Love is Love ~~ DC Juris

Be Part of the Solution by DC Juris

Hi everyone! ::waves:: I'm DC Juris. I'm a transgender dude who writes GLBTQ and het romance, mostly fantasy and contemporary. I live in Upstate NY with my husband, our three dogs, and three cats.

One of the questions I get asked a lot is "what is it like to be transgender?"

The answer I'd love to give is, "being transgender is just like being you or anyone else  - I'm human first. I'm just like you."

It's not that cut and dry, though.

Unfortunately, our society, though much more open/accepting/tolerant than in the past, still doesn't fully embrace transgender people. A lot of that stems from a lack of education, but most of it stems from growing up being taught that the world revolves around gender roles, and the belief that anatomy concretely defines gender.

Most people take one look at me and think "female." They don't bother to stop and speak to me, to find out that my insides don't match my outsides. I guess, at the basest level, that's what being transgender is – having outsides that don't match your insides. Your body doesn't match your mind, heart, and soul.

Imagine for a moment that tomorrow you wake up in the body of the opposite gender. You're still you – same thoughts, feelings, beliefs, hobbies, ect. But your body doesn't match. People are referring to you by the wrong pronouns, calling you the wrong name. And no matter how many times you correct them or try to explain – hey, this is just a crazy mistake – no one believes you. No one takes you seriously. And even if they do, if you do something remotely "feminine" or "masculine" – anything that, in their eyes, defies what you've told them – they take that as "proof" that you're wrong or confused.

That's the reality of life for a lot of transgender people. It was the reality of life for me, for a while. I spent a good deal of my time spinning my wheels and getting nowhere. There were times when I thought to myself, "I might as well just put on a damned dress and be what everyone wants me to be. There's no point because no one takes me seriously as a man."

And then I met someone who did. Or at least, someone who didn't think I was a freak, or confused, or lying, or trying to get attention. I eventually married that person, and we're still together, even though he married a woman and now sleeps with a man. He understands that, beneath all the labels, I haven't really changed. He loves me – the inside. The mind, heart, and soul.

One person is really all it takes to change a life. One person was all it took the night I decided to end it all, and one person was all it took later on for me to realize I could be who I was meant to be, and it didn't mean losing everyone in my life. Mind you, I've lost a fair amount of family and friends because I'm transgender. More than I lost when I came out as bisexual. For some reason they could wrap their minds around me sleeping with both genders, but not me wanting to be a different one than I was born.

But I'm rambling. The point of this post is this: you are one person, but you can make a difference, and here are some ways:

Think before you use gender pronouns. How often do you speak to a complete stranger and start with "Ma'am" or "Sir"? Is that really necessary? How about "excuse me" or "pardon me" or something like that? No matter how the person is dressed, you don't truly know how they identify as far as gender. They may be simply wearing what they have to wear to blend in or not get fired or appease a family member.

Educate yourself. Don't just assume you know what it's like to be transgender, or what it means. Do some research, dig up some info. You may find that you don't have the first clue about what transgender life is like.

How often have you thought one of the following: "she's too fat for that outfit," "Lawdamighty what was she thinking wearing that?", "why doesn't he shave his beard – he looks stupid like that!" Let's be honest, we've all done that. We've all looked at someone else, shook our heads and wondered why a train wreck like that is allowed out in public. Well, stop. You don't know the first thing about that person. Maybe she's a transwoman, and the only clothes she can afford come from a thrift store. Maybe he's a transman, and he's in the middle of hormone therapy, and his body hair is all going crazy on him. The point is – stop judging other people. You're probably not perfect yourself.

Be kind, rewind. And no, I don't mean videotapes. I mean thoughts. Before you speak, rewind your thoughts in your head. Is what you're about to say going to be helpful, or are you just spouting ignorance?

Be inquisitive, but sensitive. Wanna know the number one question I get asked? It's "do you wear a penis all the time?" Now just who in the hell has the right to ask me that, and whose business is it anyway? If you're going to ask questions, which a lot (not all but a lot) of trans people encourage, do so in a way that's not insulting. Don't ask things like "how do you have sex?" Seriously? We have sex just like you do! A better phrasing might be, "I'm trying to understand your sexual options. Are there tools that are better or more functional?" (Hell, I don't know, but you get the idea!)

Be respectful of personal space. Just because a transperson is your friend, doesn’t mean they're comfortable with being touched. Like everyone else on the planet, transpeople have their own quirks. For us though, touch can be a bigger deal that most. Some transpeople, with or without surgery, aren't comfortable with certain parts of their bodies. Even being hugged can be traumatic. Keep that in mind.

And finally, if a transperson has told you their gender, use the right pronouns. Transmen are he, him, etc. Transwomen are she, her, etc. They are the gender they live and present as, not the one they are born with. NO MATTER HOW FEMININE OR MASCULINE THEY MIGHT LOOK TO YOU! I can't stress that enough. Don't use lame excuses like "I keep forgetting" or "you looked girly today." Stop forgetting. Make an conscious effort and be respectful of the effort they are making every moment of the day.

Here are some helpful resources for more information and education about transgender people and the issues we face.

(Some of them are overtly not safe for work, and I've indicated that in front of the link, but you should assume all of them might contain content you don't want your boss catching you looking at!)

NSFW - http://toysforxxboys.blogspot.com/

NSFW - http://www.toolshedtoys.com/

NSFW - http://www.ftmessentials.com/

http://www.theselfmademen.com/

NSFW - http://www.peecockproducts.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=1

NSFW - http://www.thetransitionalmale.com/gear.html

http://www.ftmguide.org/

http://www.tsroadmap.com/index.html

http://www.debradavis.org/

http://www.transgendercare.com/

http://www.transgenderzone.com/

http://www.gendersanity.com/links.html

NSFW - http://www.clcrv.com/index.cfm

http://iamtransgendered.com/Links.aspx

http://www.chazbono.net/

http://www.susans.org/

http://transsexual.org/

http://www.ntac.org/

http://www.gendertalk.com/info/resource/index.shtml

 

 

 

Love is Love ~~ Jax Steele

I have loved the idea of love. The idea of feeling the type of euphoria just being around someone who makes your heart race, goose bump rise on your skin and makes your dick hard and they have only given you a hug and smiled at you. *shakes off chill* That’s love. Men feel that way when they are in the presence of someone they love. They can’t help it. When you leave their side and count the moments until they are near you again…that’slove and I love that! It was the reason that I decided to write romance. Love should never be limited …especially by gender or race.

At the time I started writing I hadn’t read any romances (and had a lot under my belt, believe me!) that had two men in the lead roles. I did enjoy the story line of the romances I read with the dashing rough that came in to sweep the damsel off her feet and they lived happily ever after, but after the 1000^thone I started to wonder if anyone was gonna show men getting swept off their feet too.

I wanted to see books with brilliant, sexy, handsome strong male characters that loved men. I was also glad when I found out that I wasn’t the only one. Now, almost 7 years since I sold my first story, you can find books like this that span the spectrum from vanilla to any kind of kink you’re you’re interested in seeing! I am pleased to count myself as an author of such literature.

For this blog I wanted spotlight my book Right side of the Tracks. It’s a story of sacrifice, true love, family, forgiveness and reconciliation. All of that can be seen between two men as they share an intimate relationship just like it can in a female-male relationship.



Blurb:

A drunken decision during dare week changed Russell Drake’s life forever. Less than a year later he was a nurse, a husband and a father. For a young, gay man this was way pass tilt on his shock meter. He knew there was no way he could handle all that had happened to him, but after one look into the little face of his son he had made up his mind to do whatever was necessary to give him a good life and keep him happy…even if that meant he wasn’t.

James Adams was just getting into a relationship with Russ when they were accepted at two different colleges. They kept in touch during their college years via letters, emails and they hooked up every chance they went home for holidays and vacations. James was thrilled that school was almost over for them. They were seniors and that meant that after graduation they would finally be together, but then Russ disappeared and James’s heart broke.

When Russ resurfaced James wanted more than anything to be with Russ again. He was willing to leave the past in the past and pick up where they left off, but Russ was hesitant. Russ only wanted what was best for Tyrell. Could James be what’s best for both the father and the son?

Excerpt:

James extended his hand. “I thought you might want a beer.”

Grateful for the distraction, Russ exhaled loudly; he hadn’t even realized that he had stopped breathing. He grabbed the beer and gulped down half of the bottle in two loud gulps.

“Thanks,” he managed to squeak out.

James nodded and sat next to him on the bumper. The tension between them was like static electricity in the air.

Russ had a million conversations for a million scenarios for if this possibility occurred. He knew James was waiting for him to say something, but every time he opened his mouth too many words rushed out at the same time, resulting in nothing audible. With obvious frustration, Russ gulped down the rest of his beer.

“So… how you been?” James said, breaking the awkward silence.

Russ looked at him again. They sat side by side on the back of his car, both leaning over on their knees. As Russ rolled his empty Budweiser bottle between his hands, he sent a sideways look over to James, who stared at the ground in the same position rolling his bottle the same way.

“I’m,” squeaked then cleared his throat. “I’m okay, James.”

James turned to him with a raised eyebrow. “Really? You don’t look okay. I mean, you look fantastic, even better than the last time I saw you, but you know that’s not what I meant. It’s your eyes that give you away.”He leaned over and caressed Russ’s face. “Those beautiful bright blue eyes always told me what was really going on inside of you.”

The touch of James’ hand across his face sent a shudder of erotic longing through Russ’s body. Instantly his dick got hard as he closed his eyes and pressed into it.

“James….”

He whispered his name, a soft, raspy sound. At hearing it James let out a low erotic noise of his own. His hand pressed against Russ’s clean-shaven face, urging him to his feet as he rose with him.

“Russ, I’ve missed you so much,” James whispered slowly, closing the gap between their faces.

“James, I’ve missed you, too, but—”

James stopped his explanation as he pressed his lips hard against Russ’s lips. James ate at Russ’s mouth softly and gently as Russ sighed his enjoyment. His fingers moved from Russ’s cheek to the back of his head to grab a handful of Russ’s brown hair. He pulled Russ’s head back, ending their sensual kiss and exposing Russ’s neck. Bending down, he put tender kisses along his throat and his bobbing Adam’s apple.

Flashes of memory came crashing back to Russ’s mind, becoming more vivid each time James’ lips touched his heated skin. His cock pressed harshly against his Dockers and his torso suddenly felt overheated in the button-down

blue shirt he wore. He was grateful that he had pulled his tie off as soon as he left the courtroom earlier in the day. It would have been extremely tight and constricting at the moment. Suddenly the unpleasant events of his past week surged forward in his mind and overtook the pleasure of what James was doing to his body.

“Wait, wait, James, please,” Russ gasped softly, pushing him away.

James backed away, but his handsome face was twisted in confusion. Seeing the pain in James’ eyes, Russ turned away.

“Please, James, don’t look at me like that.”

“How am I supposed to look at you, Rusty? I don’t know what’s going on,” James said with obvious restraint.

Russ flinched inwardly at the use of the pet name James had given him years ago. He had heard the name on many happy occasions and tender moments, especially when James was pounding his cock into him during the heat of passion. Russ’s body reacted again to the erotic memory and his cock throbbed inside of his pants again.

“Talk to me, Rusty,” James said, moving close behind him.“Tell me what’s happening here. Better yet, tell me what happened?” Confusion and pain strained his voice as he turned Russ back to him. “I thought we had something special,” he said in a whisper.

Russ’s heart ached as he looked into the depths of James’glistening brown pools. He had only done what he thought was right at the time.

“James, I swear, I never meant to hurt you. I just—”

Russ’s explanation was cut short again as James yanked him back into his arms. His kiss was passionate and full of emotion. James kissed him hungrily this time, sucking on his tongue, pulling him even closer to him.

Russ’s head spun dizzily and his knees finally buckled, but James’arms were strong, holding him upright. James broke the kiss, leaving Russ breathless and almost panting with need.

“I’ve missed you so much, Rusty. Please, please, come back to my house with me. I want you so bad. Let me hold you, let me show you how much I’ve missed you,” he said, nuzzling his neck between kisses.

Oh God, yes! Russ’s body screamed.

James’ kisses were intoxicating. Russ could feel James’ cock pressing against his own through the thin material of his shorts, and it felt so good. His body remembered James and wanted all that he was offering. It remembered every caress from James’ strong hands, the very hands that were sliding up and down his back and gripping his ass to hold him so close. Russell’s body cried out to his brain to just say yes so that it could feel James’ touch again without the barrier of their clothes, but his brain refused. Again, the disheartening events played over in Russ’ mind’s eye and pulled him from the joy he felt in James’ arms.

“I’m so sorry, James, but I can’t. Please, you have to understand,”Russ said, choking on the words that tore at his heart. He reluctantly removed himself from James’ embrace and walked back to his house without a backward look.

Available now at Dreamspinner Press.



 

Love is Love ~~ Margie Church

A few mornings a week, you'll find me in the classrooms at our local high school, tutoring students. Today, two of the students had to write position papers on amendments they believe should be made to our constitution. Not surprisingly, one chose more stringent gun control on the national level, and the other chose legalizing gay marriage in our state.

There were five students in this group, and because of their young age, they weren't aware of some things like common law marriages or estate planning. They hadn't thought about parenting biases, insurance liabilities, or many of the other adult things that we do. That's all good and well, because you know the one thing they all got? Marriage shouldn't be about gender pairings, and it's a violation of our inalienable right to happiness to keep up this ridiculous legal barrier. Listening to this conversation made me have real belief that Generation Y will get the job done, and the right to marry will become a non-issue in the country.

Since I'm in the mood for Happily Ever After, I'd like to share Krewe Daddy with you. It is the erotic sequel to my bestseller, Hard as Teak. Krewe Daddy is about the one who got away, second chances, and enduring love all wrapped in a suspenseful law enforcement drama.

Take a look and enjoy a hot excerpt, too!

Krewe Daddy by Margie Church

Luis is the Daddy, a sought-after lover, with an ego to match the mammoth-sized Mardi Gras floats he designs. His lifestyle and reputation are wearing him out, but Luis can't find a satisfying way to break the cycle and be happy, too.

Drew's insecurities pushed him to have a foolish affair six years ago. It destroyed his relationship with Luis, and he's never been able to commit to anyone since. Now, he's taken control of his life and changed his submissive personality by becoming a model for Kevin Marks, and a wildlife enforcement agent in New Orleans.

These men haven't forgotten each other, or settled their differences. When they accidentally meet in a French Quarter gay bar, the years of regret, anger, and pent-up emotions erupt. Their passion is as hot as ever, their mistrust just as potent. When Drew's future is in Luis' hands, will he choose his lifestyle or love?

Featuring Kevin, Teak, and Drew from Hard as Teak.

Exerpt:

He didn't extend his hand for Drew to shake; instead, he made a sweeping gesture with his hand.

"My office is this way."

They walked shoulder-to-shoulder in silence. Drew studied Luis covertly as they went. He noticed a few lines around Luis' eyes and in front of his ears. His hair and beard were jet-black, except for a few flecks of silver on his temples. Luis' scent, unfamiliar now, captivated him, making Drew feel like he was falling back into that submissive role so long forgotten.

Luis ushered him into his spacious office. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a bird's eye view of the French Quarter.

The door shut with a soft click.

"Have a seat, Drew."

The sound of Luis saying his name was like a homecoming, yet he resisted the allure. "I won't be here long."

"Suit yourself." Luis took off his suit jacket and hung it up. Afterward, he walked to the front of his desk while unbuttoning his cuffs. He never looked at Drew the entire time he rolled the sleeves. Finished, Luis sat, clasped his hands between his thighs and gave Drew his attention.

"What do you want?"

The reality of being in the same room with Luis was so powerful that Drew could hardly breathe. All the emotions of the past—love, hate, anger, loneliness, and disappointment—rushed over him. The words to answer this simple question were out of his grasp. They flew from his brain like confetti in a tickertape parade.

Luis' dark eyes bored into him. "Are you going to stand there staring at me or tell me why you're here? I could unbutton more of my shirt and show you some new ink."

Drew blinked back to reality. "I could, too. Our meeting at Tanners was nothing but an exercise in awkwardness. I thought we should try to have a civil conversation. Maybe we can move on."

Luis narrowed his eyes at Drew, seeming to contemplate a hidden question. "Is that what you want—to move on?"

He stiffened, not knowing whether to say yes or no. "We have unfinished business."

"That's true." Luis stood. "Where do you suggest we have this tête–à–tête?" He drew a deep breath; the sound of oxygen whistled through his nostrils. "In my bed?"

Luis closed the space between them. "Or would you prefer to settle this here? I can lock the door. Are you still into gag balls?"

Drew's heart strummed like an old-fashioned, wind-up alarm clock. He was aroused, curious, and completely caught up in Luis' seduction. The words fuck me old man were on his tongue. Drew stepped back, needing airspace between himself and the drug named Luis.

"Not here."

CONTEST: Have a happily ever after story to share? You could win Krewe Daddy with your comments!

Get Krewe Daddy and all my books on Amazon and B&N.

Or your favorite Ebook retailer.

Find out more about me on my website: www.RomanceWithSASS.com

Love is Love ~~ Alex Beecroft

Coming Out

It was in May 2012 that my daughter stopped me in the kitchen and told me in so many words “I don't want to be a girl.”It's not as if it came as much of a surprise. As soon as she had been able to express a preference she had refused to wear girls' clothes. My husband vividly remembers her coming home from playschool one day, puzzled, to ask him “daddy, I am a boy, aren't I?” After that she'd passed as a boy pretty much until puberty. So I'd been half expecting it.

I hugged her and told her we'd find a way to make it right, and that was the point at which we began – with the aid of our local doctor – the process of getting her appointments with the people who can eventually help her to transition.

This is a shockingly long process – her first appointment with the specialist gender clinic is next week – and the waiting has been hard on us all. Not that this is something you want to rush into. What has surprised me is that when she finally told me, I reacted with grief. I went into a period of mourning for my little girl. I felt that my daughter was dying, and although I tried not to show her this, it's possible she knew.

Don't get me wrong. I love my child with a fierce love, and nothing will change that. It just took me a little while to let go of the daughter I thought I had so that I could learn to feel glad that I had a son. I'd had all his life to prepare for this, and yet I was still unprepared.

I like to think I'm getting there now. My son has told me the name he's chosen for himself, and I am beginning to call him by it. Sometimes I slip, but it's early days and I'm sure it will get more natural with time. I'm beginning to think to myself how lucky I am to have such a clever, stubborn, strong, gentle, creative boy for a son, and though I admit to being afraid for him because society will still not give him an easy ride, I am incredibly thankful that things have improved beyond measure since I was his age.

It's hard to come out and say to your parents “I am not what you thought I was.” It's hard for your parents too –they will have to abandon their half formed dreams of the future, face the fact that their child's life is not going to be as easy as they would like, and they cannot protect them against that, and redefine what they think they know about you. But give them time and they'll come round, because although parents are weak and wobbly like all other human beings, a parent's love for their child is one of the strongest things in all creation. It may, like the Avengers, take a little while to get some traction, but it should get there in the end if you can only wait it out.

~

Alex Beecroft was born in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and grew up in the wild countryside of the English Peak District. She studied English and Philosophy before accepting employment with the Crown Court where she worked for a number of years.Now a stay-at-home mum and full time author, Alex lives with her husband and two daughters in a little village near Cambridge and tries to avoid being mistaken for a tourist.

Alex is only intermittently present in the real world.She has lead a Saxon shield wall into battle, toiled as a Georgian kitchen maid, and recently taken up an 800 year old form of English folk dance, but she still hasn’t learned to operate a mobile phone.

Alex writes mostly m/m romance in the historical and fantasy genres. Her latest novel is Under the Hill, a fantasy in which a sleepy Northern English town is invaded by angry elves, and her latest novella is Blessed Isle, an Age of Sail tale of mutiny and shipwreck on the high seas.

To find out more, visit her website on http://alexbeecroft.com

Beautiful Faces