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Community Events
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LA PRIDE FESTIVAL
When: Saturday June 13 from 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight Sunday June 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Where: San Vicente between Santa Monica and Melrose.
All are invited to come out and show their Pride as Christopher Street West launches their latest three-year vision - "PRIDE 365: Power. Passion. Purpose."
Thousands of festival attendees are expected in the heart of West
Hollywood to revel amongst world-class headlining entertainment.
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The Center OC is moving June 7th. New address : 1605 N. Spurgeon St. Santa Ana, CA 92701 New phone: (714) 953-LGBT (5428)
Staff
requests that you not visit until their move is complete (unless you
are currently signed up as a volunteer). For more info: The Center OC
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National News
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President Obama proclaims June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month
Earlier this month, President Barack Obama signed a Proclamation designating June as LGBT Pride month. "I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists."
(signed June 1, 2009). To read the White House Press Release, click here.
_________________________ Advertisers Pull from KRXQ after GLAAD Call to Action on Anti- Transgender Program
GLAAD contacted KRXQ after a concerned listener completed a GLAAD incident report following dehumanizing remarks that hosts Rob Williams and Arnie States made encouraging violence against transgender children. When the station failed to apologize, GLAAD issued a Call to Action on June 2 that urged constituents to call on KRXQ and hold Williams and States accountable for their remarks. GLAAD also distributed the Call to Action to LGBT advocacy organizations, social networking sites and media outlets.Read the full article here.
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Greetings!
Welcome to the June 2009
edition of Pathways. This month's main article is focused on inner beauty and self-discovery. I hope you
will find it both informing and inspiring.
As the days lengthen and you enjoy the warmth of
summer, I hope that you will take time to rest and replenish your energy and
your passion. When I return from vacation, I will have some openings for new
clients. If you are interested in how therapy can help you along your journey,
please contact me for a consultation.
Warmly, Lisa Maurel, MFT Lic. 32416
"People are like stained glass windows -- the true beauty can be seen only when there is light from within. The darker the night, the brighter the windows"
- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross |
Beauty Is In the Eye of the Beholder
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The question of beauty is a focal point for many of us during the
awkward phase of adolescence. Remember what that was like? Did the mirror mock
you or did you like what you saw? Did you magnify your flaws and overlook your
strengths. This was a struggle to define yourself, to fit in. It's tough enough
the first time around, but for people who live in two genders within their
lives, a second adolescence is often part of the coming out process. It is a
time of exploration, change, experimenting with looks and yes, the old
insecurities that accompany adolescence. Am I pretty enough? Will I have enough
facial hair? Are my shoulders to broad? Too narrow?
This isn't unique however to transgendered people. Its everywhere
in our culture-especially here in Newport Beach. There are no letter requirements for the
parade of patients seeking breast enhancement and facelifts here in Newport
Beach-as long as they are biologically female and further enhancing the image
of the feminine.
Perhaps there should be. These surgeries are often sought as a
means of repairing what is within- a deep sense of inadequacy and self judgment
that one hopes to repair surgically. But
external modifications won't heal wounds of the heart.
There is a kind of woundedness that cannot be repaired through
the physical alteration of one's body. Whether it is bio-female seeking a
better body, or a trans-woman seeking a more feminine appearance that will help
her pass. These modifications will alter our physical appearance and perhaps
even provide some emotional relief. But it will be short lived when the roots
of our shame based self image regenerate in the familiar sound of our critical
inner voice and the feeling of shame.
Real beauty lies within us. Often, we must work to remove the
lies, judgment and false notions of beauty in order to discover our real worth.
For the gender gifted person, additional messages about "passing" and our
cultural narratives about beauty and gender have to be negotiated. But as human
beings, our growth calls us to expand our ideas of beauty beyond the physical,
the temporal, and even beyond, gender. The more open we are to many forms of
beauty and expression, the more compassionate we can be to ourselves. This
allows us to grow into a space of real joy and appreciation for life as beauty
and youth always fade.
All of us experience our own way of being male, female,
masculine, feminine, androgynous and in between. One exercise I often give my
clients who worry about whether they "pass" is to go to a busy, open spot like
the mall or an airport and watch people. What they observe is the stunning
diversity and non-uniformity of gender expression and beauty. And it gives them
more room.
All of us express out unique personhood in ways that transcend
our physical appearance. When we seek to address our inner wounding only
through physical modifications, we are unable to heal.
A significant portion of
the work that my clients in transition are doing is around the wounding they
received in childhood and their adulthood-deciphering the messages of shame and
wounding from the truth of who they are at their deepest level. This work is an essential part of transitioning in a way that
facilitates a new life in a new gender expression that is rooted in freedom and
love rather than fear and shame.What's striking to me is that the physical changes I
witness are no more striking than the inward changes of person through this
process. And I'm always honored to share in the emergence of the strong and
beautiful person within. |
On vacation...
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Pathways will be on "vacation" for July, but will return with a new issue in August. |
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Peace on your journey, Lisa
Lisa Maurel, MFT
� 2009 Lisa Maurel, MFT, Lic. 32416 - All rights reserved.
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