Trans* Success

This is a study being run by a trans man getting his Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He is doing this study to contribute to developing an awareness in therapists and doctors about how to work competently with trans* clients. He is also committed to helping others in the healthcare profession understand the diversity in trans* identity development, ensuring that people of all identities and transition (or not) statuses are heard and validated.

He also plans to, once he gets his degree, gear his therapy practice toward working with gender and sexual minority clients!

Participate!

Hey everyone. My name is Jack and I am a senior at Montserrat College of Art. I’d like to invite everyone in the Boston area to come to my gallery group show, Some Things Take Time.

I am a photographer, videographer and sound artist whose work is consistently presented in a provocative manner and engages the viewer to participate. My thesis work is a multimedia instillation that explores gender issues through a series of personal artworks, conveying the life of someone who is transgender.

Some Things Take Time is the senior thesis exhibition of seven Montserrat College of Art graduating students. It features the work of artists Jon Bolles, Brittany Carr, Hannah Imbesi, Jack Moffitt, Elizabeth O’Toole, Tamara Trudeau and Amanda Woronecki.

Where:
301 Gallery
301 Cabot Street
Beverly, MA 01915

Exhibit Dates:
March 26, 2012 – March 30, 2012

Artist Reception: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 5-8pm (Refreshments will be served)

Gallery hours: Monday through Friday 10am-2pm

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Facebook event page.

Hope to see you there!

Jason Robert Ballard is a 24 year old from all over New York State. He first discovered his need to present male when he was 13 in a chat room. At age 17, he came out to his mother and then soon the rest of his family and for his 18th birthday received new pronouns and cards directed at male genders. He’s currently been on testosterone therapy for 3 years and underwent male chest reconstruction Fall ‘10 with Dr Kevin MaGuire of Cooperstown, NY. He has gained experience speaking through being out and open about being transgender. Having opportunities to put a friendly face to the cause where ever he goes and the conversation happens to come up. Whether it’s in front of 100+ people at a panel, or privately to a co-worker, sharing his experiences with the world has started to come naturally. 

As co-founder of a quickly growing resource for the Trans* community, The Self Made Men - Jason spends almost all of his time taking baby steps toward goals of wide spread public education and Trans* awareness. Uniting resources, advertising for funds toward future engagements and speaking at transgender panels, lectures and class room discussions. 

Jason has attended a few different colleges, landing finally on Nazareth in Rochester, NY. He is an advertising major, focusing on brand identity and public relations and therefore is in charge of the look and feel of The Self Made Men as well as the website and advertising. The Self Made Men actually started as a graphic design assignment meant to educate his classmates. When the professor said “design a logo and brand for your company and run with it…” even she herself says she never dreamed he’d have taken it this seriously, and this far. The Self Made Men became more than just a brand or logo. With over 700 people using it’s new pen pal system, about 250 daily views and an ever growing list of transgender links and resources, he definitely received an A on that assignment.  

Jason goals are to finish his degree in advertising and one day take The Self Made Men to a point where it can pay it’s employees. A solid, building location full of local resources and the ability to open smaller chapters around the world. The staff as a whole believes that their first goal is toward public education, and that sales and traffic and being widely known will all follow that as long as they continue to do what they do with all of their heart.

Charley Wilson, better known as “Little Britches’”, born in 1834 in Britain, was a cattle thief from the Indian Nation of Oklahoma.  He was seeing a woman called Cattle Annie, who was also his “partner in crime”, and the pair were known to be closely associated with the Wild Bunch (aka: The Doolin-Dalton gang).  The Wild Bunch were a gang of outlaws in the 1890s.  They robbed banks and stores, held up trains and killed lawmen.  They were also known as the Oklahoma Long Riders for the long dusters they wore.

Charley was suspected of foiling the lawmen’s attempts to capture the Wild Bunch by warning the gang when they were in the area.  Very little is known about this historical gunfighter and cattle thief except that he lived as a man for over 40 years till he had to move into a facility for the elderly at age 63, where authorities forced him to dress as a woman.  Charley is listed as “one of the most famous female outlaws ever to strap on a six gun” despite his masculine dress and choice of male name.  We can only guess as to his gender identity being male.

The Self Made Men is an online resource that believes in promoting transgender equality through public education. The staff travel all over doing interviews, speaking at panels and teaching classes and lectures. On the internet, TheSelfMadeMen.com is home of countless resources including; The Big Brother Program, where tips and tricks to transitioning are shared from transmen to transmen. The pen pal system titled Me Too!  which matches up guys all over the world to build community and give them an outlet for trans topics and concerns. A news center, FAQ, photo gallery and actively updated blog. The site is also home to over 80 links of resources for the trans community, making it the largest source for trans information on the web.

Their online store is packed full of trans pride items such as buttons, stickers, Tshirts and support bracelets as well as a full color 2012 calendar. The calendar is designed based on submissions every Sept, and features twelve transguys before and after pictures, a bio and a motivational quote or message in hopes of helping others get through rough points in their own transition.  

The Self Made Men was founded by Jason Robert Ballard and Noah Michael in 2010 but has since expanded to having staff members, representatives in other states and countries, and volunteers. Upcoming additions include: The Closet, a clothing exchange program, Noah It All - a guide to basic ‘guy’ knowledge and The Gentleman Primer, a sub-site about the ftm gentleman and situational advice. 

Visit TheSelfMadeMen.com for more information.