Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia: Transphobia

Thank You for joining us for our 2^nd Annual Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia post in honor of International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.  And thank you to the amazing Authors: Theo Fenraven, Aleksandr Voinov, and Vicktor Alexander who have so very kindly donated to our giveaway that will be running until May 27^th.

They say that ONE Transgender person is murdered every three days around the world. This doesn’t include deaths by suicide or accidents.

One informal study suggests that 50% of transgender people have attempted suicide at least once by age 20. Current suicide rates are estimated by some to be between 31% and 50%, but others believe that it is closer to 60-70%. These statistics are terrifying to me.

http://www.lauras-playground.com/transgender_suicide_report.htm

I have a few transgender friends. I have found them to be some of the strongest, beautiful, most amazing individuals that I have been BLESSED to meet. And I don’t understand “transphobia”.

Transphobia….

I really, really hate using the word PHOBIA.. It implies that someone FEARS Trans people. Maybe on some level they do, but I think it is more that they HATE what they don’t understand, or challenge their “traditional” beliefs.. But remember that at one time people were taught “traditionally” that the world was flat. We evolve and change, that is one of the most amazing things about human beings.

Imagine, you wake up as the opposite gender, and you KNOW that you don’t belong in the body you are in, but it’s too crazy for someone to believe you. 

Now, imagine being BORN that way. And maybe when you are little and gender roles aren’t as big of a deal then it doesn’t matter, but then puberty hits. You wake up in a body EVERY SINGLE DAY that you feel is betraying you. You feel wrong, and uncomfortable. You KNOW that you and your body are at odds. You know it’s not a phase or something you are going “grow out” of. You are really in the wrong body.

You are an adult, and you’ve taken steps to maybe look or feel more at peace with yourself. Maybe you “pass” or maybe you don’t. You fear that you may lose your job, or your home. You have no real protections under the law. Of course with the work of many organizations, that is changing, slowly but surely, however, it’s not enough.

I want to talk for a moment about GENDER VS SEXUALITY.

Gender is whether you feel that you are Male, Female (or possibly in between or neither)

Sexuality is who you are attracted to.

So it’s possible to be born with a penis, Identify as female and be attracted to women.

Or be born with a vagina, identify as male and be attracted to men.

Gender and sexuality are not the same at all. Sexuality and gender can be combined in a myriad of combinations, and at the end of the day it SHOULD NOT MATTER.

We need to get better about speaking up and speaking out on behalf of our Transgender members of the LGBT community. The suicide statistics I talked about earlier SHOULD be chilling. Some of the people to attempt suicide were as young as 7 years old. I am the mother of a 7 year old, and the thought TERRIFIES me.

What would I do if my child told me they were really the opposite gender? LOVE THEM, attempt to find a gender therapist and ensure that they were given every opportunity within my means to live a happy and whole life, because that is what EVERY child deserves.

I don’t allow my friends to use derogatory terms regarding Gay people, Trans people, or ANY people. All of us are beautiful. Fat, skinny, tall, short, scarred or “perfect”. You are beautiful. You deserve to have a wonderful life.

Kindness costs us NOTHING, and in fact it garners a pretty amazing return. When we are kind, that kindness tends to be revisited upon us.

So keep your chins up, and look forward, not behind you, and if you ever need an ally or a friend, please know that my facebook/email is always open.

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Transgression by Theo Fenraven ~Reviewed by Jodi

 

Title: Transgression

Author: Theo Fenraven

Publisher: Voodoo Lily Press

Rated:  4.5/5 Hearts (rounded up to 5) 

The Blurb:

Zachary Fox can’t sleep. 

His acting career is taking off. Public recognition is picking up. Now more than ever, he understands how key reputation is to his success. But his relationship with his co-star, Kris—arranged around publicity rather than genuine feelings—is suffocating him. She once understood his needs, but her demands are beginning to grate with every shrill order she gives. 

Zach has a secret. The breakout star of a new medical series, he’s been hiding his orientation from co-stars, friends and family, the studio, and his fans. 

On the recommendation of a friend, Zach seeks out Sky Kelly, a well-connected herbalist whose concoctions are natural magic, as is her stunning beauty. On the surface, she has it all: her own house, a thriving business, and good friends, but the things she had to do to get there are a time bomb ticking away, and when it goes off, she'll be teetering on the edge of a chasm that can put her right back where she started. 

Sky has secrets. Like, she’s got a Y chromosome and the original equipment to go with it. Like being a highly paid escort. Like, if Zach is seen with her in public, it could ruin his career. Like someone becoming so obsessed with Sky, that obsession threatens them both. 

Secrets... everyone is hiding something, and instead of finding The One, it could be The End. 

Review:

To violate a law. To violate a command. To violate a moral code. To offend. To sin. To transgress.

After reading the blurb for Transgression, I was intrigued by the premise of the book, although it is not a genre of romance that typically interests me. However, once I started reading, thinking about categories and genres was no longer important. Theo Fenraven is a masterful wordsmith and storyteller. He had me hooked in the first chapter of the book.

To say Transgression is a love story would be remiss. Ultimately this is a tale of love, courage and acceptance. Although it is a HEA romance, the book is wrought with fear, hate, loneliness and tragedy. To the public, the characters in this book seem self-assured and confident, but behind the facades, they are scared, lonely, distrustful and self-loathing. Within the pages of Transgression, Fenraven takes on a rather lofty goal of depicting transphobia, homophobia and egomania and their deleterious consequences.

Fenraven’s ability to draw the reader into this tale teeming with deceptions and self-loathing is impressive. Both Sky and Zach are endearing characters, and although not all of the minor characters in the book are fully developed, it is the appearance of those characters that gives depth to Sky and Zach. When Zach’s best friend, Ricky declares “I can keep secrets … Everyone has secrets, right,” it is obvious that the minor characters will be vital in the story.

Sky is an awesome character. There are several passages that embed the reader in Sky’s world. Without giving too much of her character away, there are two passages that stand out:

“The penis: it was the symbol for everything wrong in her life, every door closed in her face, every job she didn’t get, every man who thought her an abomination and every woman who spurned her friendship.”

“It was ridiculous to think she could live anything like a normal life with someone. But she didn’t want to let go of the dream. Without it, what did she have?”

            The weakest point of this book would be that some of the points and minor characters need more development. There are a lot of themes and characters for such a short book. Although I loved Zach and his easy acceptance of Sky, some areas of the story would be stronger with more development. That being said, Fenraven does not stray from realism in this novel.  Zach has spent a lifetime hiding who he is, and when the truth comes out, the results are not pretty.

As a devout fan of m/m romance, reading about trans* people is not my usually book of choice. After all, Sky, although physically and genetically male, is indeed a woman. But the complexity of the character roles and their inner turmoil is what makes this a great read. Fenraven had me smiling as well as crying at points in this book. I highly recommend it.

 

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Review: A Silence Kept (A Ghost Story) by Theo Fenraven

Title: A Silence Kept (A Ghost Story) 
Author: Theo Fenraven
Publisher: Voodoo Lily Press
Rating: 4/5 Hearts

Blurb: 

Manhattan-based Mikal Gray rents a summer getaway and discovers there's already someone in residence: a very persistent ghost. His friend, Alice, sends help in the form of a sexy ghost hunter named Seth. Together, they unravel the mystery behind the haunting and discover the heart always searches for what it needs...and often finds it.



Review:

Theo Fenraven brings us a very short story that packs a punch. Mikal is broken hearted and decides to rent a country home that is reputedly haunted. He doesn't care and takes the rental regardless. After finding that the rumours are true Mikal calls in a ghost hunter to rid him of his persistent guest. In their quest to help the ghost, the also discover feelings for each other.

All in all, I loved this story. It was very moving and it kept me glued to the page. My complaint is, as always, with Mr. Fenraven, that it simply wasn't long enough. More, More, More! Honestly though, this is one of my favorite Fenraven stories.

So if you like m/m with a ghost thrown in, this story is for you.


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Review: The Lightning Struck Tower (Precog in Peril 3) by Theo Fenraven

Title: The Lightning Struck Tower (Precog in Peril: Book 3)
Author: Theo Fenraven
Publisher: Voodoo Lily Press
Rated: 4.5/5

Blurb: Gray Vecello and Cooper Key are back in the last book in the Precog in Peril series. Snatched by PsiOps, a covert arm of the government, they’re offered training in exchange for their psionic help. Will they take the deal, and if they don’t, what will PsiOps do to them?

Gray and Cooper meet new friends and enemies in this final chapter of the trilogy. The story takes the reader from New York City to Ely, Minnesota, and back to Gray and Cooper’s marina in Red Wing, where they will face the ultimate test of their powers. Someone will live… and someone will die.

Review: 

In the conclusion to his Precog in Peril trilogy, author Theo Fenraven takes us right back to Gray and Cooper's world. Lightning Struck Tower picks right up where Knight of Wands left off.  Was the intentions behind Jolly Roger's abduction of them as benevolent as he made it sound? Roger and his government run PsiOps group are eager for Gray and Cooper to join them, Gray in particular.  They never realized the journey that they would be undertaking, or how much Gray's abilities would be put to the test when McCoullough is determined to collect on their business arrangement. Life and death certainly takes on new meaning. 

I love the new characters that were brought in, specifically Wade. One of the things in particular that I love about this series is the fact that the established couple at no point really has relationship issues. They are a couple dealing with the outside pressures together. I can certainly appreciate that they aren't bickering and fighting each other at every turn, although there are some steamy sex scenes. 

I loved a lot of things about this series. Mr. Fenraven is a very talented author, who succeeded in creating an action-filled, suspenseful series that I look forward to reading again and again. I wholeheartedly recommend this short series. Pick up all three though, because reading just one will leave you wanting more. 

If you wish to purchase this series you may do so here:

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Review: Knight of Wands (Precog in Peril #2) by Theo Fenraven

Title: Knight of Wands (Precog in Peril Book 2)
Author: Theo Fenraven 
Published by: Voodoo Lily Press
Rated: 4.5/5 Hearts

Blurb:
Gray Vecello and Cooper Key are back in the exciting sequel to Three of Swords. Graham’s treasure is only the tip of the iceberg as a thief helps himself to a hidden stash of cash, Jolly Roger makes another appearance, and the guys finally meet others with special abilities when an emergency meeting of the group is called.

Accompanying them on this new adventure is Gray’s cousin, Harper, who’s having problems of her own. Peace and quiet will have to wait as they take another trip downriver on their houseboat, The Constant Companion, before flying to New York City to beard a lion in his den and unexpectedly meet the SOS

Review: 

In this follow up to Three of Swords, Theo takes us back into Grey and Cooper's world. I love the development of the relationship between the two characters. They are really building a solid bond between the as the story goes on. Harper, Grey's cousin, is a fun character, and I hope to see more of her. 

I'm trying to figure out what to say without revealing the plot. (tricksy, Mr. Fenraven) Even though Grey and Cooper eliminated the first round of obstacles, there are more yet to come. Let's see there was a priceless inheritance left to Grey by his grandfather, a thief sent by a powerful man, & an ally who turns to foe. 

Mysterious enough for you? I really liked it, and I sped through the book pretty quickly.. But Cliffhanger! I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers, especially when I'm going to have to wait for the next book to come out. 

These characters are well fleshed out, and the mysteries keep you guessing. I enjoyed this book more than the last one simply because I'd already fallen in love with the characters. If you like paranormal and mystery, do yourself a favor and pick up Three of Swords and Knight of Wands. The third book in the trilogy is scheduled to release in January, so you won't have to hang onto that cliff for too long. 

You can purchase the book from:

 Amazon
Smashwords
All Romance Ebooks.

You can find out more about Theo from his 

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Twitter: @fenraven

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Review: Three of Swords by Theo Fenraven

TITLE: Three of Swords

AUTHOR: Theo Fenraven

PUBLISHER: Voodoo Lily Press

RATED: 4.5/5 Hearts

Blurb: 

An old houseboat, a hot young guy, a couple of murders, and more mysterious keys than you can shake a stick at: this is what awaits Gray Vecello after his grandfather, Graham, is killed picking up high blood pressure pills.

A letter Graham left behind sends Gray and his unexpected ally, Cooper Key, on a journey downriver in an attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding an unknown treasure. On the way, they encounter both friends and enemies, one of whom will target Gray and Cooper for death. One thing working in Gray’s favor: he has the sight, just as Graham had, but will it be enough to save them both?

First book of the Precog in Peril series. 

REVIEW:

I really enjoyed this book, which kind of surprised me because I tend to be extremely critical of paranormal/magic type books. The reason for this is that I cut my teeth on Anne Rice, Stephen King, Stan Lee, Chris Claremont, George Lucas, Warren Ellis among many many others. Suffice to say I'm picky. Theo Fenraven is a new author to me, and this is the first time I've read any of his work. When he asked me to review, I didn't bother reading the blurb or the excerpt that he sent me. I prefer to jump right in and form my own opinion without any outside influence. To be honest I don't like the blurb, and it is likely that had I read it, it would have lowered my expectations. In other words.. the blurb is NOT the book. 

I love how Gray gets over misconceptions about his grandfather as the story progresses. I love that the character took a chance and stepped out of the box, although I do believe that perhaps the characters believed a little to easily, but then there was a lot flying at them. My favorite was the poise of the character, Cooper. For his young age, he seemed more world wise than Gray. I also liked the fact that the author brought a little bit of awareness to adult illiteracy. 

I have no major complaints about this book. Minor things that are personal preference, but really in no way reflects upon the author. I'm not a huge fan of first person, but it was really well written. This was a unique story, in that I've never read a similar scenario. I really liked that. I also really like the unique setting of the houseboat. It was a great little mystery. :

All in all, I liked the little world that Theo Fenraven created, and I look forward to the second book Knight of Wands which will be coming this holiday season. 

You can purchase Three of Swords at:

Smashwords

or

Amazon