Kabuki
05-15-2007, 10:01 PM
On ET tonight. Check your local listings for times.
http://www.etonline.com/
The transgender topic is now on the cover of this week's Newsweek magazine!
Last week ET introduced transgender entertainer ALEXIS ARQUETTE to a quartet of unique individuals in Hollywood for a transgender transformation summit. The group all had one thing in common -- they were once all men: JACKIE, the girl next door; REINA, the housewife; SASHIA, the vixen; and DONNA, the soccer mom who used to be a dad.
As ET's transgender series continues, the girls recount botched plastic surgery stories -- and the mistake that left Reina scarred and wanting to end her life!
"I was so caught up in [the idea that] you had to be perfect," says Reina. "At the time I was a dancer and I also modeled and stuff, and unfortunately I ran into a situation of having some cosmetic work done, and the result was really, really bad. I went through a lot of suicidal feelings at the time, and 'til this day it's very emotional for me."
Reina says she had enhancements done with injections at a "pumping party," where individuals gather to have silicone injected into various body parts, from their face and lips to their breasts, thighs and posteriors.
Unfortunately, she says the "doctor" administering the injections wasn't really a doctor, and it wasn't done in a hospital.
"These pumping parties are very dangerous," she confesses. "I was very young -- I was like 19 -- and it was actually done at a house."
"It's done with industrial-grade silicone," adds Jackie.
"I'm still scarred from this situation," says Reina. "Anyone that's going to have any kind of surgery done, anything cosmetic, should be very careful and make sure the doctor is FDA approved."
"Why do you think people push themselves and endanger their bodies?" asks Alexis. "Do you agree that you have to be really okay emotionally to have physical work done on yourself?"
"I find too many people are looking for quick fixes and they think they are going to find it at the end of a scalpel or at the end of a needle," says Donna. "Many of us learn it the hard way; that we're never going to be the fantasy people we envisioned when we close our eyes at night, and part of it is simply coming to peace with that. I think that people really need to understand that the physical changes are part of the congruency, but they're not the be all end all."
"Yes," agrees Alexis. "There is a saying that sexuality is between the ears and gender is between the legs."
"You're an adult; you have your own decisions and choices to make [about] your life," says Sashia. "Don't take your friend's advice, don't take your girlfriend's advice -- listen to your doctor in whatever you are having done, whether it's facial injections [or what have you]."
"If you really don't do the research yourself, then you are just playing with your life," concludes Reina. "I had to go through therapy, and I had reconstructive surgery, and it was a long process."
Watch ET for the next installment of Alexis Arquette's transgender transformation summit!
To learn more about transgender issues, go to:
GLAAD (www.glaad.org)
National Center for Transgender Equality (www.nctequality.org)
www.donnarose.com
http://www.etonline.com/
The transgender topic is now on the cover of this week's Newsweek magazine!
Last week ET introduced transgender entertainer ALEXIS ARQUETTE to a quartet of unique individuals in Hollywood for a transgender transformation summit. The group all had one thing in common -- they were once all men: JACKIE, the girl next door; REINA, the housewife; SASHIA, the vixen; and DONNA, the soccer mom who used to be a dad.
As ET's transgender series continues, the girls recount botched plastic surgery stories -- and the mistake that left Reina scarred and wanting to end her life!
"I was so caught up in [the idea that] you had to be perfect," says Reina. "At the time I was a dancer and I also modeled and stuff, and unfortunately I ran into a situation of having some cosmetic work done, and the result was really, really bad. I went through a lot of suicidal feelings at the time, and 'til this day it's very emotional for me."
Reina says she had enhancements done with injections at a "pumping party," where individuals gather to have silicone injected into various body parts, from their face and lips to their breasts, thighs and posteriors.
Unfortunately, she says the "doctor" administering the injections wasn't really a doctor, and it wasn't done in a hospital.
"These pumping parties are very dangerous," she confesses. "I was very young -- I was like 19 -- and it was actually done at a house."
"It's done with industrial-grade silicone," adds Jackie.
"I'm still scarred from this situation," says Reina. "Anyone that's going to have any kind of surgery done, anything cosmetic, should be very careful and make sure the doctor is FDA approved."
"Why do you think people push themselves and endanger their bodies?" asks Alexis. "Do you agree that you have to be really okay emotionally to have physical work done on yourself?"
"I find too many people are looking for quick fixes and they think they are going to find it at the end of a scalpel or at the end of a needle," says Donna. "Many of us learn it the hard way; that we're never going to be the fantasy people we envisioned when we close our eyes at night, and part of it is simply coming to peace with that. I think that people really need to understand that the physical changes are part of the congruency, but they're not the be all end all."
"Yes," agrees Alexis. "There is a saying that sexuality is between the ears and gender is between the legs."
"You're an adult; you have your own decisions and choices to make [about] your life," says Sashia. "Don't take your friend's advice, don't take your girlfriend's advice -- listen to your doctor in whatever you are having done, whether it's facial injections [or what have you]."
"If you really don't do the research yourself, then you are just playing with your life," concludes Reina. "I had to go through therapy, and I had reconstructive surgery, and it was a long process."
Watch ET for the next installment of Alexis Arquette's transgender transformation summit!
To learn more about transgender issues, go to:
GLAAD (www.glaad.org)
National Center for Transgender Equality (www.nctequality.org)
www.donnarose.com