I loved reading about the Compton Cafeteria Riot in San Francisco back in 1966. I thought the first riot of the gay rights movement was the Stonewall riot in New York that happened in the summer of 1969. Reading about the riot sparked by police clashing with transgendered individuals of course made me think about the Occupied Movement and what's going on in Oakland. Susan Stryker points out that riots don't happen in a bubble, the Compton riots were spurred by discrimination in housing and employment among other injustices-- which is reminiscent of the 99%.
Great Documentary from PBS: Stonewall Uprising--- watch the trailer http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/trailer/stonewall-trailer/
Christine Jorgensen is a name that I've heard for a long time; however I had never been inspired to Google her until reading about transgender oppression in our text (links below). One of my great friends is a documentary filmmaker Kerthy Fix ,who lives in New York, she has been working on a film about Christine for years-- and I have a performance art friend named Paul who named his raunchy alter ego performance persona CHRISTEENE (link below) in Jorgensen's honor. After reading and researching more about Jorgensen I understand why she is such a hero of my friends, she's a trailblazer who pushed against cultural boundaries that still have not been broken. .. and I have to say she's now a hero of mine to.
Christine Jorgensen on Joe Pyne 1966 or 1967
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyh8BxPxtnw&feature=related
Christine Jorgensen - Hour Magazine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDlGUeF1Bg0&feature=related
The Reluctant Transgender Role Model—Chaz Bono
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/fashion/08CHAZ.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ref=fashion
"Worlds Youngest Transsexual" Kim Petras on "This Morning"- 16 yrs old
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDJXR1wXofA&feature=related
WARNING!!! Not for everyone… Naughty words and lovely Raunchiness from CHRISTEEN. If you want to witness the wacky raunch for yourself, type in CHRISTEEN for Music videos on Funny or Die: Titles include: “Fix my D**k”, and “Tears from My P**sy”. http://www.funnyordie.com/
Of course the essay, “Calling All Restroom Revolutionaries!” rocked my world and I loved their acronym PISSAR!!! I didn't realize that was already a movement (pardon the pun), but I constantly prop the doors open to the restrooms in the School of Social Work, because as a woman with a disability (who is much less disabled now than I used to be) I know how frigg’en difficult those doors are open. As the chairperson of the Disability Visibility Initiative, I am working on getting automatic door openers installed, but UT is a bureaucracy and it will take a while.. so help meet with the revolution and keep the doors open. You can be a restroom revolutionary too! Do your part to help make the restrooms in the School of Social Work more accessible to your fellow students with disabilities. It's simple—PLEASE, any time you see the restroom doors closed just take a moment and prop them open, I guarantee you will make a difference in someone's day. Take it from someone who knows, not being able to open the bathroom door is a real PISSAR J
Carol! You are such a Restroom Activist! Thank you for the insight!
ReplyDeleteI thought that article was "the shit" (sorry, I couldn't help myself...) as well. Because my gender aligns with my biological sex, it took me until this year to realize how bathroom accessibility can affect transgendered people. It's interesting that a campus as "socially forward" as UT still doesn't provide a safe place for all students to do their bathroom business.
Also, reading your response to the article really made me realize my privilege being a temporarily able-bodied individual. Honestly, I have never thought about the issues that those with a physical disability face, whether it be access to bathrooms or tampon/pad machines. You can bet that I'll be propping bathroom doors open wherever I go. Thank you for sharing your voice, Carol, its powerful.