Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I did not mean for "he-ro" to be a pun, I swear.  That's just how my Jr ROTC teacher from high school used to say the word (I think it's a drill sergeant thing).   ::)

But anyway, I just finished watching 13 hours of Lie to Me over a period of three days and realized just how much I've been changing my mannerisms to emulate the main character in the show.  What can I say-- the man is awesome.  And then I started thinking about how much previous heros have influenced how I present myself.  I remember on my Stripes kick changing my facial expressions to that of the Captain (who, btw-- I didn't want to be like-- he just had cool facial expressions).  I remember emulating Hawkeye Pierce's speech pattern, Tommy Lee Jone's swagger, Harmon Rabb's knowing smile...  Many of these things I still keep pieces of in the way I present myself.  I thought it was really interesting and was wondering if any of you have any heros who you try to emulate in your male presentation.  I know mine are all TV and movie characters, but yours don't have to be.

heh, nice topic.... gonna be interesting.

and yes, i do that a lot. aware and unaware to the same amount. but it'd take way too much time to write them down, because i usually got a bunch of influences at any given time. it may or may not have happened that some dudes even influenced my choice of hair color ;D
i sometimes feel kinda cheap for being so ""flexible", but hey, i'm learning. and i sincerly hope that i finally build enough of a self-image to settle down a bit.

I don't emulate anyone. Most of my TV/Movies heros are women (Xena/Supergirl/Catwoman). :3 

This guy is totally my real life hero though.

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Jesus. I am a Christian.

Jensen Ackles and Zachary Quinto :D

It's kind of my life goal to go through the changes, and come out super manly. Everyone tells me it's not going to happen because I like guys, and the fact that they say that really offends me. I often catch myself trying to be like Jensen or Zachary because, to be frank, I find them both crazy sexy, and they are both very capable of coming across as very manly. I think I try a little more to be like Zachary Quinto though, because not only can he be hot/deadly, he's also really intelligent and friendly, and possibly gay (though I respect him equally whether he is or not).

I hope that one day I can be like that  :laugh:

I kinda want to grow up to me a smart-ass like Gregory House.

Quote from: Shayne on February 01, 2011, 08:23:56 PM
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whoa, I was going to say sagan too...

But really, I don't emulate anyone. Various people inspire me, but I don't try to shape my personality around someone else's. I like what I've already got.

Quote from: Tad on February 01, 2011, 10:04:16 PM
I kinda want to grow up to me a smart-ass like Gregory House.

I used to think House was a badass until I watched Lie to Me.  Lightman could take House any day of the week.

Quote from: Devin87 on February 01, 2011, 10:25:39 PM
I used to think House was a badass until I watched Lie to Me.  Lightman could take House any day of the week.

Meh I'm not a fan of Lightman. House's personality is way more awesome IMO

Professor Steven Hawkins
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Einstein's always been one of my personal heros.  What can I say, I'm a geek.  If I had to pick someone from TV, I"d go with Leonard Nimoy/Spock.

Gene Wilder.  Nuff said.

None that I specifically see myself emulating.  [Though probably subconsciously I do.]

Sherlock Holmes- from literature not from movies [although basil rathbone and jeremy brett are both amazing as him]

I was going to make a list.... but hes really the only one that came to mind at the moment.

Quote from: Tad on February 01, 2011, 10:04:16 PM
I kinda want to grow up to me a smart-ass like Gregory House.

Totally love House ... he is smart and quick whitted ....

I personally would love to be someone like Thurgood Marshall --- (1st black Supreme Court Justice in the USA) --- I want to make a difference in peoples lives & to be respected by large walks of lives --- I want to be the person that I am acknowledge for my intellect and not that I am transgender and appear "normal"

Would I sound soppy if I said my wife? (I would? Oh good).

She is the bravest, most determined person I have ever met.

Babies and animals seem to instinctively trust her. I really don't think she knows what a lie is.

Real life: Jim Henson
Fictional: Spiderman

I'm with Lance on this one - Dexter Morgan, for sure.

He's charming, logical, organised, calm, nice to kids, family-orientated, works hard at his job, every one likes him.

Of course, he also kills people in his spare time, but I'll just gloss over that part  ::)

Quote from: Lance M. on February 01, 2011, 11:20:11 PM
i like Dexter because he's introverted like me. he's very quiet, keeps to himself, yet you see how he handles social situations. very organized, different way of thinking.

i don't emulate the serial killer part though  >:-)

Oh Dexter, *swoon*.  ;D

I agree with Tad about House. I'm a very straight forward sarcastic guy who speaks his mind even when I shouldn't like that.

Other-
Clark Kent. He's loyal, cute, charming, and fearless sometimes that's the type of guy I want to be.

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http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/04/transgender_discrimination_leg.html (http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/04/transgender_discrimination_leg.html)



Ethan St. Pierre, of Haverhill, Mass., with the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, right, meets with legislative aide Jason Kean, left, in the statehouse in Boston Tuesday. St. Pierre was looking for support from Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Mass., for a bill aimed at gender-based discrimination and hate crimes.

BOSTON -- For Ethan St. Pierre, allowing someone who is biologically female but self-identifies as male to use the men's bathroom is a no-brainer.

"Look at me," said St. Pierre, who was born a woman but is now a transgender man with a beard and short hair. "I don't want to get hurt by some woman who thinks I'm in the ladies' room for the wrong reasons. I mean, clearly I don't belong there."

St. Pierre, of Haverhill, was one of hundreds of advocates at a Tuesday rally supporting a bill that would add "gender identity and expression" to Massachusetts' discrimination and hate crimes laws. He said having this legislation would have protected him from being fired in 2003 from his job as a security supervisor because he became a man.

But opponents of the measure have deemed it "a bathroom bill," saying it would lead to a breakdown in privacy and public safety in rest rooms, locker rooms, showers and other single-sex facilities. They contend the law would open women's bathrooms to sexual predators.


Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, said women and children in Colorado, where a similar measure has passed, have begun to fear for their safety in bathrooms.

"Are we going to have to have the bathroom police to check everybody of a different gender that goes into the women's room?" Mineau said. "We certainly are against discrimination of any members of society, but that's not the issue here."

Massachusetts is the latest state to consider banning discrimination because of transgender status. New Hampshire voted down legislation because of the fear that transgender people could use any bathroom but is reconsidering its bill today. In Connecticut, a bill to protect transgender people from discrimination died in a legislative committee last week, but activists and some lawmakers want it added as an amendment to other legislation.

Thirteen states prohibit discrimination against people based on whether they identify themselves as male or female and how they express that choice in their attire, names, work and social lives.

More than 100 towns, cities and counties nationwide also have anti-discrimination ordinances based on gender identity and expression.

In Connecticut, several lawmakers joined the activists Tuesday to say they will keep pushing their colleagues to support a bill that would include "gender identity and expression" as a protected characteristic along with race, national origin, sex and other characteristics in current laws.

Tony Ferraiolo, who was born female and started his transition to male in 2005, said it would not only help people like him but also would benefit businesses because workers perform their best when they are comfortable and free from potential discrimination and harassment.

"We're not asking for special privileges. We're only asking to be protected just as others in Connecticut are protected," said Ferraiolo, of New Haven.

Massachusetts Rep. Carl Sciortino, D-Medford, said legal protection is long overdue because of high discrimination rates in the transgender community. He and other supporters said nothing in the bill diminishes laws regarding criminal conduct in bathrooms.

"This legislation guarantees equality and civil rights and in no way condones or allows or legalizes illegal behavior," he said.

St. Pierre agreed.

"It's never stopped perverts from going into bathrooms before because it says 'female.' You don't see a guy or woman stopping at the sign and saying, 'Oh, I can't go in there,'" St. Pierre said, adding there hasn't been any reported instance of a transgender person attacking someone in a restroom. "I don't know what the big to-do is -- it's just fear-mongering."

Guys, trust me, you do not want to be House. I'm trying my hardest to be less like him. That being said, I do think he's pretty neat, from a distance.

Call me crazy, but Hannibal Lector. Not the cannibal part, and more based on the books than the movies. Incredibly intelligent and perceptive, genius at analysing people, accomplished artist, highly educated and civilised. He murders the "rude," essentially carrying out his own justice. And he's not even a sociopath. He puts others in front of himself when he considers them worthy.

In real life, I really admire Socrates, for his philosophical concepts, and Spartacus - leading a rebellion against the strongest empire at the time was pretty gutsy.

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Karl Pilkington.

FUNNIEST MAN ALIVE.

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Giles, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Awesome character. I watched the show a few years back, and never related to any of the other characters, so I sort of latched onto him as a sort of model for my own behaviour. It also helps that ASH is sexy as hell.

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Jhonen Vasquez. He's funny, a great artist, has similar glasses and hair as me (heheheh), and is generally a cool guy. He is a comic book artist, and has also made the animated series Invader Zim, and two music videos.

Feelings About Piggies - Comic Con 15 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvlqwPBEHRA#)
This is a video of him speaking, I find it somewhat inspiring that he has a pretty high voice, it kind of brings me hope for the future (if the T gives me a weird voice, I still look girlish, etc, then I can think that Jhonen also has a weird voice and such).

Brandon Teena and my brother (he helped me come out, and listens to me no matter how dumb what i say is)

May I ask what draws you to Brandon Teena?

im not too sure. i live in a very spiritual family and i just kind of feel drawn to him... hard to explain lol.

-Jay

I generally sound like Brian Aubert when I sing. (Silversun Pickups)

My personality/mannerisms? I seem to end up some wacked out mishmash of Tom Baker as Dr. Who, Gary Oldman when he played Rosencrantz (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead), Tim Roth as Ted the Bellhop (Four Rooms), and Paul Bettany when he played Chaucer. (A knight's tale)

Damn. I sound completely insane.

Oh.
I seem to share the same fashion sense as Leonard in Big Bang Theory... but darker... much darker.

I like how everyone is so sure here, it makes me kinda ... eeh ? I usually don't know really, I really have to go think about it, and when I think to long I end up at one of my own characters ! how embarrassing haha . I guess hes what I always wanted to be but never realized it. 

but hers some men I look up too
Charlie crews, and Lt Winters
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he's still a gent okaaaay
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Its awesome to see Gills and Jhonen here :D

I always find it kind of dismaying (well I find the entire notion of heroes dismaying to begin with) when the choices are not real.  At least try to emulate people who are living a real life and not an invention.

I suppose I should clarify. I don't have heroes. There are people who I like. There are fictional characters that I like. Then there are personality traits in some of those people/characters that I recognize in myself. Trying to be like someone I'm not would be silly. At least for me. I admire them. I don't want to BE them.

However, I don't hold it against anyone who chooses to emulate someone. It's not my thing, but it's certainly not... dismaying.  :D

I really don't like the word "hero" - only because I think it's used too often and takes away from the traditional meaning of a hero.

So instead, I will say that there have been many people who have had a positive influence on me in my life. Each person has encouraged me to be myself, peruse my passions, to not follow the crowd, to not let people push me around, to stand up for what I believe in and to do what's right among other things. A couple of these people are more recent additions but in just the last few years they've both helped me immensely with building my confidence and making me feel more comfortable.

My Dad and Grandpa.

Hmm... I suppose I just randomly see various things about other guys I might try to emulate (be it a hairstyle, the way he talks or whatever). Most often it's either FTM guys I see on youtube, guys I know in real life or a guy I've thought is awesome for almost the past 15 years (even as a kid, I tried to emulate him in certain ways). I love his voice (and it'd be to DIE for if my voice changed anywhere near his when I go on T), his mannerisms and his personality, so there are certain aspects of those that have probably already become a part of me since I've been following his band for well over a decade now. The man I speak of is Zac Hanson (the drummer in Hanson). Here's a video of him being awesome throughout the years:

Zac Hanson: Pure Awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe82HfB55A4#)

Quote from: tekla on February 20, 2011, 10:33:48 AM
I always find it kind of dismaying (well I find the entire notion of heroes dismaying to begin with) when the choices are not real.  At least try to emulate people who are living a real life and not an invention.

Well for me it's not about trying to emulate their achievements or anything like that, but to emulate their mannerisms and general attitude.  It's just much easier to study the mannerisms of someone who you can watch for hours on end from all different angles on TV as opposed to a real person.  And if it's any consolation, I've recently learned more about the actor who plays Cal Lightman from his Twitter page and interviews and stuff, and his mannerism seem the same in real life.  His attitude is a little different, but still badass enough that it makes me wanna emulate it.  I'm proud to be one of his hooligans.

Quote from: Devin87 on February 21, 2011, 09:00:49 AM
Well for me it's not about trying to emulate their achievements or anything like that, but to emulate their mannerisms and general attitude.  It's just much easier to study the mannerisms of someone who you can watch for hours on end from all different angles on TV as opposed to a real person.  And if it's any consolation, I've recently learned more about the actor who plays Cal Lightman from his Twitter page and interviews and stuff, and his mannerism seem the same in real life.  His attitude is a little different, but still badass enough that it makes me wanna emulate it.  I'm proud to be one of his hooligans.

Seriously, Tim Roth is just awesome.

Quote from: Rowan on February 21, 2011, 09:58:59 AM
Seriously, Tim Roth is just awesome.

Can't argue with that.  Total hooligan (which, I've learned, is the highest form of praise in his eyes.  I've started calling all my friends it).

I don't really try to emulate...in fact, I actually try not to emulate.

There's a number of people I highly respect in one way or another, admire in one way or another, all that jazz, but there's no one I can think of who I'm comfortable putting the title of "hero" to. I don't know, in a way it feels odd because I know a number of people personally who have gone through a lot and no doubt deserve such a strong title, but there's no one I look up to in a way that those "write about your favorite hero in real life" sort of papers seem to be using the term. Questions like this always make me think of those papers. Give me a "write about your favorite literary hero" over a "write about a hero in real life" paper any day. I guess I just don't do heros? It makes me think of all the quotes and things that have been said about needing heros, but as far as I'm concerned to each their own, I'm just not comfortable with the idea myself.

Sometimes I will notice myself sort of taking on mannerisms or whatnot if I've been watching someone for an extended time (whether on a show, in interviews, whatever), but when I notice that I am I usually do my best to put an end to that. It...doesn't feel like me, I guess. I want to be my own man, not borrow from other men and be the metaphorical equivalent of Dr. Frankenstein's monster and be a mix-and-match of other people.

Upon thinking I'd actually like to clarify: there are people I would put the title of hero to, but not in any personal sense. So it's more the idea of a personal hero that I'm not comfortable with myself than the general idea of "hero."

my hero is my older brother, my parents think he is a complete loser, dropped out of school at 6th grade moved out and had a kid by the age of 16, but now he is 21 has two kids a wife and works his ass off, sure it is at the same place i am working but he is working so hard his wife doesnt have to work at all. he was one of the first people i told about feeling like i was trans, he went home rented a bunch of movies about being transgender came over the next day said i love you bud and left, he watched boys dont cry and said to me if anyone touches you ever or hurts you for being who you are i will kill them. he makes me feel safe.

I don't do the hero thing, but in my ideal universe, I'd like the looks of Zuko, mixed with the badassery and patience of Дядя (is he just called 'Uncle' in English too? I don't know). Ohhhhh yeah.
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Quote from: ajborelli on June 24, 2011, 01:46:31 PM
my hero is my older brother, my parents think he is a complete loser, dropped out of school at 6th grade moved out and had a kid by the age of 16, but now he is 21 has two kids a wife and works his ass off, sure it is at the same place i am working but he is working so hard his wife doesnt have to work at all. he was one of the first people i told about feeling like i was trans, he went home rented a bunch of movies about being transgender came over the next day said i love you bud and left, he watched boys dont cry and said to me if anyone touches you ever or hurts you for being who you are i will kill them. he makes me feel safe.

Nicest thing I've heard this week, glad for you man.

i don't really have any heroes. i respect zaoh taishi and hojo tsukasa for their manga (read the day of revolution and family compo if you want to know why). i hope to one day be as manly as kamina, even though i know that is far beyond impossible

Not sure I emulate them, but am lucky to have a variety of male friends to interact with and learn from. Wide age group, interests and cultural backgrounds. Helps a lot with my perspective.

Working on mannerisms for me is mostly about returning to what came natural before toning myself down to benefit career and blend in better. But I also pay attention to guys around me wherever I go.

For actual heroes, I look at guys who serve their country or people in some way. Most of the guys I know fit that description, too.

In the make believe world, am a fan of Sylvester Stallone and other guys who take a licking and keep on ticking without whining.
Can't stand House....the character or the show.

First and foremost, Marilyn Manson.
Now, gimme a second to explain.

When I was in catholic school, I came across my dad's copy of Antichrist Superstar and hijacked it. I listened to that thing probably a million times, and it was the first thing that gave me any kind of hope at that time. I felt like I was listening to someone telling me "Screw 'em all, you can make it out, and you will". When I got more into him, and learned more about him as a person, I felt like I'd been right in the first place. I've always related to his music, his opinions, him in general. So, he'll always be my hero. He's inspired so much of what I've done, and even though I'll never meet the guy, I owe him a lot.

Secondly, Poppy Z Brite.
Has always been my favorite writer. I found "Lost Souls" when I was about 13 and fell absolutely in love with the gory, corny, gay-tastic-ness of it. I made my way through every single one of Brite's books I could find. I cried, I laughed my ass off, I fell in love with characters. Brite, like Manson, inspired me massively as well. I stopped writing "Safe" things and started just going with what I wanted to say, and how I wanted to. Then, a few months ago, I found out that Brite is also transgendered, and in the process of transitioning to male. I sobbed my eyes out, I've never felt such a weird kind of relief in my life. He has a short story somewhere, I've only found it once, where he wrote about always envying male friends and male everything. I cried throughout the whole thing.

Also, George Carlin. Why? Because hes' hilarious, caustic, offensive, and made some incredibly good points. The thing I loved most about his standup was that when I wasn't wetting myself from laughing, I was amazed that he wasn't some kind of revolutionary or something.

I don't really have a hero exactly, not these days. But when basketball was my main focus I emulated Dirk Nowitzki [of the 2011 World Championship Dallas Mavericks btw :) ]. Dude's a supreme bad-ass. He has stayed with the Mavericks all 13 years of his career so far and finally got them their first ever championship. I wore his number when I played a year of college ball and definitely mimicked his style on the court.

Hey Kameron, I'm a Mavs fan, also. Dirk is da man. That was some good playoff basketball, huh?

i just remembered i actually do have a couple heroes, kinda. nougami neuro and the prince of planet dogra. both evil geniuses who'd save humanity for their own entertainment

NChaos, can you tell me more about Poppy Z Brite, especially of the story where he talks about his male identity? I've only read Lost Souls (amazing cheesy gory gay gothy stuff, I felt I gained a phantom deathhawk from reading it), Drawing Blood (ending was unrealistic) and Exquisite Corpse (shares the title of a good Bauhaus song, horrifying stuff within, DON'T READ!) by him, as it's what the library's got by him.

Bo, yea the playoffs were sick. I've lived in cali the last ten years so the Mavs destroying the lakers was especially sweet.

My son Joey is my hero...He was in a accident at 6 mo old and they told me he would not walk, talk, and pretty much be a vegetable. But now he is 19 and walks and talk, and beside a few physical and mental disabilities he is just fine...He was a fighter and never gave up to be like all the rest of the kids...His heart is pure and loving.. and even tho he will prob never learn to drive or live on his own..he still dreams big..and never gives up...His mind is younger then what his age but everyday he accomplishes something...And that young man is MY hero.

My dad
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Marshall Mathers
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I can relate so well to both of these men and they have done more for me than they know. I aspire to be even half of a man as they are. I think you can tell I get my style from some of both (really jus has to do wit where I grow up).

Quote from: TaylorMade on June 28, 2011, 08:52:13 PM
My son Joey is my hero...He was in a accident at 6 mo old and they told me he would not walk, talk, and pretty much be a vegetable. But now he is 19 and walks and talk, and beside a few physical and mental disabilities he is just fine...He was a fighter and never gave up to be like all the rest of the kids...His heart is pure and loving.. and even tho he will prob never learn to drive or live on his own..he still dreams big..and never gives up...His mind is younger then what his age but everyday he accomplishes something...And that young man is MY hero.

he and people like him are also my heros. always.

I'll take the cheesy route. I can't say I have a hero that is a celebrity, because I think they're hard to emulate when we know nothing about the real them. There are a few personalities from shows I like, but in reality, none I'd want to be like.

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My hero, is my Grandmaw, I call her Maw. A mix of "ma" in grandma, and mother. It somehow because "Maw", that and I'm a little bit country. So that's how it turned out. She is mother. She is my grandmother. She is everything that has ever made me feel safe in this world. She was always the person I felt safe with, who I could talk to, who I could tell anything. She was the only person that saw more then the angry troubled child. She was the only one that showed me fear, cried tears, and would sacrifice everything to make sure I was happy. She always said "I already buried my daughter. Your daughter is supposed to bury you, not the other way around. Don't make me bury my grandbaby too." She is the glue in my family. The piece that keeps us all together. She raised my older brother when my mother passed. She raised me and my other brother when our birth father was put in jail and the fight for custody left us there. She talks to random people. She's kind. The thing that makes her happiest is seeing the smile on other people's faces. She artistic, creative, goofy, a little bit of a potty mouth, but she's everything I'd ever want to be like. I want to light up someone's life the way she's done for me. To be kind, to help people, to be that person people really enjoy to have around. I, however, have always been a rather angry, disgruntled person until the last few years. Ooops.

Ratchet, that's super sweet :3

Agreed. She sounds amazing, Ratchet, reminds me so much of my own mimi.

Thanks. She really is amazing. She's one of the only people I can honestly say, I'd be a far worse person without her. Nor would I know what to do without her.

Sully Erna would have to be my hero..

My heros are David Beckham and singer Enrique.