Archive for year: 2017
Your Holiday Mom
For all those who are lacking the warmth and love they deserve during this time of year, here’s a place to find your cozy loving home.
http://www.yourholidaymom.com/
From the website:
Welcome to Your Holiday Mom – an online space where supportive moms gather to post a holiday message to all LGBTQ children, teens and adults who are without family support and who would like a “stand-in” holiday family. We know that not every mom is ready to accept her own LGBTQ child exactly as-is (as hard as this is for us moms here to imagine), so we have written to extend our love beyond that of our own family.
Who are these moms? We are everyday friends and family from everyday homes. Many, but not all, have LGBTQ children of our own. Many, but not all, are straight. Each mom speaks to the holiday/s she observes, from Thanksgiving to New Years Day. In other words, even our writers here represent diversity!
The vast majority of us came together because they heard about the project, yet most have never met me or each other. The common bond we share is that we are so full of love and pride for our own children – LGBTQ and straight – we wanted to extend ourselves beyond our own families and do something more.
We wish you a happy, love-filled Holiday Season!
With Love, Shamama
Cornerstones of Care – Therapeutic Foster Care Informational Session
Check out this wonderful, LGBT friendly organization via the link below.
https://www.cornerstonesofcare.org/Our-Services/FosterCare-Adoption/Therapeutic-Foster-Care
Testimonial – Donna White
September 29, 2017.
Dear Caroline,
I was just thinking so fondly of you, of all the wonderful folks on your staff, and the fabulous week I spent with you in the Feminine Immersion Program, just over a year ago!! It’s hard to believe that it’s been that long since I was there! The time has gone by so quickly. So I felt moved to reach out to you with a much belated “Thank You”!
My confidence as a woman has absolutely soared since spending that week with you. I guess I’d just have to say I found “immersion” quite satisfying and delightful!. (Ha!) It was truly like having a lifelong fantasy come true for me, to live the entire week, 24-7 as my totally female self.
Before I came into the program, I was already feeling pretty good about most of the things I was doing. My main challenges for improvement, I felt, were my voice and my hair. And I definitely got the help I needed from you in both areas! Cudos to you for voice, as after working with you, I truly felt my voice was no longer a big RED flag for me. And, by continuing the drills you had taught since returning home, it has slowly gotten better and better through time. Thank you, thank you, thank you! What an important step in becoming really comfortable in my female presentation. And as for hair, there was extremely valuable help from both Alonda, the hairstylest, and Robin Scholfield at Bravada Wigs. As a matter of fact, I have now established contacts at the Dallas Bravada wig shop, and have had some fabulous results with them!
As I have stated, I felt pretty comfortable with my wardrobe and makeup before entering the program. But I came in with an open mind, and was willing to listen to any suggestions in both areas. Well, let me tell you what: After consulting with Monique, and having her do my makeup “Monique style”, I never go out for the evening that at least one person that I’ve never met before, and usually more, doesn’t approach me to tell me how beautiful I am! And I’m talking about men and women. And, you know, I’m just so sick of hearing that—NOTTTTT! (ha). Like most women, I can never get enough of hearing that I’m beautiful! And I feel I learned so much from Anna regarding wardrobe. I find I’m buying fewer things now, but wearing them longer, and more often without becoming tired of them.
But, now, let’s get back to you: Two of the most beneficial aspects to the week were the therapy time we spent together, one on one, helping me better understand myself, and building my confidence to a higher level, and the social time you invested with me, taking me places, and gently coaching me on voice, feminine comportment, dancing, etc., etc., while actually “out and about”: There’s nothing like “On-the-job training”, and that helped so much, I can hardly quantify it.
I did have one rather large concern, however: I was not allowed to bring you and Stephanie home with me at the end of the week. I haven’t quite gotten over that yet, but I am working on it. (ha)! I hope all is well with all my friends there at the Transgender Instiute! Please give them all my very best and warmest regards!
Much Love and “White Light” Always,
Donna White
Caroline Gibbs speaks at rally for Chelsea Manning, Nov. 20, 2016
PeaceWorks KC hosted a rally in support of Chelsea Manning outside Fort Leavenworth on Nov. 20, 2016. Here Caroline Gibbs shares her thoughts.
Going From Marginalized to Welcomed in the Workplace
From NY Times – Full Article Here
When Michaela Mendelsohn, the owner and chief executive of the Pollo West Corporation, arrived at her restaurant company’s holiday party in 2006, it had been a year since she had seen most of her 500 employees. In that time, she had worked from her home in the Conejo Valley of Southern California and was in contact with only a handful of staff members.
A rumor had circulated that she was dying of cancer. But in fact, she was transitioning from male to female, including undergoing facial and body surgeries and changing her style of dress to one she describes as very feminine.
Feeling both nervous and excited, she stood up and introduced herself to her staff. “They had no idea who I was,” Ms. Mendelsohn said, adding that their reaction was largely supportive.
Trying to find love as a transgender man
A transgender man, Gutierrez grew up as a woman. In high school, he was a bit of a tomboy and came out as a lesbian. But even then, he knew there was something more he was missing.
“Being in a woman’s body, I felt trapped,” he said. “I would see myself in the mirror and see the feminine features of my body, and I would hate it.”
A year ago, the 30-year-old began taking testosterone, and his life completely changed.
He expected some of the change: Gutierrez knew his his muscles would grow, his voice would drop and his facial hair would come in. But there were surprising changes as well.
“The sex drive itself — it’s crazy,” he said. “I even asked one of my gay friends, ‘What is this feeling? Why am I so excited all the time?’ I can’t get it out of my head, it’s a constant thing. He said ‘Welcome, now you know what guys go through.”
Our Founder and Director, Caroline Gibbs, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and National Certified Counselor, nationally and internationally recognized as an educator, advocate and provider for this population. Read More
