Unfortunately, our experiences with marginalization often affect our feelings of self-worth. While many people in our lives are unable, or unwilling, to provide the emotional support we need before, during, and after coming out, or transitioning, our companion animals never fail to see us as we truly are, and never fail in continuing to express their unconditional love for us. No wonder we love them and derive multiple benefits from our relationships with them. They are woven into the fabric of our lives.


LET US HONOR OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS BY TELLING OUR STORIES OF OUR VALUED RELATIONSHIPS, AND BY SHARING PHOTOS OF US WITH OUR BELOVED ANIMAL COMPANIONS.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THIS PROJECT OF LOVE. KINDLY POST THIS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO YOUR OWN WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. SPREAD THE WORD!

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: DECEMBER 31, 2014
WORD LIMIT: 2500 WORDS

CONTACT: JUDEPATTON@AOL.COM (EDITOR)

Jude Patton, Editor, has spent more than 20 years in animal care and advocacy for animals. His undergraduate studies included pre-veterinary school courses. He graduated from U.C. Irvine with a B.A. in Social Ecology. His M.A. and Ph.D. course studies concentrated in Psychology. He completed the Program for Physician Assistant Training at U.S.C. School of Medicine. Jude has taken numerous additional courses about animal care, wildlife biology and ecology. He has completed a series of courses provided by Skagit County Conservation District, and Washington University Extension Courses for farmers.

Jude's first employment experiences were in animal care, as a Veterinary Medical Assistant, one of the first such licensees in California. Jude is also licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor and Physician Assistant. He currently works as a PA-C in a private psychiatric practice.

In addition to his veterinary medical assistant employment experiences, Jude's other animal related work experiences include employment as a kennel manager, pet store manager, and groomer.
His personal experiences with animals include being a trail guide for horseback riders, and raising small animals and farm animals. He has also been a volunteer with domestic and wild animal rescue groups.

Jude is an open, out and proud trans man, who teaches health care professionals about the health benefits of companion animals, gardening and nature. He lives on a small hobby farm, in Northwestern Washington State, with his sweet 'Butterscotch'
('Miss B.'), a shih-tzu/yorkie mix, who is "too cute".

Check out Jude's profile on Linked In and his Facebook Page. Check out and "Like" Trans for Animals, and LGBTI for Animal Welfare pages on Facebook, newly created by Jude, to share information, education and advocacy for ALL sentient beings.