Well… I illustrated one, anyhow 
Philip Patston and Barbara Pike wrote it for the Diversity Works Trust. They’re pretty amazing. You can read more about the book here, and you can order them here too (the books, not Philip and Barbara…) !
So, remember how I am doing movember this year? Well, I got in the paper about it!
Tatoo Tash for Transgender Man
(image by Danielle Street)
A transgender man is taking part in the annual Movember charity challenge despite not being able to grow facial hair – instead he’s using a tattooed moustache.
Sam Orchard, 28, who was born a female and grew up as a girl, came out as a lesbian when still a teenager.
Four years ago he started making the slow and steady metamorphosis into a male.
”It was a gradual shift of asking people to change name for me, and pronouns, and then eventually I started on testosterone last year.”
When the annual Movember event rolled around, Orchard knew he wanted to take part.
The month-long campaign traditionally sees men worldwide growing moustaches in order to raise awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and depression.
But having only recently started on hormone drugs, Orchard is unable to grow a mo.
”As a trans-guy I’ve always wanted facial hair, but haven’t been able to grow it.
”I’ve got a few wispy bits but nothing mo-worthy.”
So Orchard and friend Phlossy Roxx thought outside the box and launched Team Fauxstache.
He has a moustache tattoo on his finger. Orchard said for him participating in Movember is about raising awareness of the different types of men in New Zealand.
”I liked the idea of having a team that celebrated boys and men and masculine people, who may or may not have been born male,” Orchard said.
Orchard said the mental health awareness component of Movember was what truly struck a chord with him.
”I work in mental health and I’m also someone who has suffered from depression. I wanted to put a different sort of face to that to say trans-guys are guys too, and a lot of us suffer from depression due to social exclusion.”
He said that in terms of mental health, the rate of suicide among young homosexual people was incredibly high.
The Youth ’07 report which surveyed secondary schools in New Zealand found that gay teens were five times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers. The results of the next report are due in mid-2013.
”We are way over-represented in mental health services, and that’s not because we are bad at looking after ourselves – it’s to do with discrimination,” he said.
By Danielle Street
Link to the story here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/7987473/Tattoo-tash-for-transgender-man
Sammy J’s News of the Week:
My week has been incredibly boring – apart from my exciting Wednesday morning. Picture this; a bleary eyed Samuel James arises early on a Wednesday morning, his stomach groans and aches. Perhaps the delicious dinner he ate last night was too rich for his digestive system? He races to the toilet and suddenly it’s a massacre – the poo explodes into the bowl and is bright red as it slides down the side of the latrine. More anal bleeding?! Oh no, the colouring is reminiscent of the plate of balsamic beets that he ate the night before. Beetroot poo + Diarrhea = a powerful and messy combination.
Complimentary Tweets of the week:
I have officially made it in the SM scene. (SM = Social Media, obviously, what were you thinking?). The Localist replied to my tweet that I like k’road:
Plus! Original plumbing tweeted me too:
AND I got a recommendation from the lovely queer porn star, Vid Tuesday, and the lovely queer comic star Erika Moen:
Best Review Ever:
I’m so very flattered by this review: http://outontheshelveslibrary.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/trans-webcomics/
Must Read (we)Blog of the week:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dylan Meconis’ “How Not To Write Comics Criticisms”, and the link to this little gem by Alison Bechdel.
Awesome Purchase of the Week:
PORN! Comic Porn!!! I was absolutely horrified when I found out about Smut Peddler after the kickstarter had wrapped up, so I was so excited to find that the e-version has just been released and now I have 342 pages of smut goodness all to myself!! Also, it only cost $15 so I think you should download it immediately. What is better than lady-friendly, sex-positive comic porn?! The fact that it has stuff from Erika Moen, Jess Fink, and EK Weaver
Celebrity Gossip of the Week:
Paris Hilton was caught hating on gay guys in a secret recording. Meanwhile, Rupert Everett was caught hating on gay guys in a media interview (can you be caught doing something that you do in an intentionally public way?).
As an antidote to such horror please watch the Sami Sisters newly released song “Oh Boy”.
Online Campaign of the Week:
Everyone’s favourite ski-masked feminist punk crims, Pussy Riot, have posted a letter to the public thanking the international support that they’ve received subsequent to their arrest in Russia. Thanks to everyone’s favourite human rights organization, amnesty international is letting you write back.
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Exciting Milestone of the week:
I’m not sure if this is a milestone or not, but I spent the whole of Friday with blood coming out my anus. It is the first time that this has happened, so I consider it a milestone.
Also, I received an email in which I was informed of winning One Million Euros!! The email was written in comic sans. Even better!
Cool Project(s) I’ve done in the last week:
The wonderful kids at WaQuY (Waikato Queer Youth, for those not in the know) asked me if I’d be generous enough to send down some of my swag to them to raffle off to fundraise for some more queer and trans resources. Naturally I send them a nice little package. ‘Cause I’m a generous hearted soul.
I recently got accepted into the Comics Issue of New Zealand’s very own Potroast Zine. AND y’all should come along to the launch next WEDNESDAY at 6pm at the Auckland City Library:
Also I drew this! (for this):
Exciting Auckland Event of the Week/Month:
Did you know that it is Auckland Library’s comic book month?!?! How cool is that?! Here is a list of all their awesome events: http://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/RodneyLibraries/Events/EventsCalendar/Pages/ComicBookMonth.aspx
Celebrity Gossip of the week:
I thoroughly enjoyed this article on the slut-shaming of one Kristen Stewart and how boring it is for everyone. It is also a good segue into a gratuitous link of Jodie Foster defending Kristen Stewart (every time I link to Jodie Foster it is gratuitous, btw).
Also, woe upon woe, my favourite teen-comedy star, Amanda Bines, is a little girl lost. It breaks my heart. And so, I will add in a gratuitous image of Feminist-She’s-The-Man-Amanda-Bynes:
PLUS! John Banks lied (shock horror), and Epsom is embarrassed (I know I am), But Key still won’t get rid of him (le sigh).
Also – Paula Bennett should not be intertexually linked to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even if the contents of the opinion piece are good. Buffy is too cool for that shit.
Online Queer Campaign of the Week:
Vote for the Kweenz!!!!! They’re a group of amazing queer and trans/MVPFAFF/awesomeness people who are competing in New Zealand’s Got Talent. Vote for them here: http://abovetherest.tvnz.co.nz/myentry/bee-chan-chui
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