[Leica] IMG: NEW Project: Hearts On Our Sleeves

[Douglas Barry]

Good start to an interesting project, Richard.

Douglas

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Man" <richard at richardmanphoto.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 11:59 PM
Subject: [Leica] IMG: NEW Project: Hearts On Our Sleeves


> http://richardmanphoto.com/PICS/20160521-Scanned-1562.jpg
>
> By the time I was four I knew I was not a girl, but back then, there was 
> no
> option to do anything about it. I thought puberty would fix everything, 
> but
> then I started having periods. I don't remember anything at all about my
> 7th grade year because I was completely dissociated.  When I came back to
> reality, I resigned myself to being a girl and completely buries any 
> memory
> of my true male self.  Over the years, I had a few lesbian lovers, but I
> always told them that “I am not a lesbian”, which, understandably, 
> confused
> the heck out of them.
>
> 2 years prior to my transition, I saw this painting called "Mermaid
> Metamorphosis" by Sheila Wolk in a print store in Vancouver.  For some
> reason, I just *had* to have it.  During my years in psychotherapy, I had 
> a
> very important dream, I walked up a hill to a mausoleum, and inside was a
> slab of stone. Lying on the stone was a four year boy, pale, naked and
> lying very still, He had no genitals whatsoever. Then he said, with his
> eyes still closed, “Don't kiss my sex”. In fairy tales, you kiss the
> princess to wake her up. So here, “do not kiss my sex” meant that I must
> not wake up my male self and sexuality. The next morning, I knew exactly
> what the dream meant. I went to my therapist and told her that I had to
> transition. And after answering some searching questions from her, she 
> gave
> me her blessing -- which was a requirement for transition at that time.
>
> Reactions to my decision were almost universally greeted with support, if
> not outright enthusiasm.  My beloved stepmom said, "That's great!  I've
> always wanted a son!"  My partner, Cynthia McQuillin, said, "Oh, good!, I
> finally get to meet the man I fell in love with".
>
> I see myself as a twin, Jane and James, joined at birth, and separated 
> when
> I was 56.
>
> --  Dr. James Robinson, PhD in Biology with a particular love for
> Paleontology
>
> "Hearts On Our Sleeves: Portraits and Stories of Transgender+"
> -- 
> // richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>
> // On Facebook: http://facebook.com/richardmanphoto
> // On Instagram: https://instagram.com/richardmanphoto
>
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