The Transgender Survival Guide

Episode 6: How Oppression Leads to Trans Violence

Dharma Kelleher — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:07:43 +0000

What we refer to as racism, sexism, classism, size-ism, etc. are really just different forms of oppression. You knew this, of course. But did you know that the historic and continued oppression of ethnic and other minorities can lead members of those oppressed groups to strike out violently against transgender people? This is the topic for Episode 6.

We need you to join the conversation. After listening to the episode, we need to hear what your experiences have been with regards to relationship between minority oppression and trans violence. I would especially love to hear from people of color. Post your comments on this page or send an email to dharmashanti@gmail.com.

Links for this episode:

And don’t forget, you can win a free, autographed copy of my book Fight the Misery Conspiracy: Reclaiming Your Right to be Happy by giving me a review on The Transgender Survival Guide iTunes page. (I’ll even pay for shipping!)

Episode 5: The Dreaded Bathroom Issue

Dharma Kelleher — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:10:05 +0000

If you cross over into the gender frontier, sooner or later you will face the bathroom issue. It’s one thing to venture out into the world dressed in your new gender. But then you get the urge to pee or poop. And you must decide which public restroom to use. The men’s or the women’s?

In this episode, I talk about the risks of using public restrooms as a gender-variant person and what you can do to lessen those risks.

Links for this episode:
A World of Progress - an online magazine for the Progressive Human
Better than Chocolate, an awesome movie!
The Apartheid of Sex by Martine Rothblatt

Be sure to leave me a review on iTunes, then email me at dharmashanti @ gmail.com. When you do, I will send you a free signed copy of my book Fight the Misery Conspiracy: Reclaiming Your Right to be Happy.

Join the conversation! What challenges have you experienced in regards to public or work restrooms? Leave a comment!

Episode 4: Dealing with Gender Dysphoria

Dharma Kelleher — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:18:55 +0000

Once we make the decision to transition, it’s easy to get caught up into obsessing about all of the changes we want to make. We want to start hormones, change our names, live full-time in our new gender, get surgery, etc. We can easily make ourselves miserable.

In this episode, Dharma talks about the anxiety of gender dysphoria and the mistaken belief that we can’t be happy right now. Our transitions don’t have to be a miserable ordeal, but rather a journey to be cherished.

Links for this episode:
Fresh Air’s “A Brain Scientist with a ‘Stroke of Insight’”
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
A Course in Miracles
Trans-Ponder podcast
OCity comic

Please join the conversation by leaving a comment about your experiences of transition. Were you obsessed with the next step or did you learn to relax and enjoy the ride?

Episode 3: Drugs and Alcohol

Dharma Kelleher — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:49:03 +0000

For those of us who venture across the gender frontier, far from the safety of the cisgender world, it is important to keep your wits about you. Failure to do so could cost you dearly. Drugs and alcohol can interfere with our awareness of danger as well as our decision making.

Listen to the episode and then join the discussion by leaving a comment.

Episode 2: Confidence

Dharma Kelleher — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:17:21 +0000

Some people are born confident. Not me! For much of my life, I had a serious LACK of confidence. But when I came out as trans, I realized that I had to develop confidence or risk disaster.

In this episode, I talk about how confidence is important to trans people and offer three tips for how you can build your confidence.

Episode 1: Safety First!

Dharma Kelleher — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:00:52 +0000

In the premier episode of the Transgender Survival Guide, host Dharma Kelleher addresses the issues of safety. As trans people, we often deal with strong, conflicting emotions which may be exacerbated by hormones. Learning how to keep your wits about you and how to avoid danger is critical to surviving transition.