Last Nights PETV with Dr. Sherman Leis

Comment by Caroline Grace on February 8, 2011 at 5:55pm

Several companies will cover GRS including Starbucks. I know of 2 girls who had their surgery covered... I'll bet there is a Starbucks near you that might need help...

Comment by Caroline Grace on February 8, 2011 at 5:57pm

One more thing on Dr. Leis...

He's agreed to do a session for gals in the DC / Baltimore MD area. I have to set things up but if anyone is interested in attending please let me know...

Comment by Koko Jones on February 8, 2011 at 6:16pm

Thank You Julia,

My feeling was that there are some girls that have resources and ways of getting money either through savings or through credit because they have jobs. The girls I know and am in touch with are primarily girls that are from backgrounds that most of us in this group could not imagine. Their resources are so very limited. Many do not hold regular jobs and make their coins by working in the sex Industry. They either get done what they can through a sugar daddy or through unbelievable efforts working, prostituting themselves day and night til they save enough. Some do well others not so well. A lot of the girls don't hold regular jobs so they don't have insurance unless they've managed to get on Medicaid. I have known some girls get some procedures done through medicaid.

What I'm talking about is more about Class and Race (unfortunately)... This is not an excuse but I have been around for a while. I heard one of our famous TS role models one day say "your typical Latina Drag Queen"...and I said/thought...."Hmmmmm.....that was a mighty bigoted statement". So you see there is other things happening here. I'd like not think that way but it's truthful. I have been invited to go to a PUmp Party. I've been given the names and numbers of a couple of people that do "free floating" silicone injections. Most popular is cheek bones and "Boy Holes".

I am in a "House" in New York called The House of Xtravaganza"...not sure if your familiar but just check out "Paris Is Burning". My very dear friend Angie Xtravaganza was in that movie...... Saying that there is a large segment of our TS community out there that is suffering and I hope that i can at least help them and lift the vail of ignorance so some of the younger girls can live full productive happy and healthy existences. no I'm not Mother Teresa but I am part of this House to help the young girls understand and not make some of the choices that are dangerous... anyway thank you for listening and reading...

Comment by Rachel King on February 8, 2011 at 7:05pm

Bugger you negative lot.
I got off my arse and I worked my butt off to achieve my surgery.
I am currently stony broke, been out of work for 6 weeks and just started work again.
It's lower paying than what I would like, bottom of the chain stuff but it's work and it pays, so stuff it, I will have to knuckle under further and spend less.
This time, it's to find the exorbitant fee's to bring my wife to Oztralia.
I don't whinge about it. I get off my butt and do it.
Don't tell me about "silver spoon in the mouth" scenarios.

' ONLY THE STRONG TRANSITION"

The rest fall by the wayside because they haven't the balls to work for it.
Falling back on excuses is nothing more than saying laziness is my credo.

I remember Angel saying last year, that she worked 3 or 4 jobs for her FFS surgery.
There's a Lady with guts'

Stop you're whinging, get off you're backside and tell us how you are now a "can-do" woman, otherwise slink off into the night.

Class and race...... crap, it's called willpower versus won'tpower.

Comment by Koko Jones on February 8, 2011 at 9:20pm

First of all Rachel, this was a thread regarding an observation I had. I hope you are not suggesting that I, myself do not get off my rusty dusty and work.... PLEASE...DON'T TAKE THERE GIRL!!!! are you kidding me only the strong transition. I have transitioned..so what's your point? I myself would like to get FFS..not that I need all that much work but would love to get to the point where there is no doubt in someone's mind about my gender. But enough about me. I will not take your reply as a personal assault.

I know my point...my point is that there is a great divide in this country (USA) of the have and have not's....I'm not implying that this solely about race or class. In this tough economy it becomes tougher for the less fortunate. My point is that it's very tempting for young trans-women who don't know the dangers to find an easy fix. For example you can get your "Boy Holes" done (your hips, thighs and buttocks) with silicone on the street these days for about $400.00 to $500.00 per session doing as much 3 or 4 sessions. That's about $1000.00 to $2,000.00. Where as a trained surgeon will ask for 2 to 3 times that much. It's quite enticing especially if all your friends are doing it too! My point is that lower income folks are generally less informed. Therefore, they make some bad judgments. It goes on not just in the Trans Community but also in the communities of lower income people.

You see we are just a microcosm of the greater society. Regardless of how you feel Rachel I will be out there going to meetings in the Bronx and in other low income communities to help spread the word of better ways to transition and healthier practices amongst our younger trans community.

And Julia thank you soooo much for your insight I really appreciate you reaching out girl. I think I sent you a friend request. I pass through Harrisburg all the time going to Gettysburg where I have done some work there teaching. I also did a concert there last October called Concert and C

Comment by Koko Jones on February 8, 2011 at 9:24pm

First of all Rachel, this was a thread regarding an observation I had. I hope you are not suggesting that I, myself do not get off my rusty dusty and work.... PLEASE...DON'T TAKE THERE GIRL!!!! are you kidding me only the strong transition. I have transitioned..so what's your point? I myself would like to get FFS..not that I need all that much work but would love to get to the point where there is no doubt in someone's mind about my gender. But enough about me. I will not take your reply as a personal assault.

I know my point...my point is that there is a great divide in this country (USA) of the have and have not's....I'm not implying that this solely about race or class. In this tough economy it becomes tougher for the less fortunate. My point is that it's very tempting for young trans-women who don't know the dangers to find an easy fix. For example you can get your "Boy Holes" done (your hips, thighs and buttocks) with silicone on the street these days for about $400.00 to $500.00 per session doing as much 3 or 4 sessions. That's about $1000.00 to $2,000.00. Where as a trained surgeon will ask for 2 to 3 times that much. It's quite enticing especially if all your friends are doing it too! My point is that lower income folks are generally less informed. Therefore, they make some bad judgments. It goes on not just in the Trans Community but also in the communities of lower income people.

You see we are just a microcosm of the greater society. Regardless of how you feel Rachel I will be out there going to meetings in the Bronx and in other low income communities to help spread the word of better ways to transition and healthier practices amongst our younger trans community.

And Julia thank you soooo much for your insight I really appreciate you reaching out girl. I think I sent you a friend request. I pass through Harrisburg all the time going to Gettysburg where I have done some work there teaching. I also did a concert there last October called Concert and C

Comment by Koko Jones on February 8, 2011 at 9:27pm

Why do my posts get cut off???

this was the end of it...jeez!

also did a concert there last October called Concert and Conversation. That same week I was a guest speaker at the women's center there talking about Trans issues. Love to chat some day....

Comment by Koko Jones on February 8, 2011 at 9:57pm

Caroline, thank you for your kind reply and thoughtful suggestion. Regarding Starbucks, I don't think I could survive off of salary from there. It would also mean that I would have to give up a 38 year career as a musician and teacher.

Comment by Rachel King on February 9, 2011 at 4:04am

It's always good to get clarification on someone's blog so that the original meaning doesn't get lost.
My reply never intended an implication about yourself either, Koko.
I am on a constant, when it comes to putting out warnings to those who see transition as an answer to their problems.
Inevitably and indubitably, it will create a fresh set of problems to add on to what one already has and my constant warning of, "only the strong transition" is aimed fairly and squarely at those people.
I can reasonably consider myself in the lower educated strata.
I never finished High School but since leaving School I have never stopped learning and if you want something bad enough you'll damn well do what you do to get it..... honestly.
I have too much respect for my body and myself to resort to Hooking, so as not to side-track this subject, I'll reiterate that although I have training and am ticketed to drive the huge machinery in this mining town, vacancies aren't there at the moment, so to keep my head afloat, I am prepared to take a job at the bottom of the chain to make that money.
I know you lot don't live in the "Lucky Country" and I feel appropriately sorry for all of you,lol but if there's an honest job going, even if it's outside your comfort zone, then take it and pay your bills, survive, and don't let life pass you by.
Accepted that a place like Starbucks is not suited or suitable for yourself, Koko, but to widen the spectrum, someone might read that and say, for the lower money, I get to have Insurance to have surgeries.
Strewth, to my knowledge, there isn't a Company in Oztralia that does that!

You do what you do to go forward, within reason of course.
I will never find myself in the position for having to apologise for being a survivor.

I'm enjoying the thread of this blog, thank you.

Comment by Koko Jones on February 9, 2011 at 7:27am

well Rachel. I realized that you are from Australia and don't really understand fully the nature of Race, Sex and Class in America. I am a bit outspoken when it comes to all peoples rights especially not just rights of Trans people. I myself am just 1 generation away from slavery. My grandmother was born a slave. Many southerners (US) kept their slaves long after slavery had been abolished. she went on to work on the boats that went up and down the Mississippi as a pianist!!! That's where she met my Grandfather who was a porter on one of those boats, serving rich well to do whites. Now there was a woman who endured so much more than me.

You certainly have struggled and have made your life what it is now by being tenacious and not taking it easy and letting things come to you. So yes, I do understand what your saying... If you want it..... go get it!!!!

Yes, Folks like myself and Julia are FRUSTRATED!! because we try hard and do everything we can to advance towards our dreams only for them to be sacked by an economy that is just awful. Sometimes just making your rent or your heating bill is a struggle. Not having the money to save away for that procedure tthat you so desperately need. I don't have an excessive life-style just normal everyday things and I do with out a lot!!!!

I'm wishing you all the best in your new life with your partner and a healthy future!

best

Koko

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