The Cutting Edge- Oct. 23, 2013



Barbara F. Anderson, Ph.D., LCSW

 

October 1, 2013 was the starting date for a “ground-breaking new federal law protecting transgender and gender-non-conforming people” according to FORGE’s online article, “Transgender and LGB Survivors of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Now Have New Protections.”  (Sept. 30, 2013)  The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was recently re-authorized and now it explicitly prohibits VAWA-funded agencies from discriminating against survivors based on gender identity.  FORGE has announced a 3-year continuation of a grant of $350,000 to address the implications and implementation of the new legal requirements.

 

In an online article, “Was Legendary Stagecoach Driver Charlie Parkhurst Gay or Trans?” the Advocate (Mar. 8, 2013) reviews Karen Kondazian’s novel, “The Whip.”  It is based on the life of the famous 19^th century Wells Fargo stagecoach driver who was found to be a woman upon burial in Watsonville, CA.  S/he was in fact Charlotte, a lively and determined woman who elected to live much of her life as a man.  The review describes the book as a “gripping page-turner [that] explores themes of self-identity, forgiveness, and survival, and captivates the reader from multiple perspectives.”

 

"Trans Bodies, Trans Selves" is a resource guide written by and for trans communities, covering health, legal issues, history, art & literature, relationships and more.  It will be published by the Oxford University Press in Spring 2014.  To order: www. indiegogo.com/projects/trans-bodies-selves-book-launch/x/780780.