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The monthly e-magazine of the River City Gems
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August 2009
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Join Our List!
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August Events
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Monthly Social - Aug 8
Hawaiian Luau - Aug 22
Drab Gab - Aug 28
For more information, visit our upcoming events page!
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We are pleased to welcome new members Kat, Francie & Rose, and Beth to our River City Gems family!
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Join Us!
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Support the River City Gems by becoming a member today! As a member, you'll be entitled to a $5 discount on the door fee at all Gems events. You'll also receive a membership card, library
privileges, an entry in each month's member drawing, and even a
special card and cupcake in the month of your birthday! Most importantly, your support will enable us to continue serving the
needs of our community through social events, education, and outreach. You can join or renew your membership at any Gems event or online. |
River City Sparkle!
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October 3, 2009
Martinique Ballroom
Red Lion Hotel, Sacramento
6:30 til Midnight
It's back, it's bigger, and it's better than ever! Tickets are on sale now for River City Sparkle 2009, an elegant transgender celebration featuring dinner, professional live entertainment, dancing, and much more.
Visit the NEW River City Sparkle 2009 website for information and to purchase tickets.
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Community Calendar
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Did you know the Diablo Valley Girls are having a BBQ this month? Are you interested in taking a trip to Reno Pride or Humbolt Pride? How about the Sacramento Rainbow Festival? Visit our Community Calendar to get all the dates!
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July Social Draws a Crowd
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45 Enjoy an Evening of Friendship and Fun
It was an evening filled with old friends, new outfits, and smiling faces. For the 45 people who attended the River City Gems monthly social on July 11, there was plenty to smile about.
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Dancing Through My Boundaries by Jennifer
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Several years ago, when I first began to explore the idea of
having a social life as a woman, I was looking for a recreational
activity and found the gay square dance community.
Dancing is a social activity that has been part of human history for
thousands of years. Part of "Celebrating Feminine Expression" is
interacting with other people socially. One venue is dancing in nightclubs
and bars, but that scene is not for everyone.
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May I See Your ID? by Sharon Travers
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How I Got A Valid California ID With My Femme Photo
I don't have many opportunities to get "femmed up" and go out in
public. When I do, I truly relish them. And not just the time spent
out and about, but, oddly enough, the time I spend planning. I was
never in the Scouts, but I do tend to live by their "Be prepared"
slogan. I'll spend the days leading up to my adventure figuring out
what I'll wear, where I'll go and especially what I need to bring.
Dig through my purse, and you'll understand.
Yet in spite of all my carefully thought out preparations, there is one
thing I have never been able to include: legal ID with a photo of Sharon.
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Tricks of the Trade by Carollyn Olson
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Enhancers, Forms, and More
As girls, we are always trying to look our best, and accenting
our breasts is a major part of our "development." How one does it is
up to the individual, but here's a little help.
Many of us started with socks and birdseed. Well, at least I did. A
pair of white socks was readily available in my dresser drawer and a
pair of 5-ounce baggies of birdseed was cheap. They both served the
purpose, until the day the birdseed bag broke...that's another
story.
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Alice Novic to Speak at River City Sparkle
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We are excited to welcome acclaimed author Alice Novic as our keynote speaker for River City Sparkle 2009.
Alice Novic, M.D. is a practicing psychiatrist and the author of
Alice in Genderland, the first major memoir by a crossdresser.
Alice will speak from her unique perspective as both a mental health
professional and a member of the transgender community who has
struggled for, and found, self-acceptance.
Her powerful message is
one of hope that each of us can find the courage to be who we
truly are and to live a rich, fulfilling, and authentic life.
Watch for a new interview with Alice in the upcoming September issue
of Facets. And don't miss your chance to meet Alice and hear
her speak at River City Sparkle 2009!
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Planned Parenthood Now Offers Trans Healthcare
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 For transgender individuals seeking medical care in Northern California, there is a
new option: Planned Parenthood.
As part of a nationwide initiative, the Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
group (serving 40 counties in mid-California and Northern Nevada) now offers
transgender medical services for patients 18 and older at its B Street and
Fruitridge Health Centers in Sacramento, as well its Fresno and Santa Cruz
locations.
Services provided include primary care, reproductive health care, STD
testing, and hormone prescription and monitoring. Planned Parenthood accepts
most private health insurance and Medi-Cal. Although they do not provide free
hormonal treatment, Planned Parenthood provides a list of low-cost prescription
sources and can provide other health services through the state-funded Family
PACT Program, for those who qualify.
For more information on Planned Parenthood transgender services in the Sacramento area, contact these clinics:
B Street Health Center
201 29th Street, Suite B
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 446-6921
Frutiridge Health Center
5385 Franklin Blvd, Suite A-D
Sacramento, CA 95670
(916) 452-7305
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Pillars Can't Falter by Renee Knipe
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 When a married person transitions, his or her spouse transitions too, and both need support.
In her preamble to this thought-provoking article, blogger Renee Knipe
writes: "Where is the support for our spouses? It's certainly not at
home....it really can't be. Like we've taken to saying around these
parts, you can't be the shelter and the storm. If you could be the
shelter, though, this is what it might look like."
Understand that you are coming from a position of male
privilege.
Until you've transitioned and people see you as a woman, you will always
have that. Just electing to transition can be seen as exercising a
tremendous amount of privilege; not including your wife in the discussion
and just expecting her to eventually "come around" is definitely privileged
behavior. So is making any impactful decision (HRT, ear-piercing, girls'
nights out,
anything that involves an expenditure of money) without involving her.
And finally, one of the more interesting variations of male privilege is how
responsibilities are divvied up in the household; because chores often have
a (wrong-minded) gender bias, if you abruptly take over some of your
spouse's duties (or expect her to to start sharing in the "manly" duties),
you are exhibiting both male dominance and (potentially) consuming a part of
her identity (more about that further down the list).
Be honest about your plans.
If you are going to transition, tell her so. Don't be
wishy-washy or beat around the bush. She needs to know the turn her life
is about to take, and she needs to know now, not later.
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The River City Gems is a nonprofit organization with a mission
to improve the lives of transgender individuals and their
families by providing education, resources, peer support, social
networking opportunities, outreach programs, and services
focused on the specific needs of the male-to-female transgender
community. Contributions are fully tax deductible under section 501(c)(3)
of the IRS code.
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www.rivercitygems.org | info@rivercitygems.org | facets@rivercitygems.org
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