more about the T.

When was the last time you were sitting in your GSA and someone brought up a transgender issue? Do you even know what transgender issues are? I think a lot of people forget about transgender issues in their GSA's because transgender kids aren't as prevalent in our schools as gay's and lesbians. The reason for this is that Transgender kids have a harder time coming out than other students. Being transgender involves a lot of money, time, commitment and emotional distress. Teenagers have a hard time doing this because they know it will be a long and hard process that might cause much pain to them and their loved ones. They are afraid to be themselves. Some are so afraid that they keep it a secret their entire lives. I have 2 stories I'd like to share with you so that you can see how different Transgender people's experiences can be. The first story I'd like to tell you is about a boy, lets just call him r. He is an FTM who started his transition last year. When he first told his parents, who are divorced they were not exactly supportive. But they came around eventually, buying him a binder and considering a name change. R has since started a you tube blog that talks about Transgender issues and is in the process of writing a bill that will allow students to have their chosen names on official school documents like yearbooks and ID cards. He is a shining example of a transgender success story and he is a really inspiring person to talk to, he has become a role model of mine, changing the transgender world one step at a time. The next story is about a girl, lets just call her C. She is an FTM that has not begun her transition yet. Being transgendered is all about the transition from gender of origin to gender of choice. C has told most of her friends that she is trans, but is afraid of what her parent's reaction will be. She is involved in the LGBT community and is getting help from the people around her, but she does not know when she will tell her parents. I don't think she keeps secrets, but I think she is afraid, the fear that keeps you from coming out.
Please take these stories to heart and share them, so that the world is afraid no more.

Passover and Activism

Passover is a day where we celebrate freedom and commemorate the Jews "coming out" of Egypt. I think that Passover is the Jewish holiday that has the strongest connection to activism that I know of. Freedom is something that we in the LGBT community do not have yet. We cannot come out openly into our metaphorical Egypt and we have no guiding force like Moshe to lead us out. Which is why even the people in the back can do their part to help start the journey. Even in the passover story every action has a reaction. Moshe's mom did not want to let her baby die and put herself in danger to protect him, it was a small action that produced a huge reaction. Just remember all of the things you can do, no matter how small they seem to make a difference. You can organize Day of Silence at your school which could lead to huge numbers of people joining your GSA and then you guys organizing a rally, and so on. Its like that Disney song. The "Friends for Change" http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/friendsforchange/ program is focused on the environment and helping kids to do their part in helping to save the planet. Their main message is that kids can do something to change the world even if it is that one little thing. The Jewish people all worked together to get out of Egypt and do something great. The Friends for Change program seeks to work with kids, just as Moshe worked with the Jewish people. This lesson about passover something that I think should be shared at every Seder and included in every Hagaddah because it is something that everyone needs to know.

"With one little action the chain reaction
We'll help it start
Make it strong
Shine a light and send it on" - Disney's Friends for Change, Send it On

Thank you and have a Happy Passover

Sacrifice

If you really want something you have to be willing to sacrifice for it. I want so badly to be in, run and organize in my GSA but I cannot do that right now due to parental restrictions ( and let me make this absolutely clear it has nothing to do with me being gay) but I am willing to sacrifice that right now so that I can do it next year. I can still go to my group but I wanted to be active in the school and I still do. But there are things you have to be willing to put on hold to do what is right. I will probably have to wait until break to volunteer for the organization medwiser but I know that once I do I will have a great feeling that will make it worth the wait. I know that everyone needs to make priorites and that its important to do what you love, but there is a right time for everything and maybe now just isnt the right time.

"I want some happily ever after to happen to me"- Happily Ever After, Once Upon a Mattress

P.S Please 1. Nominate me for student advocate of the year on GLSEN
2. sponsor me for the NYC AIDS walk

Why do i never post???

Ok things that have happened while I have been gone
1. Prop 8, Courage Campaign
2. Student Senate meeting, speech should focus on me not on general LGBT stuff, I think other way around, told teacher, teacher helping me write speech
3. MLK organizing week, Bayard Rustin was MLK's friend who was openly gay and a civil rights activist. MLK had a dream that all people would be viewed as equal, even gay people.
4. went back to Live Out Loud this week and it was great. Gatherings 3rd wendsday of the month (next month feb 24) @ NYC Museum School
5. My schools first GSA meeting happened this week
6. No Name Calling Week is next week and my two freinds are organizing it. should get interesting.
7. My podcast is now on itunes and on blip.tv my username is lgbtadvocate for both.
writing some memoir this weekend.

Love Ya

"Never thought that it'd be easy cuz were o so distant now, and the walls are closing in on us and were wondering how, no one has a solid answer when your walking in the dark and you see the look on my face it just tears me apart"- Down to Earth, Justin Beiber (yes hes annoying and sounds like a girl and yes sometimes i feel like i want to rip out his vocal chords (just kidding) but he has great lyrics in some of his songs and I really want to tell him my story. Some day, some day.)

Hey Everyone

  Hi I'm Emmy, and this is my blog. Its a supplement, a helper if you will to my podcast that you can find at the top of this page, here: http://lgbtadvocate.blip.tv/rss and soon on itunes. I know that reading this might not be that exciting at times but i really need help with this fight. That's right, I called it a fight. But it is. It's a fight to make my school the first Jewish school in NYC to gain a GSA. I need to make things right for me as the first openly gay person and for all the kids who have yet to come out but will. There needs to be a support system at my school. People need to see who I am and why I matter. Where is the goodness that the Jewish community always promises? The people are not living up to what they promised me at the tours of the school. It's a shame what people will do to you sometimes. I'm not saying the faculty and students dont care they just have other, more important things on their mind. That reminds me of a rent song i used to listen to called "You'll See" (BTW rent is a musical that has alot to do with gay rights + it's my fave musical) and they will see that this year, it will be a transformative year for our school and for many other schools across the country. Please Join me any way you can. I go to meetings monthy with an organization called live out loud (liveoutloud.org)  and i volenteer with the GLSEN (glsen.org) alot. Please help me in this battle within my community.

Thanks

"I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting and I've seen their mothers and I have no other to follow me where I'm going"