Información del DREAM Act y los DREAMers bajo la nueva Acción Diferida de inmigración de Obama

El fin de semana pasado el presidente Barack Obama anunció que su gobierno pondrá fin a las deportaciones de los DREAMers o jóvenes indocumentados elegibles para el DREAM Act, y que se les otorgará permisos temporales de trabajo. Obama hizo este anuncio en la fecha del 30 aniversario de la decisión Plyler vs. Doe, que garantiza la educación pública gratuita a los niños immigrantes indocumentados en las escuelas de EE.UU.

Los estudiantes elegibles al DREAM Act celebran frente a la Casa Blanca tras el anuncio hecho por el presidente Obama, el 15 de junio 2012. Más fotos por Carlos A. Quiroz

UPDATES: 

La Secretaria del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, Janet Napolitano, ha anunciado que las solicitudes de la Acción Diferida estará disponible el 15 de agosto.

ste es un volante creado por la oficina del congresista Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL):

                Nuevo website: Acción Diferida del DREAM Act

Algunos datos comprobados sobre el DREAM Act y los DREAMers:

• El DREAM Act es un proyecto de ley que debe ser aprobada por el Congreso de EE.UU., no por el Presidente. Lo que el presidente Obama ha hecho es ordenar al Departamento de Seguridad Interna [Homeland Security] que detenga la deportación de estudiantes elegibles para el DREAM Act, hasta que este proyecto de ley sea aprobado por el Congreso. También Obama ha autorizado al Departamento de Trabajo que proporcione a los DREAMers con un permiso de trabajo de 2 años, que es renovable.

• El DREAM Act es un proyecto de ley que otorgaría un camino a la ciudadanía estadounidense a los estudiantes indocumentados que fueron criados en EE.UU. y sólo después de completar una lista de requisitos. El proyecto de ley fue eliminado por el actual Senado el 18 de diciembre de 2010. La votación final fue: a favor 50 demócratas, 3 republicanos y 2 independientes. En contra 5 demócratas y 36 republicanos, encabezados por los senadores John McCain (R-AZ) y Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

• Esta medida no es una amnistía. Es una medida temporal que se tenía que hacer con el fin de aliviar la crisis humanitaria que enfrentan actualmente entre 1-2 millones de estudiantes indocumentados y sus familias. Tengan en cuenta que la mayoría de los DREAMers son estudiantes de secundaria, universitarios y/o graduados que están desempleados o subempleados, y que forman parte de familias indocumentadas, a menudo viviendo en la pobreza. El plan de Obama es algo así como el programa TPS para los inmigrantes procedentes de países que enfrentan actuales condiciones adversas.

DREAMers protestando en la Casa Blanca en 2010. Foto por Carlos A. Quiroz

• Esta disposición no otorga la ciudadanía de EE.UU. a los DREAMers, ni la residencia. Solamente les da la oportunidad de solicitar puestos de trabajo legalmente y permanecer en el país sin temor a ser deportados (y, posiblemente, podrán viajar al extranjero si es necesario). Tal vez algunas empresas decidan patrocinar a estos estudiantes para obtener la residencia legal a través de una certificación del Departamento de Trabajo. Esto es secundario por el momento, lo importante es que ya no va a ser criminalizados.

• Esta disposición no beneficia a los 11-12 millones inmigrantes indocumentados que viven en EE.UU., como yo. Esto sólo incluye a jóvenes indocumentados que tienen de 16 a 30 años de edad, que han vivido en EE.UU. durante los últimos 5 años, quienes actualmente está matriculados o se han graduado de alguna escuela o universidad de EE.UU., que sean veteranos de las fuerzas armadas, y que no tengan antecedentes penales, entre otros requisitos que se anunciarán pronto. El Departamento de Homeland Security dice que los DREAMers tendrán que solicitar sus permisos de trabajo, a partir de esta semana.

• Por favor, lea la lista de requisitos para ver si usted es elegible. Nunca pague honorarios a abogados notarios ni oficinas privadas para aplicar a esta provisión, acuda a grupos sin fines de lucro y defensores de los inmigrantes en su comunidad para obtener más ayuda. La información sobre el nuevo plan de DREAM Act ha sido publicada por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional.

Los DREAMers lucharon duro por justicia. Foto via Pocho.com

• Sí, esta medida se trata de una maniobra política para conseguir más votos en las próximas elecciones presidenciales. Es sin duda, algo que el presidente Obama está haciendo para obtener más apoyo de los votantes latinos, ya que la mayoría de los DREAMERS son de origen latino o nativo americano. Muchos DREAMERS y activistas de la reforma migratoria son conscientes de ello. Sabemos que Obama quiere recuperar la confianza de los electores latinos, sobre todo porque la actual administración ha deportado a más trabajadores indocumentados que sus predecesores. Sin embargo, estamos celebrando esta acción tomada por la administración de Obama, ya que logrará un gran impacto positivo en las vidas de millones de familias.

• Los estudiantes indocumentados o soñadores no son "extranjeros" como un indignado activista - periodista gritó al presidente Obama durante y después de su conferencia de prensa. Estos estudiantes fueron traídos aquí por sus padres cuando eran niños, crecieron en este país, asistieron a las escuelas de Estados Unidos y ahora de adultos comparten los mismos valores positivos de la mayoría de los estadounidenses. Este es el único hogar que tienen ellos. Se estima que unos 65,000 estudiantes indocumentados se gradúan de las escuelas secundarias de EE.UU. cada año.

• Esta acción presidencial no perjudicará a los trabajadores de EE.UU., al contrario es algo bueno para la economía nacional. Se ha comprobado que la legalización de trabajadores beneficia a la economía y permite la creación de más puestos de trabajo. Muchos de los DREAMers son trabajadores con talentos desperdiciados hasta ahora: son estudiantes universitarios y graduados, líderes comunitarios, jóvenes muy disciplinados que ahora serán capaces de contribuir a este país de muchas maneras positivas. Por favor, lea este informe y vea los videos que he incluido al final de este mensaje.

DREAMers protestando en las oficinas del senador John McCain. Foto The NY Times.

• La lucha por el DREAM Act no es algo nuevo. Este movimiento sorprendente e inspirador comenzó hace años, pero finalmente tomó forma a principios de 2010, cuando los estudiantes indocumentados -muchos de los cuales son líderes y activistas LGBT- "salieron del closet" en público sobre su estatus de inmigración bajo el lema "Undocumented and Unafraid" en diferentes ciudades del país. Con el tiempo, este movimiento incluyó protestas y actos de desobediencia civil, y fue apoyado por miembros del Congreso, especialmente por el senador Richard Durbin y el congresista Luis Gutiérrez, ambos demócratas de Illinois. En este blog he informado ampliamente acerca de este movimiento.

• El DREAM Act no es un asunto partidista. Aunque la mayoría de los DREAMers son estudiantes progresistas que apoyan al Partido Democratico, pero también hay estudiantes conservadores que simpatizan con el Partido Republicano, y en su mayoría independientes. He sido testigo de este hecho,  cuando he hablado con ellos directamente. Por supuesto, el actual candidato conservador Mitt Romney carece del apoyo la mayoría de los DREAMers después de Romney expresara su oposición a la ley DREAM Act.

• Los  DREAMers son buenas personas. Ellos no son los criminales que los críticos conservadores y racistas están diciendo. La mayoría de estos jóvenes son líderes que están muy involucrados en sus comunidades, y tienen un concepto claro de la importancia de la solidaridad, del activismo y la acción política. Ellos han aprendido todo eso en casa, porque aún cuando los anti-inmigrantes llaman criminales a sus padres, estos estudiantes los ven como héroes que sacrificaron sus propias vidas y su seguridad con el fin de darles un futuro mejor, que finalmente se podrá hacer realidad

Un padre de familia celebra en Twitter.

El impacto verdadero de esta orden presidencial se va a ver dentro de unos meses, cuando los DREAMers finalmente serán capaces de salir de las sombras y así, vivir una vida donde puedan realmente alcanzar sus sueños.

DREAMers organizando acciones de protesta in Washington DC en 2011.

ACTUALIZACIÓN: He traducido esto.

6 cosas usted necesita saber scerca de la Acción Diferida y los estudiantes del DREAM Act. Publicado por Center for American Progress:

El anuncio del presidente [Obama] planteó algunas cuestiones, por lo que ofrecemos un poco de claridad a continuación haciendo una lista de seis cosas que usted necesita saber acerca de la Acción Diferida y los estudiantes del DREAM Act: 

1. ¿Tiene el presidente la autoridad para hacer esto? Sí. La Acción Diferida es un tipo de discrecionalidad a disposición del presidente como parte de la ley de inmigración. Se le permite al presidente el detener o suspender la deportación de una persona y el conceder una autorización de trabajo a esa persona. Presidentes de ambos partidos han usado esta Acción Diferida con frecuencia desde 1971. 

2. ¿Quién es elegible para la Acción Diferida? Al igual que en las disposiciones del DREAM Act aprobada por la Cámara de Representantes en 2010, son elegibles para la  Acción Diferida quienes hayan llegado a Estados Unidos antes de cumplir los 16 años, y al 15 de junio de 2012 tiene más de 14 años y menores de 31 años. Son elegibles si han vivido en EE.UU. por lo menos cinco años, se encuentran estudiando o hayan completado la escuela secundaria, están en las Fuerzas Armadas en la actualidad o han sido dado de baja honorablemente y no hayan sido condenadas por un delito grave, delito menor, o faltas múltiples. Las personas menores de 15 años de edad que están en un proceso de deportación, también son elegibles para aplicar. 

3. ¿Cuántas personas son elegibles? Unas 1,4 millones de personas serán elegibles. Los DREAMers que no son ya conocidos por el Departamento de Homeland Security serán capaces de presentarse y solicitar la Acción Diferida. 

4. ¿Es esto una amnistía? Por supuesto que no. Acción Diferida es sólo un estatus temporal de dos años, no es la residencia permanente. No es una recompensa por nada, y no permite a los inmigrantes el traer a sus familiares a EE.UU. Además, no ingresa una sola persona extra en EE.UU. Estos jóvenes ya viven aquí. Los DREAMers serán capaces de aplicar por este estatus, y el cual se decidirá sobre una base de caso por caso. Esto no es una forma de alivio generalizado. 

5. ¿Esta medida política alienta más la inmigración ilegal? No. Esta política no es un imán para la inmigración de indocumentados, ni una solución a largo plazo para el problema. Sólo las personas que han estado en el país durante cinco años antes de hoy en día son elegibles para solicitar esta protección temporal. Simplemente permite a las personas que califican que dejen de vivir sin miedos y empezar a mirar hacia su futuro hasta que el Congreso puede superar su falta de accón [sobre esta ley]. 

6. ¿Sigue siendo necesario que el Congreso apruebe el DREAM Act? ¡Sí! El anuncio del presidente sólo otorga un estatus legal temporal a los jóvenes elegibles del DREAM Act, y puede ser revocada simplemente con una firma del próximo presidente. Sólo el Congreso puede aprobar las leyes -como el DREAM Act- para proteger a estos estudiantes de forma permanente y darles un camino a la ciudadanía.

Mensaje final

Por favor ver estos videos que grabé en la celebración frente a la Casa Blanca cuando el presidente Obama hizo su anuncio del DREAM Act, el 15 de junio de 2012.

Por último, para aquellos de ustedes que siguen pensando que los estudiantes indocumentados son criminales, que son una carga para la sociedad, mientras que nos culpan a los indocumentados de los problemas más graves de este país. 


Por favor, tómese un minuto para ver el breve documental "Limbo" y presten especial atención al mensaje final de una valiente DREAMer:

Information and facts of the DREAM Act under Obama's new Deferred Action immigration plan

This past weekend president Barack Obama announced that his administration will halt deportation of DREAMers, undocumented youth eligible for the DREAM Act, and give them temporary work permits.  The announcement made by Obama was made on the same day of the 30th anniversary of the Plyler v. Doe decision which guaranteed undocumented children free public education.


Here is some useful information. 

DREAM Act eligible students celebrate in front of the White House after the announcement made by president Obama, on June 15th 2012. More photos by Carlos A. Quiroz

UPDATES: Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano has announced that applications for the Deferred Action will be available by August 15th.
This is a flyer provided by the office of Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL):

New website: Dream Act Deferred Action

Proven facts about the DREAM Act and the DREAMers:

• The DREAM Act is a bill that needs to be passed by Congress not by the President. What president Obama has done is to order the Department of Homeland Security to stop deporting DREAM Act - eligible students until a bill is passed by Congress. Also Obama has authorized the Department of Labor to provide DREAMers with 2-year renewable work permits. 

• The DREAM Act is a bill that would grant a path to citizenship to those undocumented students who were raised in the U.S. and only after they complete a list of requirements. The bill was killed by the current Senate on December 18, 2010. The final vote was: voting yes 50 Democrats, 3 Republicans and 2 independents. Voting no 5 Democrats and 36 Republicans, led by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

• This is not an amnesty. It’s a temporary measure that needed to be done in order to alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced currently by 1-2 million students and their families. Keep in mind that most of the DREAMers are high school and college students or graduates who are unemployed or underemployed and who are part of undocumented families, often facing poverty.  This is something like the TPS program given to immigrants coming from countries facing current harsh conditions.

DREAMers protesting at the White House in 2010. Photo by Carlos A. Quiroz

• This provision doesn’t open a path for U.S. citizenship for the DREAMers nor make them legal residents. Instead, it gives them a chance to apply for jobs legally and stay in the country without fears of being deported (and possibly they will be able to travel overseas if needed). Perhaps some companies may decide to sponsor these students to get the legal residency through a Department of Labor certification. This is secondary for the moment; the important thing is they will not longer being criminalized.

• This provision does not benefit the 11-12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., like myself. This only includes undocumented youth who are 16 to 30 years old, who have lived in the U.S. for the past 5 years, is currently enrolled or have graduated from a U.S. high school, is a veteran of the military, and have no criminal record, among other requirements to be announced. The Department of Homeland Security states that DREAMers need to APPLY for their work permits, starting this week.

• Please read the list of requirements and see if you are eligible. Do not pay fees to attorneys nor private offices to take advantage of this provision, search around for non-profit groups and immigration advocates in your community for more assistance. Information about the DREAM Act new plan posted by the Department of Homeland Security.

• Yes, this is a political move to get more votes in the upcoming presidential elections. This is without doubt, something that president Obama is doing to get more support from Latino voters, since most DREAMers are of Latino, Native heritage. Many DREAMers and immigration reform activists are aware of this. We know that Obama wants to regain the trust of Latino voters, especially because the current administration has deported more undocumented workers than its predecessors. However, we are celebrating this action taken by the Obama administration because it will represent a huge positive impact in the lives of millions of families.

• Undocumented students or DREAMers are not “foreigners” as an outraged activist-journalist screamed at president Obama during and after his press conference. These students were brought here by their parents as children, they grew up in this country, attended U.S. schools and as adults today they share the same positive values of most U.S. people. This is the only home they have. It is estimated that about 65,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools every year.

• This action does not hurt U.S. workers but it's good for the economy. It’s proven that legalization of workers benefits the economy and allows the creation of more jobs. Many of the DREAMers are wasted talented workers until now: college students and graduates, community leaders, extremely disciplined youth who now will be able to contribute to this country in many positive ways. Please read this report and watch the videos I have included at the end this post.

The DREAMers fought hard for it. Photo Pocho.com

• The campaignfor the DREAM Act is not a new movement. This amazing and inspiring movement started years ago but it finally took shape by early 2010 when undocumented students -many of whom are LGBT leaders and activists- "came out" publicly about their immigration status under the motto "Undocumented and unafraid" in different cities across the country. With time, this movement included protests and acts of civil disobedience and was supported by members of Congress especially by Senator Richard Durbin and Representative Luis Gutierrez, both Democrats from Illinois. This blog has reported extensively about this movement.

• The DREAM Act is not a partisan issue. Although most DREAMers are progressive students who support the Democratic Party, but there are also conservative students sympathetic to the Republican party, and mostly independents. I have witnessed this fact while blogging about the movement, and talking to them directly. Of course, the current conservative candidate Mitt Romney lacks of most DREAMers' support after Romney's expressed his public opposition to the DREAM Act. 

• DREAMers are good people. They are not the criminals that conservative, racist critics are saying. Most of these young leaders are very much involved in their communities, and they have a clear concept of the importance of solidarity, activism and political action. They have learned this at home, because even when anti-immigrants call their parents criminals, these students see them as heroes who sacrificed their own lives and safety in order to give them a better future, which finally is coming ahead.

The real impact of this presidential action will be seeing in a few months, when the DREAMers will finally be able to come out of the shadows and well, live a life where they can fully achieve their dreams.


UPDATE: 6 Things You Need to Know About Deferred Action and DREAM Act Students. Posted by the Center for American Progress:

The president’s announcement raised some questions, so we offer some clarity below by listing six things that you need to know about deferred action and DREAM Act students: 

1. Does the president have the authority to do this? Yes. Deferred action is a type of prosecutorial discretion available to the president as part of routine immigration law. It allows the president to stop or suspend the deportation of an individual and to grant that person work authorization. Presidents from both parties have used deferred action frequently since 1971. 

2. Who is eligible for deferred action? Similar to the provisions of the House-passedversion of the DREAM Act in 2010, anyone who came to the United States before age 16, and is over age 14 and under age 31 on June 15, 2012, is eligible if they have been in the United States for at least five years, are in or have completed high school, are in the armed services currently or have been honorably discharged, and have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or multiple misdemeanors. Individuals under 15 years old who are in, or get placed in removal proceedings, are also eligible to apply. 

3. How many people are eligible? Up to 1.4 million people will qualify. DREAMers not already known to the Department of Homeland Security will be able to come forward and apply for the deferred action. 

4. Isn’t this amnesty? Absolutely not. Deferred action is only a temporary two-year status; it is not permanent residency. It isn’t a reward for anything, and it does not allow any immigrant to bring over their family members. Further, it does not bring a single extra person into the United States. These youth already live here. DREAMers will be able to apply for this status, and it will be decided on a case-by-case basis. This is not a blanket form of relief. 

5. Will this policy encourage more illegal immigration? No. This policy is neither a magnet for undocumented immigration nor a long-term solution to the problem. Only individuals who have been in the country for five years before today are eligible to apply for this temporary protection. It merely allows qualifying individuals to stop looking over their shoulder and start looking toward their future until Congress can overcome its paralysis. 

6. Do we still need Congress to pass the DREAM Act? Yes! The president’s announcement gives only temporary legal status to DREAM Act-eligible youth, and it can be revoked with the stroke of a pen by the next president. Only Congress can pass a law—the DREAM Act—to protect these students permanently and give them a pathway to citizenship.

DREAMers protesting in Arizona at the offices of Senator John McCain. Photo The NY Times.

DREAMers organizing protests in Washington DC in 2011.

Please watch these videos. I recorded these videos at the rally held in front of the White House as president Obama was making his DREAM Act announcement, on June 15th 2012:

A DREAMer

An immigration attorney and activist

A DREAM Act activist and organizer

Finally, for those of you who continue seeing undocumented students as criminals, as people who are a burden to society while blaming us of the worst problems of this country. Please take a minute to watch this brief documentary "Limbo" and pay special attention to the final message given by a courageous DREAMer:

LIMBO from Eliot Rausch + Phos Pictures on Vimeo.

My first Capital Pride in high heels - PHOTOS

So much fun! My first Capital Pride Parade fully dressed as a woman, almost. 

I walked 16 blocks in high heels, and despite the blisters in my feet afterwards I had lots of fun! I walked along with LGBT Latino groups: Casa Ruby, the Latino GLBT History Project, the local Latino radio station El Zol and Fuego Salvaje a Latino LGBT party in DC.

The best thing of the parade without doubt were the people, very welcoming, kind and joyful. There were not a single thing I can criticize about my experience yesterday. Also, I enjoyed running into friends who haven't seeing in years, the surprising faces led most of times into big hugs and warm kisses.

Other nice things about yesterday: I loved being around so many happy people, and the energy was great. Now, I'm getting older but my short legs are still strong. Ha! Thanks to Ruby Corado who has been a very supportive friend in this transition process, to everyone who approached me yesterday to say hello.

Thanks to the taxi driver who took me from Howard University metro station to Logan Circle and he did not charge me, but sorry if I did not give you my number sir. Thanks also to the firemen who offered me water on my way to the parade. Thanks to the people of Washington, DC, to the old and new friends I met yesterday.

Here are some photos. Sadly, I lost my video camera -a girl offered to hold it while I took photos- but if I find it I will post a great video. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I am transitioning from male to female: questions about being a transgender person

As some of you already know, I have started a hormone treatment in order to feminize my body. I'm transitioning from male to female because I want to live my life as a transgender woman. 


Here are some of my thoughts, questions and answers about this defining process. 

This is perhaps the most important decision I have made in my entire life and I’m very aware of the challenges I face now and I will in the future. At the same time I feel very happy and pleased with the process so far.

Honestly and despite some critics from family members, I feel great about this change. It's something I wanted to do since I was very young although my life always directed me in the opposite way. I’m writing this to inform others about this process, in case you are thinking about it or know someone who wants to do it, and also out of respect for the people who know me as a man.

Keep in mind, this is my personal experience and I intend to represent only my own views.

Since I announced my transition a week ago, I have received some comments and questions in this blog, in other social media and in private. So here is a brief reply where I will try to explain why the change, so maybe this can help others. I'm not writing this because I’m trying to justify my actions, this is my private life after all. 

Why the change?

Here it’s me “coming out” for third time. I did it before as a homosexual man, undocumented immigrant and now a transgender to-be.

Firstly, I think this process is not meant for every men who is feminine or every woman who is masculine. Whoever wants to be a trans person first must learn about one self and have the need to change his/her body to represent their true gender. Some people realize their nature at early age, some of us are taking longer. This change is about personal realization and the pursuit of true happiness.

Starting this transition can be a hard decision to make. Considering that living the life as a transgender woman can be very difficult, especially because of transphobia in society, the challenges faced by transgenders (higher rates of unemployment, suicide, violence, sexual-related diseases and deaths, homelessness and others) and the way transgender people are portrayed by the media.

My life is already very difficult, so it seems very inconvenient for me to do this.

However, I’m doing this because I'm tired of pretending and because I can't live afraid or in negativity. Life is what you make of it. I avoided taking this step many times before, out of fear, self homophobia (being a feminine man is not something men from homophobic societies look forward to) and lack of the right information and resources.

In the last few years I dedicated myself to help others, and in the process I forgot about myself. Early this year I felt that it was the right time to focus on myself again. Later on, I will write about the experiences that led me into this decision. 

It's about the individual

It's very healthy and necessary to take care of our own selves, we need to be our first priorities so that we can help other people later on. This is something that I'm learning to do now.

In this sense, one of the most common question I get to be asked by readers and some friends is, why do I want to look like a woman when most gay men are only attracted to manly men? A reader wrote literally wrote, “We are men and we like men, why do we need to look or act like women?”

I’m not doing this as an 'act' nor to pretend to be someone I’m not.  In my case, becoming a transgender woman is not intended to fully become a completely biological woman. That’s impossible. Besides, remember that I’m starting this process in my middle age in life, so the changes won't be too drastic.

To explain my gender better, let me say that ever since I fell in love with my first boyfriend, I always felt I was his woman. I never wanted to be the other man in my relationships, I secretly felt this way with my lovers but I never wanted to accept it openly. That feeling has gotten stronger with the years. My sense of gender is not masculine. I tried for too long to 'act and look' as a masculine man just to please others and because it was the safer, easier thing to do.

Right now, I’m not too concerned about how I look or how others will perceive me, I'm just happy to fulfill my dream. I’m aware that nature gave me a body that can feel masculine and feminine at the same time, but now I want to reinforce my femininity.

Yes, I want to look very much like a female but there will not be genital replacement surgery, at least not in the short term. I think most people will always notice me as a man who looks like a woman, or a woman who has a masculine touch. We will see. It’s funny and rewarding that already I’ve been called “ma’am, lady” when I’m in public. That's to me is a nice compliment, now.

In the past, I kept this “other side” of me as a secret even to my closest friends. Meanwhile I was doing cross-dressing for a few years, on and off. Here is important to understand that cross-dressing is not a sign of wanting to be a transsexual person. To me, being a trans means representing physically who I’m inside and outside. I want my body to match my soul, I don’t want to dress just to pretend or to please a sexual fantasy.

Most importantly, I consider myself a Two Spirit person, someone who has both a feminine and a masculine soul. This is a contemporary concept among some Native peoples of North America, and since share a mixed Native heritage from South America, I’d like embrace this beautiful concept.

Family and social pressure

If you see me around these days, you might notice some sadness in my eyes. Most of my family are not supporting me, and no matter what, my family will always remain important to me. For years I didn’t want to start this process in part because I didn’t want to upset them. I sacrificed my own well being for them to be alright, which is a very nice thing to do but is completely unfair and useless. Now I realize.

I grew up in Peru, in a very conservative, Catholic and homophobic environment as the 6th child of a working class and fairly well educated family. At the moment, some of my family members are my biggest critics and not coincidentally they use their religion as their excuse to reject me. This is extremely sad to me because I grew up close to my them until I was a teenager, when I accepted my sexuality.

Most of my relatives are remaining silent about my decision, while a few others have spoken out both in support and in staunchly opposition. Although I’m saddened, I can’t live my life for my family even when I care about them, especially my mother. I need to be a bit selfish this time. For too long I tried to content others.

Given this absence of a family, the support of friends is very important. Last weekend I had a long conversation with friends that are transgender women, who faced similar experiences with their relatives when they came out. They are strong, educated and respectable women. Talking helps.

Sexuality and gender

Another question I received is if I’m doing this to attract more men. My life is very hectic and too busy to be looking around for a partner although I’m not alone right now. Besides sex is not my priority in life – not right now. I already attract straight-bisexual men who see me as a reminder of a female or a very, very feminine man. So my transition is not about getting more attention, not as first priority. This is about living my life as a healthy transgender woman, it's about my body reflecting my true gender.

Someone wrote me, “I support gays and lesbians but transgender are against nature”.  At least she was honest.  I agree that becoming a transgender person is not a natural process completely. It involves a chemical treatment and sometimes surgery (if I can afford it, maybe). But it’s mostly a mental, spiritual, psychological process that is only intended for those people whose nature demands the change.

I reply to this by saying that to me, it's very unnatural to continue living as a man, or as a gay man. If a person is born with a body that needs to be corrected for justified reasons, that is what surgery is there for. We know nature is not always perfect even if it seems that way.

Sexually, I like gay men but I like better men who appreciate my feminine side and they tend to be bisexual or heterosexual men. I remember when I first moved to the U.S. I finally had the courage to accept myself. However, here I encountered a self internalized homophobia within the gay community. I happened to date mostly dominant men who liked masculine men -usually Latino, Black and Natives. I did my best to hide my feminine side in order to be “accepted”. I joined a gym, I took a bit of testosterone hormones and I tried to act very masculine to please my lovers. I actually think I was very attractive as a man.

But that wasn’t the true me. 

Immigration and economic status 

A reader asked me if I’m doing this to regularize my immigration status, to get a legal residency. The answer is plain and simple no. Of course, I’m looking forward to continue living in the U.S. because this feels like home for me now, and yes I will use any chance I can get to become a legal resident. I don’t see myself living in Peru anymore, unless I need to move there to take care of my aging mother.

However, if I get deported I will continue this process wherever is necessary.

Another question I received is about living my life as a sexual worker. Unlike most people, I have lots of respect for transsexual girls who trade sex for money. Not just because I dislike prudes and judgmental people but sex work is not an easy thing to do, it requires a lot of courage, intelligence, sensibility and things that most people are incapable of doing. But that is not for me. I have witnessed that lifestyle, I know people who have done it and I know it can seem fun and very comfortable, but is also very risky and misleading. It all depends how you carry yourself, like everything in life.

I see myself doing activism, art paintings, social media or manual labor as a way to make a living, here in the U.S. or wherever life leads me. I will slow down with my blogs, they take too much time from me which I need now for myself.

Gratitude

Now I want to finish this uncompleted post (there are more questions unanswered remaining for other posts), by mentioning the valuble support I have received from people who know me personally and online, most of whom are heterosexuals, by the way.

Encouraging words can do so much good to anyone who is facing a big change in life. I had no idea that my readers had such a level of respect for what I do. Those who know me well are aware that I’m not a perfect person, that I have made many mistakes in my life but still there people who see the best of me. That encourages me to do the same, to value the best of me. These are some comments I've received:

I'm impressed by your fortitude and courage. I wish you every luck in this road. 

Qué bueno poder ser quien realmente quieres ser. Un abrazo a la distancia, y mucha fuerza! 

I support you! Your Happiness is what matters. 

Te felicito,por cada paso que deas para lograr tu felicidad..que para eso hemos venido a la tierra. 

I support you too. Self realization is a task that many of us are unable to confront and display. Hats off to you! ♥ 

¡Felicidades! Mi más grande admiración por ser quien eres, y en especial por compartirlo.  

Give the older ones time to get used to and get to know Camila. When they realize that she's quite pretty and doesn't look strange and that she's as kind and smart as Carlos, they'll come around. 

Felicitaciones por decidir vivir como te sientes mejor, es algo a lo que todos y todas tenemos derecho.  

It's not going to be easy. Change isn't. Time will move this beyond just the sexual thing too and make it easier. When they see photos of Camila demonstrating for immigrant rights and things like that...that will help. 

Una decision que merece mi mas sincero respeto, e identificacion con aquellos que rompen tabues sociales y familiares en el logro de la felicidad como persona. Siempre contigo 

Couldn't just be another Ho hum Undocumented Queer? Congrats on your bravery. 

Carlos siempre me ha encantado, tu sensibilidad y la sincera conviccion de tu persona, esto te hace ver bella, bello, en fin te hace ver como el crisol de colores que la humanidad tiene. 

Harta energía positiva para esta nueva etapa, Camila. Respeto mucho tu camino de libertad.

Finally, thanks to you if you are still reading this much. As the imperfect creations of nature that we are, living under the protection of a superior being, we got our lives filled with constant transitions and changes that are mostly beyond our control. But many of those changes are our choices and they can be almost entirely up to us. This transitioning from male to female is one of them, I have made that choice for myself.

With this transition, I'm ready to face the challenges, by taking control of my life and appreciating every day I wake up. Now I see things with more hope, with a bigger sense of beauty, harmony and peace. Some days I have doubts and concerns, but I always stay calm and optimistic. This is a process I’m learning as I go.

In some way I have survived a life of events that made me a stronger person. Now I’m living, I'm truly looking forward to discover the near future. What is holding that future for me, I'm not sure but I know that I will do my best to fully enjoy and appreciate my true life.

Update: I posted some photos that show changes 2 months after I started this process.  

Also, I'm using the names Camila which I used for years when I did cross-dressing, and Mishki (sweetness in Quechua language) a name was given by my good friend Marcos.