Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2016/06/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks Douglas and George. Definitely one of those "photography with meaning" project for me. On Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 11:28 AM, George Lottermoser < george.imagist at icloud.com> wrote: > > > On May 21, 2016, at 5:59 PM, Richard Man <richard at richardmanphoto.com> > wrote: > > > > http://richardmanphoto.com/PICS/20160521-Scanned-1562.jpg > > > > By the time I was four I knew I was not a girl, but back then, there was > no > > option to do anything about it. I thought puberty would fix everything, > but > > then I started having periods. I don't remember anything at all about my > > 7th grade year because I was completely dissociated. When I came back to > > reality, I resigned myself to being a girl and completely buries any > memory > > of my true male self. Over the years, I had a few lesbian lovers, but I > > always told them that ?I am not a lesbian?, which, understandably, > confused > > the heck out of them. > > > > 2 years prior to my transition, I saw this painting called "Mermaid > > Metamorphosis" by Sheila Wolk in a print store in Vancouver. For some > > reason, I just *had* to have it. During my years in psychotherapy, I > had a > > very important dream, I walked up a hill to a mausoleum, and inside was a > > slab of stone. Lying on the stone was a four year boy, pale, naked and > > lying very still, He had no genitals whatsoever. Then he said, with his > > eyes still closed, ?Don't kiss my sex?. In fairy tales, you kiss the > > princess to wake her up. So here, ?do not kiss my sex? meant that I must > > not wake up my male self and sexuality. The next morning, I knew exactly > > what the dream meant. I went to my therapist and told her that I had to > > transition. And after answering some searching questions from her, she > gave > > me her blessing -- which was a requirement for transition at that time. > > > > Reactions to my decision were almost universally greeted with support, if > > not outright enthusiasm. My beloved stepmom said, "That's great! I've > > always wanted a son!" My partner, Cynthia McQuillin, said, "Oh, good!, I > > finally get to meet the man I fell in love with". > > > > I see myself as a twin, Jane and James, joined at birth, and separated > when > > I was 56. > > > > -- Dr. James Robinson, PhD in Biology with a particular love for > > Paleontology > > > > "Hearts On Our Sleeves: Portraits and Stories of Transgender+? > > powerful ?words and pictures? beginning > to a ?right now? timely project > > Regards, > George Lottermoser > > http://www.imagist.com > http://www.imagist.com/blog > http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com> // On Facebook: http://facebook.com/richardmanphoto // On Instagram: https://instagram.com/richardmanphoto