the amazing opportunity to attend the Doctor Who convention Gallifrey One. Whether you're a fan or not, the information that the casting director is committed to diversity in casting is a great thing to hear. (See more about a diversity-in-entertainment organization he works with at  act-for-change.com .) We discussed our thoughts on media representation, and want to hear your input. Was th...

Children with developmental challenges aren't the only ones challenged by their unique ways of human-ing. Our Child#2 has had more difficulty controlling his behavior, as we started to discuss last week. However, it didn't end there, and now that his temper has caused other children injury, we start to look for more supportive environment for his after-school care. Which will likely mean hiring a...

When George's slightly senile aunt drives across country, when his mother needs her dentures repaired, her welfare application completed, and her health insurance reviewed, when Child#2 gets suspended from the kids' club one day and his school the next, when a family friend dies, and when the dog wakes us up at ungodly hours because he's also slightly senile, there's no shortage of stress to be ha...

Our entire discussion on male privilege, as originally published in three parts. *** 0:00:23 - 0:32:35 TPT#150 - Small Dick Jokes (Masculinity and Privilege, Part 1) We got guests again! Our Jesus Friend from Ep# 111 - 112  and our Lawyer Friend from Ep# 128 - 129  sat down with us to discuss male privilege. In the first of three episodes, we start with some definitions and a little intersectional...

Men are often allowed more assertiveness in social interactions, expected to behave more aggressively in competitive situations, and allowed more ownership of their self-presentation. These longstanding holdovers from centuries of patriarchy continue to affect our lives today, as exhibited in the experiences of individuals who transition. When one transitions, however, is it possible to forget wha...

Western culture has certain expectations of individuals based on their gender. These can cause benefit to those who naturally fit them, and detriment to those who naturally eschew them, but how do these expectations shape our overall experience in binary society? A woman's face and body are subconsciously considered by many to be "public property" to be commented upon or directed to behave in "lad...

We got guests again! Our Jesus Friend from Ep# 111 - 112  and our Lawyer Friend from Ep# 128 - 129  sat down with us to discuss male privilege. In the first of three episodes, we start with some definitions and a little intersectionality, how male privilege is enhanced by being tall or straight or white or masculine, and how privilege can be used to benefit others who lack the benefits that three...

As HRT has done it's work on George's body, it has changed his libido and the way he handles physical intimacy. Some of these changes are physical and others are mental, but the experience as a whole has been one heck of a ride for both of us, regardless of who's being ridden...  We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what...

Why do some people "make such a big deal" of gender? When is it okay to make gender a "big deal"? When ought it be just another mundane aspect of our existence? We discuss our relevant experiences and opinions.  We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking to a one-...

We finally got around to Christmas, and the school break that surrounds it... Parenting hijinks ensue. Such is the "life around transition", but don't worry, transition is still happening and will be featured again soon.  We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking...

Our Christmas preparations are underway, with all the people we care for in tow. From George's mom's house to Child#2 & Child#3's school, our world is a winter wonderland of holiday cheer. And by cheer we mean insanity.  We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know what you connect with the most. You can let us know by clicking...

George finally got around to calling the gynecologist, and the experience was much more pleasant than some of the horror stories we've heard. Even with an open-minded physician and a very professional office staff, he's still the guy at the gyno, which still feels a tad awkward...  We are here to share our entire intersectional experience with anyone who finds it beneficial, but we want to know wh...

The holidays have begun. They kind of began back in October with Halloween and Child#1's birthday, and the entire end-of-the-year always becomes a hectic shuffle from one event to another. Throw another happy event in on top of it (you'll have to listen to find out what) and we just don't get any rest. But our house is bright and rainbow-tastic, our family is warm and well-fed, and we have each ot...

There are actually people, functional human beings, who have never, ever, not even once, considered that their body might not fit them, that their brain might not match their body, that their gender might be something different than assigned. They just go about their lives with complete integration of their sociocultural place, their body, and their sense of self. That's kinda crazy.  We're still...

Holidays can be hard. But you can help someone who's struggling with depression, frustration, alienation, or all those other unhappy things that happen too often this time of year. Tell us your happy stories of "life around transition", and we'll compile them into an uplifting episode. While we won't "ban" transition or coming-out stories, remember that for many who are still struggling to achieve...