Two interesting features worth a look in tomorrow’s New York Times Sunday Magazine (6.29.2008) …

Genes, money, drive … if you have’em, you might have a chance of looking and performing like Dara Torres at 41 years of age …

NEAR THE WARM-UP POOL AT THE Missouri Grand Prix swim meet, in Columbia, a crop of Olympic hopefuls lolled around in practice suits and towels on a Saturday morning in February. Fully clothed among them stood some relics of Olympics past: Scott Goldblatt, who won a gold medal in the 2004 Games, wore an aqua sport coat and a striped tie and was doing on-air commentary for Swimnetwork.com; Mel Stewart, who won two golds and a bronze in 1992, wore the same goofy get-up, working as Goldblatt’s sidekick. Meanwhile, Dara Torres, who won the first of her nine Olympic medals in 1984, a year before Michael Phelps was born, stripped off her baggy T-shirt and sweat pants, revealing a breathtaking body in a magenta Speedo. She pulled on a cap marked with her initials and prepared to swim. Torres is now 41 and the mother of a 2-year-old daughter, Tessa Grace. She broke her first of three world records in 1982, at 14, and she has retired from swimming and come back three times, her latest effort built on an obsessive attention to her aging body.

Torres’s retinue includes a head coach, a sprint coach, a strength coach, two stretchers, two masseuses, a chiropractor and a nanny, at the cost of at least $100,000 per year. At the Olympic trials, this week, in Omaha, Neb., she’s expected to swim fast enough to make her fifth Olympic team. If she does, she’ll be the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympics (despite sitting out 1996 and 2004). She’ll also be oldest female swimmer in the history of the Olympic games.

…

The rest of “A Swimmer of a Certain Age” may be read here.

And Times fashion writer Guy Trebay has a feature on filmmaker and “fashionista” Daphne Guinness …

Because the archetypal women in Daphne Guinness’s short film, ‘‘The Phenomenology of Body,’’ revolve on turntables, it is somehow easier to think of her as a D.J. than as a director. Because the chic images she assembled appear in some sense random, it seems appropriate to think of her as more a sampler than any kind of auteur. And because the story depicting women through the ages is, as its creator points out, not exactly linear and only accidentally feminist, it is easy to see in it hints of autobiography, the personal history of a slightly anachronistic sort of being, less actor than spectator, a woman upon whom the events of life impress themselves.

While few outside the style world are likely to have heard of Guinness, she exercises considerable fascination in fashionable circles and the tabloid press. The daughter of the Guinness brewery heir Jonathan Guinness, formally known as Lord Moyne, Guinness is also the step-granddaughter of Sir Oswald Mosley, the British fascist; the ex-wife of Spyros Niarchos, of Greek shipping fame (she married him at 19; he settled a reputed $40 million dollars on her when they divorced in 1999); and lately the subject of tabloid rumors related to her friendship with Bernard-Henri Lévy, the wealthy, and married, French writer whose intellect is almost as celebrated as his luxuriant head of hair.

…

The rest of “Her Feminine Mystique” may be read here, and her film’s below …

I’m not Alex Blaze, Bil Browning is not either, and this is not exactly queer music, but nevermind … it’s Vampire Weekend …

Although the times are changing, for the better, I’m not expecting a Hollywood “update” of the 1947 classic film anytime soon … but, thankfully, at least you can’t say anymore about news such as this (see photo) …

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop and his partner of 20 years have been united in a private civil union.

The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson was legally joined to Mark Andrew, his partner of 20 years, in a civil ceremony Saturday, the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire announced.

Civil unions became legal in New Hampshire this year.

The union was performed five years to the day after New Hampshire Episcopalians elected him as their bishop.

The civil and a following religious service of thanksgiving were both held at St. Paul’s Church in Concord.

…

NH gay bishop, partner joined in civil union

From the UK, Electro Magnetic Workshop, who performed today on the Isle of Wight … this is an earlier performance …

~~~

h/t to Robyn at transsexual-uk who provided there, “This group is comprised of Phaedra, Melinda, Alex and Chris (the only non-trans).”

… and on the lookout around public restrooms for the individual pictured here …

The View intuits from a higher authority that said individual could be “a predator, bisexual, cross-dresser.”

~~~~~

Related …

Ritter signs controversial anti-discrimination bill

~~~~~

Hecuba: Alas! Alas! Alas! Ilium is ablaze; the fire consumes the citadel, the roofs of our city, the tops of the walls!
Chorus: Like smoke blown to heaven on the wings of the wind, our country, our conquered country, perishes. Its palaces are overrun by the fierce flames and the murderous spear.
Hecuba: O land that reared my children!

The Trojan Women

Some news and views, trans and otherwise, catching my attention today …

#1 - Sophia Siedlberg from the Organisation Intersex International commented on a Bay Area Reporter feature today (”DSM controversy could overshadow opportunities“) on Kenneth Zucker, Jack Drescher and DSM-V …

If the APA feel that some of the very real anger expressed about how certain people are appointed and the actions of those people, then the APA should consider the possibility that the Clarke Northwestern academics they have elected have, in the past been known to provoke an acrimonious response from those they “discuss” and then deliberately ignore any invitations for polite debate, while crying foul when people get angry out of sheer frustration. That is a well known and documented tactic on the part of the Clarke-Northwestern. And one that renders their objections to being called everything from “Quacks” to “Nazis” utterly meaningless, as they have deliberately taken an invidious approach to debate, in order to cry foul when the predictable response happens. We have to ask why do the Clarke-Northwestern do this? Most logical people would conclude that there may be some truth in the more slanderous accusations levelled at the Clark Northwestern as they persistently fail to engage in open debate, in a way that appears deliberate.

On the The Bay Area Reporter

#2 - Barack Obama supporter and Transadvocate blogger, Marti Abernathey, is the subject of a Bay Windows feature today (”Trans parent, gay son: pride across the generations“) …

Abernathey fights through her involvement with various national and state transgender and LGBT organizations. She runs the Transadvocate group blog (transadvocate.com) and is contributing editor for another, the Bilerico Project (bilerico.com). She also fights simply by being open about who she is. “A lot of the reasons why there are fewer obstacles now for gay and lesbian parents is because there are gay and lesbian parents,” she explains. “There’s exposure to the straight community, so it’s not an abstraction, it’s real. When trans people are open and honest about who they are, then people will start to see we’re just parents. We’re not trans parents, we’re parents. I think that’s what gays and lesbians want, and what trans people want.”

And, speaking of Obama, he has a fan in Rupert Murdoch (”Rupert Murdoch Says Obama Will Win“) …

“He is a rock star. It’s fantastic”

#3 - Actor and comedian Harvey Korman passed away today (”Comic powerhouse Harvey Korman dies at 81“) …

Harvey Korman, the tall, versatile comedian who won four Emmys for his outrageously funny contributions to “The Carol Burnett Show” and played a conniving politician to hilarious effect in “Blazing Saddles,” died Thursday. He was 81.

…

His most memorable film role was as the outlandish Hedley Lamarr (who was endlessly exasperated when people called him Hedy) in Mel Brooks‘ 1974 Western satire, “Blazing Saddles.”

…

After 10 successful seasons, Korman left Burnett’s show in 1977 for his own series. Dick Van Dyke took his place, but the chemistry was lacking and the Burnett show was canceled two years later. “The Harvey Korman Show” also failed, as did other series starring the actor.

“It takes a certain type of person to be a television star,” he said in that 2005 interview. “I didn’t have whatever that is. I come across as kind of snobbish and maybe a little too bright. … Give me something bizarre to play or put me in a dress and I’m fine.”

#4 - Where would some folks be without us … ? (”A better way to morality“) …

Cross-dressing to my mind is the single most important factor in spreading the homosexual lifestyle.

#5 - One way to get rid of some carbon footprints (”Environmentally Friendly Bombs Planned“) …

New explosives could be more powerful and safer to handle than TNT and other conventional explosives and would also be more environmentally friendly.

…

To make safer, more environmentally friendly explosives, scientists in Germany turned to a recently explored class of materials called tetrazoles. These derive most of their explosive energy from nitrogen instead of carbon as TNT and others do.

…

These compounds have great potential, “especially for large caliber naval and tank guns,” Klapötke added

On the Bushs and the Clintons … the tide’s outward rush from these fair shores (speaking broadly and metaphorically) will continue unchecked and unabated by the presumptive, next King Canute.

From Dolly Parton, as quoted in the New York Times in its review today of her performance at Radio City Music Hall in NYC last Thursday …

“Someone told me I should run for president. I said, don’t you think that we’ve had enough boobs in the White House?”

We lead with three North Carolina stories in the news …

#1 - Could Emily Howard be in the Tar Heel state? (And, as someone who was born, raised and spent half a life in NYC and watches current news, Matt Lucas is a natural there … ) …

Little Britain star David Walliams feels the strong arm of the law, as transvestite Emily Howard is ‘arrested’.

David’s cross-dressing character - famous for her ‘I’m a laydee’ catchphrase - is manhandled by his sidekick Matt Lucas, and a hunky US cop for shoplifting in new pictures from the US version of the show.

The Emmy and Bafta-winning sketch show has been snapped up by American television giants HBO in a big ticket move to US screens.

The award-winning comedy duo are introducing a number of new characters in addition to keeping the old favourites.

Walliams also unleashed a new middle-aged Barbara Woodhouse-style dog trainer character. Last week the pair revealed Lucas’ American schoolgirl Ellie Grace and Walliams as her mother.

While other new characters have yet to be revealed, die-hard fans of the past three series will not be disappointed by the latest.

They can expect to see the return of Dafydd “only gay in the village” Thomas, camp Prime Minister’s aide Sebastian Love and Asbo teen Vicky Pollard.

Walliams and Lucas started filming in North Carolina last month and aer apparently looking for an American film star to play the role of a comedy US president.

Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney is rumoured to be their first choice.

…

It’s a fair cop: Little Britain’s first ‘laydee’ Emily arrested by New York cop Matt Lucas

#2 - Speaking of Obama, as much as I love (and was recently “heartbroken” (You too, ladies) by) the Tar Heels, this doesn’t cut it with me …

Sen. Barack Obama Plays Pickup With Tar Heels

Looks (and from what I heard was) pretty weak to me. You got to take it to the rack, Barrack. If you can’t finish your shots like Hillary, you ain’t got no business in the game.

#3 - The local newspaper, the Asheville Citizen-Times, today featured Holly and Zeke in an article on the community here …

At age 8, Holly Boswell decided she had magic powers.

Her mother had given Holly a Peter Pan book, and she fixated on the character of Tinkerbell. Holly was then a little boy, but she had been questioning her gender identity since age 2 or 3, she said. “I was thinking to myself, What am I — a fairy?”

Only much later did she find another word for herself: Transgendered.

Boswell was one of four transgendered Asheville residents who spoke Tuesday night at an event organizers called “Transcendence.” The 90-minute program of documentary film clips and discussion was held at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

“I think this is the last great prejudice,” said the Rev. David Eck, a member of the advocacy group People of Faith for Just Relationships, which sponsored the evening. “We’ve dealt with racism, women’s issues, and right now, it’s gay and lesbian issues, but no one talks about this.”

The word “transgendered” typically refers to transsexuals, people who identify as the gender opposite to their biological gender. But it may also be used to encompass anyone who expresses nontraditional gender characteristics, including cross-dressers, effeminate men and masculine women.

“Americans like things in neat categories,” Eck said. Transgendered people “challenge the binary between man and woman.”

…

Asheville’s transgender community speaks

Moving on …

#4 - On the subject of hormones and genetics, from the New York Times today (”Some Athletes’ Genes Help Outwit Doping Test“) …

It was, researchers say, a striking demonstration of a genetic discovery. Those 17 men can build muscles with testosterone, they respond normally to the hormone, but they are missing both copies of a gene used to convert the testosterone into a form that dissolves in urine. The result is that they may be able to take testosterone with impunity.

…

Researchers have long known that some men, Asians in particular, seemed to be able to take the drugs without getting caught, although no one had identified the cause of the phenomenon. Without gene testing, there is no way to know whether any athletes have exploited this doping loophole, but Dr. Catlin says he suspects some athletes discovered their invulnerability by accident and took advantage of it.

Men with the gene deletion still metabolize testosterone, Dr. Schulze says. But, she adds, she does not know where the hormone goes. “We have no idea,” she said. “That’s what we’re trying to find out.”

#5 - If you oftentimes feel, like I do now and then, some positive vibes … get real …

… and get in touch with these folks.

From a Reuters news report earlier this week concerning “penis theft panic” in the Democratic Republic of Congo …

Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men’s penises … Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed that sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear …

Though it doesn’t sound like the locals were exactly rhapsodizing like this about “the magic touch” …

… and though the Congo may not be quite ready yet to challenge Thailand’s title, the authorities there need to catch on to their “chop-less” advantage and the rich possibilities in medical tourism and more affordable medical care for GID sufferers in these difficult economic times.

No doubt we need Pres. Bush back in Africa for a lengthy discussion of these health care issues with the Congolese.

We’ve posted a number of stories at Transgender News in recent years about Jin Xing (such as Der Spiegel’s “The Odyssey of Jin Xing” and “A new beginning in Europe” back in 2006). Her story is (as Der Spiegel aptly referred to it then) …

… a one-of-a-kind biography: born as a boy, he advanced to the rank of colonel in the Chinese army. Then came the sex change and the staggering career as a world-class prima ballerina.

Jin Xing will be performing (her dance company’s only U.S. appearance) and participating in various events at Stanford University on April 26 and April 27. This is from the Stanford media release …

Stanford Lively Arts concludes its 2007-08 season with the U.S. debut of China’s Jin Xing Dance Theatre, presented in partnership with the Stanford Pan-Asian Music Festival, on Saturday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 at 2:30 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium.

With a thrilling and sensual dance vocabulary, Jin Xing leads her company’s only appearance in this country with a lavish, pageant-like presentation of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, featuring the Stanford Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jindong Cai and the Stanford Symphonic Chorus under the direction of Stephen M. Sano.

The path of Jin Xing is one of struggle, discovery, and metamorphosis. A former colonel in the
People’s Liberation army, who after a sex change was the first transwoman officially recognized by the Chinese government, Jin Xing is China’s most admired contemporary choreographer and has been hailed by Die Zeit as “probably the world’s best dancer.” She established her Shanghai-based 18-member company in 1999 and has performed to sold-out houses and critical acclaim throughout Europe and Asia.

Here’s a brief promo clip from the UK’s Dance Umbrella for Jin’s appearance there last winter …

All of which brought to mind Jackson Brown’s “For A Dancer” …

Let your prayers go drifting into space
You never know what will be coming down
Perhaps a better world is drawing near
And just as easily it could all disappear
Along with whatever meaning you might have found
Dont let the uncertainty turn you around
Go on and make a joyful sound
Into a dancer you have grown

Who would ever have thought gender identity disorder would be a rampant in Kuwait. (I didn’t think they even had a chapter of Transexual Menace there.) From the Kuwait Times today …

He [Dr. Khalid al-Mohanadi] also pointed to a growing problem related to gender identity disorder that has developed from being merely a social problem to a rampant phenomenon, quoting a relevant recent study he made for the National Assembly.

Gender identity disorder cases ought to be treated through religious, psychological and social perspectives, he said.

Concerning Satan worshippers, al-Mohanadi said they underwent “intellectual invasion” that resulted from spiritual, psychological and religious vacuum.

But, he reassured that those youths return to reasoning once they are put under appropriate religious and psychological guidance.

Sounds like Dr. al-Mohanadi owns the local Kuwaiti NARTH franchise. Nice touch — being lumped in there with the satan lovers, by the way.

~~~~~

My sister wears a mustache,
My brother wears a dress.
Goodness Gracious, that’s why I’m a mess!

– “Gee, Officer Krupke”

If not, it could happen someday soon …

So what’s hot at DARPA right now? Bugs. The creepy, crawly flying kind. The Agency’s Microsystems Technology Office is hard at work on HI-MEMS (Hybrid Insect Micro-Electro-Mechanical System), raising real insects filled with electronic circuitry, which could be guided using GPS technology to specific targets via electrical impulses sent to their muscles. These half-bug, half-chip creations - DARPA calls them “insect cyborgs” - would be ideal for surveillance missions, the agency says in a brief description on its website.

Scientist Amit Lal and his team insert mechanical components into baby bugs during “the caterpillar and the pupae stages,” which would then allow the adult bugs to be deployed to do the Pentagon’s bidding.

Gay? Transgender?

Watch out!

Don’t think so?

Well, look around.

I’ve no doubt this has already been deployed and successfully tested on folks like Randy Thomas.

So, turn off the lights, blow out the candles … and, yes, better keep the Raid close at hand.

~~~~~

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

– Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth”

Perhaps, but, as Bil Browning at Bilerico points out, loss of LGBT support has Barney Frank looking for love in new places …

Now that Congressman Barney Frank has lost a sizable portion of his LGBT support, he’s apparently turning to pot smokers to shore up his base. The openly gay Congressman came under fire for abandoning transgender folks in an attempt to get some form of “gay rights” passed in this session of Congress. While protecting trans rights doesn’t make the cut, he is willing to sponsor legislation making small amounts of marijuana legal.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against pot or dope smokers. I think weed should be legal. I just think Barney Frank has his priorities a little “altered.”

Asked by [Bill] Maher as to why he would push a pot decriminalization bill now, Frank said the American public has already decided that personal use of marijuana is not a problem.

“I now think it’s time for the politicians to catch up to the public,” Frank said. “The notion that you lock people up for smoking marijuana is pretty silly. I’m going to call it the ‘Make Room for Serious Criminals’ bill.”

Anyway, apropos “bad trips” (i.e., what happened with a trans-inclusive ENDA), a bit of comedy from Cheech & Chong …

British actor Paul Scofield, renowned for his stage and screen portrayal of Sir Thomas More in “A Man for All Seasons,” died yesterday. Mr. Scofield, the New York Times noted …

… made his debut as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” on the school stage. “I had to wear an embarrassing blond wig,” he said. “But it was a turning point, because thenceforward there was nothing else I wanted to do.”

The Thomas More Law Center was also in the news yesterday. The TMLC has frequently been at odds with trans people, including …

• Opposing transsexual marriage in Kansas
• Opposing legislation against discrimination based on gender identity in Michigan
• Opposing trans-inclusive sex education in Maryland