AndyG Projects

Life in 2019

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 08:16:00 +0000

I haven't blogged much of late, it struck me when I was considering submitting a talk for Pausefest 2020 and TedTalks Newtown recently, I don't particularly have a lot to say at the moment, as in I'm at peace in a lot of ways.

Surely though there could be something to talk about, as in life isn't dull and certainly hasn't been eventless since the beginning of this year. If anything I can only hope it's because I'm more vigilant as to what I think is relevant for me to discuss. Also perhaps importantly it's more about what's irrelevant now and would just take up unnecessary headspace for myself and others.

Either way I started to think that perhaps others may want to read some posts again (to get an update, for example, when you haven't spoken to a friend in a while) ...

how's work, how's home, how's married life, how's Wesley (the cat I live with), what's it like being an uncle, or how's life 5 years post transition (it's a bit less than that, but it is 5 years since having to embark on my epic trips to the US for surgery, because it wasn't accessible in Australia at the time) or even ...

how's life working in the arts, what are my thoughts to the current Australian and global political climate(s) and how is it affecting me and those around me ... or even something specific like was it necessary to have a three year legal battle with the Australian Medical Overseas Treatment division of the Australian Government (apparently it was)?

Maybe there is a bit to talk about so I've decided I'll write few posts in the coming months with the aim of hopefully informing, entertaining and helping anyone who would benefit from them.

The abridged answers to most of the above questions are... good and fine. I have been surprised by how long a reintegration process into a healthy routine can take after a lengthy medical centric process, but I've also learnt not to judge that so much now. Yoga with Adriene on YouTube has been good to help with that.

Life in the arts is interesting as always, I've enjoyed creating a workshop with colleagues recently to encourage greater gender diverse casting within Australian theatre, film and television.

Also being a subject for photographers continues to being enjoyable and enriching. Here are some shots from the most recent photographer I've worked with, Andrea Francolini who is looking for gender diverse subjects. Ideally it'll be for an exhibit that we hope will come to fruition for Sydney Mardi Gras 2020. If you're interested in being a part of it - Andrea would love to hear from you.

More soon 😊

Andy xx

Hansom and Gretel Podcast with Gretel Killeen

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 00:42:00 +0000

Discussing transition and life matters with the generous Gretel Killeen in Rehearsal 2.

Subscribe and listen here

Disrupt - Connect - Create Transgender Employment Forum: Monday May 29, 2017, Richmond, Melbourne.

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Sun, 14 May 2017 07:27:00 +0000

Hope To See You There.

RSVP HERE

Australian LGBTI Award Nominations - please vote :-)

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 22:50:00 +0000

I'm excited to be able to share my nomination for The 2017 Australian LGBTI Broadcaster & Presenter Award has been shortlisted.

If you've enjoyed my TV appearances including Ch 10's The Project (short segment below) I'd be grateful for your vote by Dec 31st!

You can vote at this link and are welcome to chose the award categories you know and like (i.e. not all ones are mandatory!)

Thanks and love as always

Andy xx

Ch 10's The Project

Elevan O'Clock Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 05:13:00 +0000

I was recently invited to be a part of the Elevan O'Clock podcast page. Here we discussed being transgender, details of a transition process, a career within the arts and entertainment industries and also what (in our perspective) is the current state of affairs of trans profiling in mainstream pop culture. Enjoy!

Poser Play Time

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 09:54:00 +0000

Photo play date!

One day we may make a 'serious exhibition' thingy that will not be about gender transition

... in the mean time ... enjoy

(& no no ... no desire to be buff-er!)

#almostcooked

Thanks as always to the dear stunner

Sally Flegg xxx

New Book Available

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 08:01:00 +0000

Hey hey,

I'm excited to share a newly published book I have co-contributed to has just been released and available for sale via amazon.com at this link. We look forward to sharing this with you ... a topic we see relevant to everybody on a daily basis.

Royalties from the book will benefit Welcome, a project developed to help communities respond to poverty. Thanks as always for the support!

8 Reasons To Date a Trans Guy

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 08:36:00 +0000

The original link below is blocked in some countries apparently?! so see below for interest if so:

http://www.pride.com/transgender/2015/12/10/8-reasons-date-trans-guy

Courtesy of Basil Soper ... twitter link @basil_soper

Yes, trans men are men. We aren't that different from cis men. Our trans experience does give many of us a nice perspective, though. Here is a list that I think makes us date-worthy in comparision to cis men.

1. Bathroom Etiquette

This isn't the case for all trans men, but most of us usually leave the toilet seat down. This is either because we don't pee standing up or we've had to experience sitting down on a seat that some dude left up in the past.

2. Our Dicks Rule

Here's the deal: We will never need Viagra. Also, if we have not had phalloplasty, size is not an issue. We can work together to get a dick that suits both of our needs.

3. We Get How You Think

Again, this isn't the case for all trans men, and people may disagree, but I think trans guys can relate really well to women, and many trans guys I know share this opinion. Since we were socialized female, we tend to more comfortable around women than cis men. We also have to "learn" how to be men, so we pick up on a lot of male things and can relate to the pressures they feel (which they may not even be aware of because these pressures are so ingrained). So we learn a lot about gender roles and their effects on the mind.

4. We Don't Get Mad If You Take a While to Get Ready

Depending on where a trans guy is at it in his transition, it may take him a while to get ready to go out. A lot goes into presentation when passing or femming up (if that's what he's into). We won't get mad if you take a while, but you better not hog the mirror!

5. PMS

A few of us have dysphoria around the thought of menstration, and some of us still bleed monthly. If you are a woman who gets a period : Nine times out of 10 your trans man will commiserate about those cramps and help you get rid of them efficiently because he's had them. The large majority of us aren't grossed out by your blood and will celebrate your body during this time too.

6. We Age Well

Trans men tend to look younger than we really are. Often this is attributed to testosterone use. Get yourself an eternal trophy boy.

7. Snappy Dressers

The mass majority of trans men I know understand how to put an outfit together. I think this is partially due to having to use our presentation as a means of affirmation. I mean, we didn't spend all that time in the closet just to come out of it not knowing anything.

8. We Know Ourselves

Coming out as trans means you have to be really honest with yourself. We tend to come out and than live authentically. We know what we like, who we are, and what we want to do (for the most part) and are confident about it.

My Meeting Request to NSW Premier (FYI)

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 07:00:00 +0000

Dear Premier,

I'd like to introduce myself briefly, my name is Andrew and I recently appeared on Ch 10's The Project TV, which if you would take a moment to review the full 3 min and 1 min abridged versions:

- https://www.facebook.com/theprojecttv/videos/10153127525968441/

- https://youtu.be/pu5rbA8SU4c (shorter version if Facebook is not available)

The purpose of my meeting is two fold;

1. To discuss your recommendations of how you would suggest integration of my upcoming educational documentary regarding transgender issues into the school curriculum - my school Wenona in North Sydney has already had a PDHPE session about the topic (following The Project appearance) to it's Year 10 students, inclusive of a doctor, which I believe is very important and forward thinking.

2. To discuss re-considering the introduction of the Gayby Baby documentary into school time curriculum as an optional activity.

The purpose of my meeting will also to provide you with the necessary background biological studies done to show these topics actually fall under the topic of biology and reproduction and hormone integration during the process of fetal development.

It's quite misinformed to reframe this into an activist lobby political issue and compare it with religious or radical fundamentalist groups. It has done significant damage to school communities throughout NSW and needs to be rectified at the earliest convenience. I'd also be happy to provide you with some third party Counsellor reports outlining this.

I look forward to a time to discuss this with you, and would be very open to it being a joint meeting with the Minister of Education.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Andrew Guy

Two relevant trans points of view I've recently come by in forums that I find interesting

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 05:36:00 +0000

1. The Need For Gender Spectrum Awareness

Sydney University's Trans Rally Mantra -- Copyright Andrea Zephyr

YOU ARE STILL A TRANS BOY IF
- you have a visible chest
- you have long hair
- you wear dresses
- you wear makeup
- you have a high pitched voice

YOU ARE STILL A TRANS GIRL IF
- you don’t have a visible chest
- you have short hair
- you don’t shave
- you wear “masculine” clothing
- you have a low pitched voice

YOU ARE STILL NON-BINARY IF
- you don't bind your chest
- you don't have coloured hair
- you use he or she as your pronouns.
- you don't mix and max or "genderfuck" your clothes
- you don't understand how you want to present in society

BEING TRANSGENDER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH APPEARANCE.

2. The Need For Surgery

When I went to my consult "to see my surgeon" in January and knew I would be scheduling for early 2016 "a year later", I figure that the wait would get easier and easier at milestone time markers along the way. I told myself: "If I can just make it to June" or "if I can just make it to 6 months till surgery I'll feel like it's super close and I'll have some relief." The truth is, the closer it gets the slower time feels like it's moving. This wait is dreadful. I feel simultaneously grateful that it's "just around the corner" and also it's almost physically painful waiting for it to happen. My brain is so much already in a "post-op state of awareness" that each day feels brutally tedious waiting for this. There have been moments, very brief moments where I feel like it's already there. The sensation is elating and utterly comfortable and devastating all at once as I'm snapped back into the awareness that I still have another 4.5 months to wait. A medically induced coma would be the only thing that would help at this point... Trying to stay present - but damn, it's hard.

The Most Important Messages Of All! This is my version of Ch 10's The Project TV

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 08:30:00 +0000

Hi Andrew, thanks for accepting my friend request, we obviously don't know each other, I am a single mother of a son who will be 25 in a couple of weeks. The other night when I was watching you on The Project and you were telling your story about being a transgender my son said "that's what I am", at first I wasn't sure if he was joking and just said 'I've always wanted a daughter" and the I looked at him (he was sitting behind me) I could see he was serious. I have known for many years that he was keeping something from me, he suffers with depression and sometimes anger issues, doesn't have a job or for that matter much of a life outside the house. I tried to get him to talk to me, he was crying and said he was scared, I told him I love him and would support him through this journey, I told him that he obviously needs to talk to someone but I really don't know where to start.

Is there any guidance you could give me to enable me to get him to the right people to help him.

AND of course the answer is yes!

Watch The Interview Here: http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/the-project/extra/season-7/your-chair-andrew-guy

Women's Weekly

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 13:35:00 +0000

Women's Weekly recently retold the story from an article a few years back!

Feel free to click here to enjoy the read.

Love these ladies for their care and interest xx

For more information about our documentary and fundraiser page please click here or like our facebook page!

My Warrior Women

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 03:57:00 +0000

Okay so bit of an update on this topic as I personally find it to be quite a funny topic in my world ... unfortunately and still for now I keep the majority of it private as at the end of the day as much as the world is 'accepting' of someone like me, I still very much feel the need to protect anyone close to me based on any stigma / society judgement they'd face by 'god forbid' being near to me or shockingly ... even closer !! gah! ;-)

Anyway so with that in mind, I have to bring in one of my favourite quantum physicist quotes here ... that old ball and chain of a one that's been around forever that you may have experienced for better or worse ... the "nothing ever disappears it just changes form" one ... usually I always get reminded of this one when I'm happy someone I personally find annoying has finally left my world, only for another one to show up with similar traits and it's like OMG truly?!

But not that I find this case with 'my' women of course! people I think do wonder, wow how does someone like him find someone to be with ? ... rest assured I'm all good, irrespective of whether I have a 'someone' around me or not at any particular time, I do LOVE my me time more and more and more ... I just think bachelor life is for me sometimes; you know freedom, quiet time, wake up when I want to, TV remote mine, food choice mine ... just why would you ever go back I think somedays (shhh! I didn't really just say that ... swear!)

But yeah the physics quote, I just tend to find I always seem to come into contact at whatever point with some strong powerful female force of an energy that commands presence (like cue from the wings) at EXACTLY the right time for what I need; it's quite uncanny ... sometimes its sexual, sometimes it's not and you know that's all good, it is what it is ... I've been told before I have this knack with connections (I don't say that arrogantly as I've never said that nor do I feel that way but others do ... some charisma or something ... I don't get it as to me I'm just this weird looking guy thing that's sometimes kinda okay looking depending on if I can get hair product right at the time (a touch and go issue).

So my current conclusion on all this is that I just think the world is full of tribes, I do! Even today, just disguised in a society that operates and dresses and appears the way it does, huge tribes, loads and when we're lonely it's because we're missing our tribe.

My tribe people, as I say, tend to me these grand strong female presences that arrive at EXACTLY the right moment, always to my relief to help with some issue I'm struggling with (whether it be physically, emotionally, legally, mentally, artistically or employmently) and thank god really! It's always necessary!

I was in an physical acting workshop a few years ago getting a body correction attended to and once the correction was done her comment was "oh my goodness look at your body, you hold the world on your chest, finally one of my people, great to have you hear" ... I wasn't quite sure what she meant at the time but I do now ... I think we really all do have our people that we are here for and we instinctively gravitate toward one another and generally you recognise this by those you feel repelled by ... as in they ain't your people.

The best way I can highlight this is with a current recent interaction I've had. Not long ago, I bumped into a 'female kind' in a theatre foyer and it was only via retreating to Facebook the next day did we have a proper interaction (love social media) "so hi it's been forever but did I see you at the XYZ yesterday" ... "yes I was wondering if that was you" ... so we hit it off again from there after maybe 10 years or so, not that we were even that close back then.

Safe to say there's been a BIG reason for that connection that's lead onto a LOT of necessary positive things since that I can't yet speak of but hope to in another few years. And only this past week did this really hit home as we were sitting in a very nice inner Sydney swish proper corporate restaurant discussing "professional matters" and all of a sudden the conversation shifted to a place I don't usually talk about casually over dinner and that was to our spiritual beliefs and practises. So anyway it turns out we've both privately undertaken our own spiritual modality practises and training (loose term) over the past few years but had completely similar experiences ... in summary 'gotten a lot out of it, fought with the leaders constantly, and have had these absolutely weird random moments'. For her, the respective guru dedicated their practise in one of her retreats, started to literally move out of the picture in the Shrine room toward her.

To someone like me I find this absolutely HYSTERICAL! To my comment "yes XYZ-ji was probably trying to leave the room too" (stop it Andy!) but to the point, people come to these retreats time after time thirsting for some big spiritual awakening, and this gorgeous soul walks in and has this great experience first time much to the anxiety of a lot of other longer term delegates ! boom! in that moment I was like YES this is definitely one of my tribe! And then we went back to our important corporate human rights matters!

SO my point being, if you're out there and you're lonely, just keep looking for your TRIBE, I promise they're out there, it's all divinely worked out and I'm sure we're all just finding each other again from ancient Cleopatra or Joan of Arc kinda times! I think I must have been some really bad man that burnt witches at the stake to have this life swear to god but whatever! I keep walking so just do the same, stay strong and always be true to yourself with the people you keep company with !!

Dedicated to all my 'warrior women' ;-) ... you know who you are! muah!

Puberty Blockers

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 04:00:00 +0000

I've been deliberating over this post now for a while alongside giving it a lot of thought. It's a topic I have to say I've generally dodged or diverted answering journalist questions because I've not wanted to comment; firstly I'm not a doctor, but nor do I have any personal experience to the topic (which is where I prefer to write from).

To the point though, puberty blockers and hormone replacement in transgender children / teenagers ... yep a biggie! Firstly yep I'm fully aware there would be a lot of professionals out there with different and greater insight to mine and as always I welcome comments. That said I am also going to give my thoughts now that I've had a little experience and consulted a few different medical opinions over the past few weeks.

In summary the topic intimidates me, mainly from the point of view of transitioning myself as a fairly OTT health conscious adult and I can assure you to get through all the elements of my transition; particularly the physical, mental and surgical elements (7 surgeries in 3.5 years) I've needed to call on and use EVERY resource (internal and external) available to me and still I'd say I'm not yet back to a '100%' I used to be ... and you think the Tour De France in intense - truly!! Whether I'll ever get back to that past 100% I've given up wondering and instead just see what level of health each day brings ...

SO that being said, a question that's always stuck with me is that it's all very well and good to be an adult celebrity (or not) transgender individual who confidently walks through such a massive physical and emotional and mental enduring process but WTF is that going to be like for a child who adamantly identifies as this so early in this day in age (from living this I'll never doubt them for one millisecond - it's real and the truth as if you are this you just know, no further explanation required really) ... but is medical progression also problematic in development?

As in it's a pretty major thing to experience an external substance injected into the body designed to halt puberty progress, "delay it" if you will whilst the teen makes sure (at age 16) they definitely want to medically transition (as in that's currently the correct standard practise from the medical practitioners perspective and the Government legality ... hmmm?!?) So at 16 you can begin hormone replacement or put another way; start your puberty experience ... completely over riding a time of body change where A LOAD of development is happening, huge amounts, everywhere!

With that said, having recently accompanied a young friend of mine on his first visit to a paediatric endocrinologist (thank god they exist!) I'm a little more settled and I still have questions. The point here I think is that early treatment is truly a 'new-ish' thing, and there aren't a load of medical studies yet done to refer to about the affects of all of this, if any!

But from researching and questioning doctors the way I like to (they love me deep down I'm sure, truly ;)) I can see that it does work and is pretty much okay. The main issue being that the intervention does sway a little from the 'normal range' puberty onset time period so the teen can allude the appearance of looking a different age to their peers as their puberty progresses differently.

There are a few things though that get me questioning what the blocker is actually targeting. There are a few different substances used, the main ones I can see work by suppressing signals from the pituitary gland (used similarly in some cancer treatments) which stops the hormone regulation signals to the ovaries or testes respectively (not just the sex organs directly - which I ignorantly thought was the case). As I say here though, I'm not a doctor, the specialists looking after this process are doing very well and I applaud their abilities to step in and offer this to trans kids as it is needed.

I am though just questioning questions a little as is shown in these diagrams ...

The pituitary gland does affect other things as well sex organ hormone production and does suppressing this affect these other developmental areas as well; i.e the adrenal ACTH, thyroid TSH, bone density measures, kidney ADH as well as the sex organ hormone release?

Specialists have commented that bone density mass development catches up within a few years of hormone replacement so it's of no consequence to long term to susceptibility of conditions like osteoporosis. The other elements I've not had comments to yet but I hope to in time and more so I would love to see more medical research reports done to the topic ...

Which brings me to my question has enough research been done and is this actually physically and physiologically healthy, particularly the element of restricting hormones until the age of 16 when most other kids start their puberty earlier, all for the sake of 'what if they change their mind?'. I'm not convinced, they aren't going to change their mind - truly, this is medical practitioner protection talking! But who knows maybe the odd one or two will, I'm looking forward to seeing that though and being proven wrong.

Blockers generally start around 10-12 once you get through any legal issues with that -- bless Human Rights Commissions for their work to this point as even this isn't that simple depending on what country you're in. But back to the point the age is dependent on their Tanner stage as to not affect their height growth too much - google that point though, tis another topic that isn't for this post. My personal issue is that 10-16 is a lot of years to be suppressing the above functions (in my opinion as an alternative health practitioner).

I believe hormone replacement should be available from 14 (as agreed by a child transgender child specialist I read from recently) especially if the teenager is requesting it. They are old enough and I think it is healthier. I do definitely think the legal restriction of access to hormone replacement at 16 should be challenged by medical practitioners and parents respectively. It's too late in my opinion particularly if a trans individual choices later in life to go ahead with the genital realignment surgeries ... they are going to want to be as healthy as humanly possible to avoid any of the (up to 40%) surgical complication rates (more joys to look forward to, truly!). I hope in time with doctor / medical advancements these reduce too, I'm confident they will as they work every day to do so.

In summary with this said mentioned, do I think a trans identified child (even with the new frontier that this is) be denied this process and have to grow into adult-hood before beginning any sort of medical transition -- absolutely not. It's likely they'll self harm themselves before that time, and THAT you will always have my word on.

There is a duty of care though I believe to more acutely watch body functions during this time; particularly mood, metabolism, thyroid function and bone density development etc etc. It it were my child I would be onto monitoring all of this constantly (without trying to make them a lab rat) and be the normal pain in the butt patient / civilian I always strive to be ;)

Cheers as always for reading!

Parental Decisions

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 06:26:00 +0000

I've been thinking today about children and adults having been one of both now. And I realise I have a whole new load of unanswerables to a fairly simple ideology ...

In summary, still watching Nip Tuck (up to season 4) in my recovery period, and the scenario presented in the episode (bare with!) is that the plastic surgeon and wife have just had a child with a hand deformity (there is a big proper name for it). As you can appreciate Dad surgeon is gung ho motivated to surgically reconstruct his boy's hands so he can be as normal as possible asap to place him in the position of best opportunity for fulfilment and success in life (for e.g. learning how to play catch, family eating time, less bullying etc etc - please take the metaphor here - could be any age experience we look forward to in child rearing that involves hands!).

The mother on the other hand is concerned about the trauma of surgery that could "manifest itself into later life issues" as per what 'new age' health suggests. The child is too young to be able to express pain verbally. The nanny is a dwarf (love script writers) who has suggested this point of view to the mother, saying the child's instinctive response to the surgery will be to think it's being killed (aka elicit a fight or flight instinctual response). AND of course she's just also started to have romantic feelings for the nanny (reciprocated) and they 'sensually kiss' (bad wife bad wife!). ANYWAY this has obviously led her to an experiential discovery that 'our child needs to be able to find those who will love him for who he is' (she's crushing on the dwarf) - boom *crowd goes wild*!

SO ... when one starts to reflect on one's own life and thinks back, you have child in the early 80's who is trans, most likely scenario ... 'parents do know on some level but deny it as what do you do in the early 80's - aka not today's medical world or consciousness' ... most likely solution "child will surely grow out of it with our parenting support" ... however on deeper level, different thoughts:

Option A: 'father wants it ignored and suppressed because surely child will be strong enough to have it 'not an issue' and will present better as an adult with greater chance of fulfilment and nourishment anyway from success of career, partnerships, friends, normal society acceptance and popularity, money, yadda yadda'

Option B: 'mother possibly thinks a bit deeper, allows the child to express themselves more truthfully seeing it as possibly more healthy and nourishing. It will of course bring challenges and big societal judgemental projection onto the child, but also attract truer people so the bonds will be really real and nurturing. The challenge is real though, if you allow the child to exist as is, it will grow up in a tougher world around it, with less instinctive acceptance and life path opportunity (debate-able but also yeah 'cut the crap' and it's absolutely true based on real life experience of the world around us!). I guess we can hope the world is slowly really changing, I'm not so sure today (maybe that's just me).

So at this point it's safe to say from personal experience, option A does indeed last for a while, well as long as the child has the strength to endure the pain of a life with an element of falseness to them and huge trauma to deal with that's developed alongside. I lasted 34 years, no idea if that's a good or bad measure (but it certainly brings with it a real chance of the child ending their own life, from too much pain of ignoring the issue, no qualms about it as that external nourishment doesn't last - for me anyway).

Option B: being who you are, does indeed attract truer people to you and a realer existence in life that does provide a deeper nourishment and fulfilment. However it also does have it's daily pain and challenges and own niche painful problems, and rejection that you don't get with the life and opportunities you do with option A. It also leads to a painful life existence BUT with the pure freedom and joy that is not be-known to Option A. If you can do this option along with finding a way to attain the perks of Option A I think that wins. Internal integrity and outer materialistic reality which is deemed 'normal' - definitely possible this day in age I think.

So at this point my only conclusion is; when you have a child, can you be a parent where you can forgo the motivation to 'give your child the best you think you can and parent (direct) them to take and deny the parts of life that give them the better opportunity as per what society dictates? or not ... and do you agree or do you just go for option A and hope for the best. I say this as possibly the side effect of doing is that you are magnifying painful experiences either way and also limiting your child a tad in who they are instinctively at their personal best (not yours or their teacher's etc etc). This too however I'm sure will bring a new set of problems. I have no answers.

End mind discussion today!

It's Not About The Sex - Pre Sale Order

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 07:08:00 +0000

To purchase your pre-release, AUD $25 copy, of 'It's Not About The Sex'
to be released later this year, including both online view and DVD delivery, please click here

for further information please visit www.itsnotaboutthesex.com

I'd like to introduce you to Bella and her story

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:25:00 +0000

My name is Bella Simpson; I am a 17 year old transgender girl who was born a boy. When I was little I never had many friends or was very confident, I used to collect dolls, and they used to be my only friends. They would live out the life I never could. After my parents separated a family friend helped us set up a dress up box full of old ball gowns and a wedding dress. These outfits were my life. I wore them everywhere, except school. Then my father decided to get me some real clothes, like female jeans and tops, which I wore even more then the gowns.

My plan was I would wait until I got to high school then start high school as a girl. But of course like most young kids I got very impatient and decided when I was 11 that I wanted to start wearing girl’s clothes to school. Our family friend went straight into the principal’s office to let them know that it was ok and to offer support.

When I was 12 I was put on blockers which blocked puberty so I had time to make sure that I could decide whether I was doing the right thing in my own time. Getting on the blockers wasn't a quick decision; I had to see a psychologist and a counsellor. When I was 15 I went to see a psychologist to be put on female hormones. The psychologist turned me down and told me I was too young. So I went back the next year and was given the all clear.

At the moment I am on 2 mlg of estrogene a day and I still get the blockers injections every 3 months, this makes sure that the testosterone doesn't takeover. Over the last 6 years I have meet so many amazing people and done so many great things I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t had the courage to come out 6 years ago. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future, but I am just lucky to have come out when I did.

Medical necessity of Gender Affirmation

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:45:00 +0000

to continue reading please click here

ALARMING ISSUE WITHIN THE AUSTRALIAN GLBTI COMMUNITY

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 02:08:00 +0000

So I just finished the trans panel discussion at this year's Australian Pride in Diversity Conference:

http://www.prideindiversity.com.au

A very necessary Australian initiative that I applaud and have a huge respect for delegates who take the time in their busy corporate job schedules to attend. I hope more companies year on year start to go as 'Diversity' as a word in Australia truly does need a lot of work and attention. I don't believe Australians realise how backward we in fact are in relation to the rest of the world in SO many areas.

To my point today. It is a very problematic situation to have The Gender Centre NSW - the NSW Government funded body responsible for supporting transgendered people, suggesting that gender in fact does not relate to the sex organs of a person. I assure you it certainly does and in fact it can be excruciatingly painful for a trans person to have to live consistently incongruently in this way. It is in fact why all of the US and UK / Europe have a medical system to support this community with Life Affirming Surgery.

And although I have no doubt the work done at the Gender Centre is entirely necessary and useful for the community, the mindset publicly communicated that it is the stance / policy that gender in fact does not factor or relate to sex organs, is in fact a hugely dangerous place to be working from and is also endangering and keeping a part of the community ill and backward.

I have three youth trans kids and parents that I have grave concerns recommending getting support from this place as affordable surgery options are in fact VERY necessary for these kids and I have serious doubts whether these individuals will be alive in 3-5 years time if this doesn't change as one has already tried to slit their wrists twice this year (I look forward to you meeting him in my upcoming documentary). It is irresponsible for this place to suggest to these kids that their gender issue doesn't require the help of healing by genital reassignment surgery.

With this in mind please note that your stance is not the belief of some Australian trans men and some trans women I'm sure as well … surgery is highly necessary and needed for a normal quality of life. For those who say they are working for the benefit of the community who are not trans and disagree with surgery -- I would like to challenge you by saying lets change your body make up to the other gender for 30 years and see how you are fairing on this issue physiologically, I have a feeling you may feel a tad differently.

Please get out of the way and let this country heal trans people the way some people need. I have a feeling the Government decision makers who allocate your funding may be a lot more questioning toward you if in fact one of these youth do commit suicide over the coming years. Sex reassignment surgery does in fact need to be included in the Australian health system the way it is in the rest of first world nations, seriously, start helping get this into the medical system or get out of the way!

Museum of Transgender History and Art Award Nomination

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:37:00 +0000

In some better news this week, myself alongside my tech supporters who always go unseen and unnoticed, have been lucky enough without even knowing to be nominated for "Transition VLog (video obviously!) of the Year"

If you like what you've seen on our channels, we'd love your support in voting for us at this link here (4th category down):

Our channels are:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AndysProject

https://vimeo.com/channels/353351

labels and contexts

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 20:55:00 +0000

I had this conversation recently and figured it was a good point to share as it's not something I give a milli-second's thought to each day (like most of us individually don't wake up thinking about whether we are male or female) but I can see now that for others it is a big topic of thought and conversation when mentioning me.

I've always struggled with the context of being "transgendered" or a "transexual" because it's box and it's my belief you can't process authentically and healthily in a context box but I know in society people need their box or label to feel safe and comfortable so for that reason I respect it. All I feel I've been doing is shifting along a gender spectrum that isn't as black and white as we're conditioned to believe.

If I have a conversation with anyone now, I don't say I'm trans, I'm a straight male and that's kinda it. I've always questioned why T comes under the GLBTI banner because it's about gender and not sexual orientation. Males who transition can be gay or straight, but then again I see it's about community and belonging and people who transition do need that as the alpha straight white stereotype does on some level get off on ripping this context box to shreds ... a power hungry and fear based bunch possibly?!

Now that my transition is almost complete I don't consider myself to be "trans", I'm just a person who's transitioned their sex in the past. I appreciate this can and will anger people as I'm not adhering to a label which others like to view me in, or possibly can't help but view me in, but with all I've been through I really don't care (I just don't favour being controlled and boxed in this way). Each individuals view of their own gender is a fluid thing and should only rest with the individuals idea of themselves I believe ... in a perfect world.

So as I walk around now, I have no control over who's seeing me as trans or knowing me as that person who used to be Anna, but for me, I'm Andrew, I'm an actor / film maker ... and I used to be Anna (if that comes up organically) as my penis passes as a biological one. At this point I don't really plan to be talking about this in 5 years time (unless its related to my art or work) like most of us don't talk about what we did 5 years ago, it's generally tends to be about present matters don't you find?!.

Thanks for reading!

my point of living in 2013 and beyond

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 04:55:00 +0000

Having lived both sides of the coin now, what I know is this; we're all here to love, be loved, smile, cry and just breathe. All that really matters is that a soul is here to live as an expression of itself irrespective of what body cloak it wears. it doesn't care, it's just grateful to be here even if i forget that sometimes

a. guy

Its Not About The Sex film synopsis on IMDb

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:29:00 +0000

It's with great delight to share that we now have the film synopsis

for your viewing pleasure up on IMDb.

Looking foward to debuting this film with you all in 2014.

Click here to view Its Not About The Sex film info on IMDb

A New Letter for the Health Minister

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 09:50:00 +0000

Brownstein & Crane Surgical Services

Curtis Crane, M.D.

208 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 207

San Francisco, Ca 94107

Office: 415.625.3230

Fax: 415.625.3233

E-mail: admin@brownsteincrane.com

Site: www.brownsteincrane.com

To whom it may concern:

Sex reassignment surgery is considered medically necessary as outlined in this excerpt from the standards of care of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health.

X. Surgery

Sex Reassignment is Effective and Medically Indicated in severe gender identity disorder (GID). In persons diagnosed with transsexualism or profound GID, sex reassignment surgery, along with hormone therapy and real-life experience, is a treatment that has proven to be effective. Such a therapeutic regimen, when prescribed or recommended by qualified practitioners, is medically indicated and medically necessary. Sex reassignment is not “experimental”, “investigational, “elective”, “cosmetic”, or optional in any meaningful sense. It constitutes very effective and appropriate treatment for transsexualism or profound GID.

Currently, there is a lack of access to medically necessary sex reassignment surgery in Australia as no surgeon trained in this subspecialty is available. There are a few hundred trans patients in Australia who are in need of sex reassignment surgery to relieve the stress of living with gender dysphoria. With no government or medical insurance support a trans individual is faced with a sum of approximately $50,000 – 150,000 US dollars as well as associated travel costs to establish a sense of everyday mental well being.

American patients now have considerable support growing from insurance companies, as do the UK citizens. The New Zealand Government has recently begun subsidizing and funding their citizens to come to the US for medically necessary surgeries, however, the Australian patients still have no means other than to pay the fees in full and associated travel costs personally. This is significantly limiting the ability for Australian transgender patients to reach the necessary medical care they require from the small amount of specialized surgeons who can support them.

In order to help such patients, I have completed residencies in both urology and plastic surgery and fellowships in reconstructive urology and transgender surgery. I have a private practice in San Francisco called Brownstein and Crane Surgical Services and we currently offer the world's highest standard in phalloplasty and vaginoplasty, genital reconstruction needed for trans men and women.

It is my professional opinion that this be reviewed in the Australian Medical System with hopes of establishing a system so that patients can be supported financially to receive care from myself and other medical colleagues.

Sincerely,

Curtis Crane, MD

CC: Andrew Guy

"the arm" at 5 wks ... check it out, cool huh?! ... and beyond! wait for 6 months down the line! :-)

noreply@blogger.com (Andy) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 21:21:00 +0000

At 10 wks
23/8/13

ooh yeh! who said u were ever going to notice, i can type again now too!! :-D
apologies if i scared you! xx

5/8/13