Two things we’re known for covering here on Left In SF are slash fiction and San Francisco politics.

But we have to give props to SFist for their brilliant melding of the two with their Chris/Gavin slash post from yesterday.

“Chris,” Gavin rasped. “Chris. I can’t believe it’s been two years since we’ve talked. I miss you. I miss your big strong arms holding me.”

About a month ago, my friend, Sandi Chin-Mar asked me to help on McCoppin Elementary School’s Read Out Loud Day. And I agreed-with one caveat-that I got to be one of the readers!

So yesterday, we had eight people read to the 22 classrooms at McCoppin (a public school in the Innter Richmond)-and every classroom got at least two readers.

It was an eventful day for McCoppin. The first and second graders (along with a handful of third graders) performed three performances about the music and folklore of Japan. A retired McCoppin teacher, Mrs. Shinn had made all of the costumes (and they were very elaborate and adorable), was the accompanist and was the director.

1) People who think there are two kinds of people.
2) The other kind.

- writer/director Duncan Tucker of TransAmerica

You can probably guess which kind of people I really like. It takes a while to figure out. Anyway, I came across this website and there is a great brief trans lexicon from the director that you might enjoy.

Here are a few of my favorites:
Trannie: A word best used only if you are one.
Passing: What happens when others take you for what you truly are.
Being read: What happens when they do not.
Transsensual: Sexual attraction to transpeople.
Monthly nosebleeds: vicarious menstruation.
Baldness: a genetic defect that can sometimes be corrected with estrogen therapy.
Baldness: a genetic gift that can sometimes be acquired with testosterone therapy.

Okay, I admit like I feel like this movie is being talked to death, and I admit I’m not the best person to ask this question, but why is Brokeback Mountain considered a chick flick? Today’s Chron has a commentary from a straight woman arguing that the reason husbands don’t want to see Brokeback Mountain is because it is a chick flick, not because they are homophobic. Well, assuming that is true, which I don’t, why is it a chick flick? I mean, come on, the two main women characters are on the receiving end of an affair. Some are arguing that it is like slash and women are projecting themselves into one of the male roles. Of course, I’m not even totally sure I understand what a chick flick is per se…

This just in from my friends at the Transgender Law Center…I never post press releases but I couldn’t agree more with Chris and Cecilia and wanted to share their comments with you all. It is incredibly exciting that a mainstream movie portrayed a trans woman without sensationalizing her. I also want to commend Felicity Huffman for being such an amazing ally to trans folks.

TLC APPLAUDS HUFFMAN’S GOLDEN GLOBE RECOGNITION

Felicity Huffman’s Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of transgender woman in TransAmerica groundbreaking

Hurray! Felicity Huffman rocks the house.

An emotional “Desperate Housewives” star FELICITY HUFFMAN earned the Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama award for her courageous turn as a transsexual in ‘Transamerica.’ The actress saluted the transgender men and women “who brave ostracism … and live on the margins,” and announced, “The second time I didn’t work for a year, I gave up any dream that looked like this.”

Leslie Feinburg

Transgender Heroes

I’ve mentioned a couple of my transgender heroes, Cecilia Chung and Theresa Sparks, but it should come as no surprise that Leslie Feinburg is one of my heroes. Leslie is a transgender pioneer, a labor activist, an anti-war activist, and a radical on economic, social and civil justice issues.

Leslie has written several books, including Stone Butch Blues, a book that rocked the LGBT world in the early 90s and certainly rocked mine. Some have suggested that it is semi-autobiographical. Maybe.

So it had to happen. Someone had to say it. In today’s NY Times, yes, I know. Anyway, in today’s NY Times, a contributor writes about his fear of Brokeback Mountain, his fear of being gay.

I have to admit, he made me laugh. I don’t know if he sent it around to all his gay friends or not to do a PC check and I’m sure I should be offended, but I wasn’t. Sigh.

But it did make me wonder how made het folks out there had a moment or two when they watched it. I mean if manly men like these two cowboys can be gay, then what’s next? A Queer Planet?

Remember to celebrate our victories, strengths and our imperfections and have a great year.

Love, Robert

Unsung Heroes
A partial and imperfect list of organizations and people that did great stuff this year and are some of my unsung heroes…

Over and over again, people in San Francisco step up to the plate and do great things. And as most know, since no good deed goes unpunished, they usually don’t get much in return…There are so many people and so many organizations that did great things over the last year that to highlight some does an injustice to the work done by others, but I still want to give a shout out to some amazing folks.

Like many San Franciscans, I’ve learned that there are people who are turned on by all sorts of stuff, and that just because I find it unappealing, or even repulsive, doesn’t make it any less legitimate as a source of pleasure. And I expect the same respect from other people.

I have to say I’ve hit my limit. There are some things that are just too disgusting to even contemplate.