Traversing Gender, Chain Bondage, and Negotiations

Hello beautiful beings,

My heart has been shaking as of late as I watch the truly toxic legislations and attempts at legislation against transgender people and transgender children specifically. There are a lot of people I know out there who do not understand that, as a recent meme I saw said, transgender people are not trying to turn cisgender children into trans children. We are trying to help transgender children become adults. The sheer number of trans youth who try to commit suicide because of not being supported is staggering, and having the very states and countries in which you live devalue your humanity is heartbreaking. 

If you want to specifically learn to help trans kids on a deep level, I encourage you check out the training the folks at Maybright are doing on April 5th called "Protect Trans Kids." I am also offering a class for folks whose play partners are trans or gender diverse called "(Re)Thinking Gender: Trans* Awareness and Playing With Trans* Folks" on March 31st (which is also Trans Day of Visibility).

If these discussions on transgender issues are new to you, I would love to offer you a few resources that will allow you to read about or hear about some of my experiences with being a transgender person.

• You can start here with my Transgender Primer where I break down material into simple language for you, your family, or friends. Feel free to share away.
• Next you can check out this podcast I did with BiCurean, "Transversing Gender in Quarantine" where we explored the experience of folks who, during the past 2 years, have had new space or more space to explore their gender in ways they might not have had otherwise.
• I also have two podcasts I appeared on with Kinky Cocktail Hour: "The Trans Experience and Tarot for Kinksters" and "Passion and Soul," which are both entertaining and spaces where we bit off some heavy topics as well.
• Finally, I made a website full of specific resources, so if you have, for example, a partner who is transitioning, if you are a health care provider, if you are looking for support for trans folks in the military, if you are looking for kids books on the topic, and much more... I break down some resources I have over here on TraversingGender.com.

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you can receive a discount for one of my books. This month, subscribers to my newsletter and Patreon received a discount for my book "Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Realities." Written for about a 10th grade audience, it includes: Understanding the terms “trans” and “transgender," looking at the differences (and crossovers) between sex, gender, and orientation, and exploring the wide array and types of trans experiences worldwide. From there it navigates medical care, from the common cold to gender-specific procedures, what “transitioning” can look like, from a variety of different approaches, how legal systems interplay with gender and trans issues, and extra challenges based on gender, race, class, age and disability. There is a chapter on sexual experience for trans people, tools for social networking and emotional support systems for trans people, and also skills and information on being a successful trans ally!

It is available as a print book, signed book, or PDF. It is also available in the .mobi (Kindle) and .epub formats. Check it out from me today, support your local bookstore by purchasing from them directly (or requesting it at your local library). I am also doing a project for schools, colleges, non-profits, libraries, and/or businesses who are doing trainings on trans issues. I am offering these books by the case for the cost of shipping. If you have a group who would be interested, reach out to me.

Meanwhile...

In the past 6 weeks over on Patreon, I have had a chance to connect with my Patrons regularly though:

• Approaches to Oral Sex Class – Live and Recording
• Sir! Yes Sir! Class – Live and Recording
• Mental Health Tarot Spreads
• Notes from my presentation, "Naming the Shadows: Bullying, Abuse, and Harm in Metamour Relationships"
• The Essay, “In a Sex Positive World, Sex Can be for Spiritual Growth”
• The teaching story, "The Pegasus and the Centaur" 

I also have other classes and events coming in the next few months! I will be teaching about service, rituals, and more. You can see a few of my upcoming offerings below, and you can visit my Upcoming Appearances page to learn about the rest of my future offerings in the spring and beyond. 

• March 25-27, 2002 – Teaching “Negotiating Well With Others… and Yourself” and “Disability and Kink” – Left Side of the Slash Conference – Denver, CO
• March 30, 2022 – Facilitating a free class on "The Art of Chain Bondage" with Fischer Garrett and Cecilia T. Winters as part of the fundraiser for “The Art of Chain: A Guide to Steel Restraint” – PassionAndSoul Classes – Online Worldwide
• March 31, 2022 – Teaching “(Re)Thinking Gender: Trans Awareness and Playing with Trans People” – Wicked Grounds – Online Worldwide
• April 15-17, 2022 – Teaching “Authentically Kinky,” “(Re)Thinking Gender: Trans* Awareness and Playing with Trans* Folk,” “Sacred Kink,” and “Sexy Safer Sex” – Leather Pride in Texas – Austin, TX
• April 24, 2022 – Teaching “Woof, Whinney, Meow: Introduction to Animal Roleplaying” – Passional Online – Online Worldwide
• May 12-15, 2022 – Learning With Passion weekend featuring a variety of classes – The Academy – Cleveland, Ohio
• ... and more coming in May and beyond, as well as more to be announced soon!

To check out all my further scheduled classes and intensives, visit my Upcoming Appearances page to learn more. To enjoy further free material from me, consider joining me on Patreon where I share weekly resources, monthly classes, and more :)
 
Much love to you all and see you soon!
 
Yours in Passion and Soul,
Lee Harrington