Video Journal

FTM Research Video

2009-08-27T04:55:01Z

FTM Testosterone Research Study

2009-08-27T04:45:37Z

FTM RESEARCH STUDY!

Are you 18 or older? Do you currently identify as a female-to-male transgender or transsexual, or have identified as FTM in the past and now identify as male but have NOT started T?

A self-identified transgender male, Stacey Colt Meier, is conducting a research study on persons who identify as transgender men. He is a doctoral student at the University of Houston and the results from this study will be used for his Doctoral Dissertation. The purpose of this research is to examine changes in cognitive functioning, emotional reactivity, and personality due to testosterone.

In order to qualify for this study you must be at least 18 years old. You must either not have started testosterone or have been on T for less than one month before the first measurement. If you haven't already, you must plan to start testosterone within the next year and plan on taking testosterone for at least one year. If you are interested, email Colt at ftmresearch@gmail.com with your first name and telephone number. He will call you for an initial telephone screen.

The study consists of three measures lasting 2 to 3 hours each where Colt will send non-Houston residents questionnaire packets (if you live in Houston, you may come into the University of Houston to participate). These measurements will be conducted over the period of one year: first pre-T, second 3-4 months after starting T, and third 10-12 months after starting T. You will be asked to fill out questionnaires that assess basic demographic information, personal transitioning plans, personality, and emotional reactivity. Local Houston participants may take a psychological test that measures intellectual functioning. This study has been reviewed by the Committee for Protecting Human Subjects at the University of Houston.

This video is a little wonky, but it's an update

2009-07-07T04:46:44Z

My friend's Dissertation Study

2009-07-05T21:32:11Z

If you identify as transgender, PLEASE take some time to complete this survey. I think that this is the best way to get our voices heard by experts who make decisions for how services are provided to us.

Please click the link shown below to participate in my dissertation research project.

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/124285/sknov

I am a doctoral student at the University of North Dakota. I am collecting data on an important mental health topic. I appreciate your taking time to complete this online study. It should take from 20 to 40 minutes to complete. As a means of saying thank you for the time you put into this study, I am offering twenty $100 cash prizes in a raffle that will be conducted after the study closes (Fall 2009).

This study has been approved by the University of North Dakota Institutional Review Board. Further information about that approval can be found at the study web site.

If you need further information please contact me at (701) 885-1125 or by email at: lmdickey.research@gmail.com.

Please feel free to forward this message to others who may qualify for participation.

May 2009

2009-05-28T15:02:35Z

Dissertation

2009-04-29T06:40:01Z

My dissertation study recently got approved. Please help me get the word out! I can only realistically have participants who live in Texas or very close to Texas participate because I have to travel.
See the following ad for information regarding the study. My advisor is apprehensive that I will not get enough participants.

Are you 18 or older? Do you currently identify as a female-to-male transgender or transsexual, or have identified as FTM in the past and now identify as male but have NOT started T?
A self-identified transgender male, Stacey Colt Meier, is conducting a research study on persons who identify as transgender men. He is a doctoral student at the University of Houston and the results from this study will be used for his Doctoral Dissertation. The purpose of this research is to examine changes in cognitive functioning, emotional reactivity, and personality due to testosterone.
In order to qualify for this study you must be at least 18 years old. You must not have started testosterone before the first testing session. You must plan to start testosterone within the next year and plan on taking testosterone for at least one year. If you are interested, email Colt at ftmresearch@gmail.com with your first name and telephone number. He will call you for an initial telephone screen.
The study consists of three visits lasting 2 to 3 hours each where Colt will travel to eligible participants. These visits will be conducted over the period of one year: first pre-T, second 3-4 months after starting T, and third 10-12 months after starting T. You will be asked to fill out questionnaires that assess basic demographic information, personal transitioning plans, personality, and emotional reactivity. Participants will take a psychological test that measures intellectual functioning. This study has been approved by the Committee for Protecting Human Subjects at the University of Houston.

Thanks,
Colt

ftmresearch@gmail.com

P.S. I am currently still analyzing the results from my thesis internet survey, but I promise I'll post them and a link to my thesis once it's all done. (that'll be by the end of the summer)

x posted all over

Colt's FTM Thesis Survey! Update

2009-03-05T01:58:12Z

Hey guys,

Based on preliminary results from the first study, I am now running a modified version of this study which is also looking into childhood gendered experiences (still has IRB approval). The new study is hopefully also easier to navigate. The good news for you is that if you wanted to participate, but were unable to because I closed the survey, you can participate now.
Even if you already participated, but wanted to re-take it or elaborate on your answers and want to be included in the new dataset (and yet another prize drawing!) you may participate again! Your participation will enter you into the drawing for the grand prize of $250. The results will be presented in the poster session at WPATH (formerly the Harry Benjamin Society) this summer in Norway!

http://www.hostedsurvey.com/takesurvey.asp?c=Transmen

So basically, if you've already taken the survey last month, please re-take it...and if you never got around to taking it the first time around, please take it. Thanks guys!

Feb 16, 2009

2009-02-18T22:54:41Z

Jan. 30, 2009

2009-01-31T06:39:31Z

slmvideo @ 2009-01-15T22:43:00

2009-01-16T04:44:29Z

My thesis survey for FTMs

2009-01-06T21:35:25Z

Hey guys,
As most of you know, I've been working on my thesis for a year and I am finally all legal and officially approved to begin recruiting FTMs/transmen to fill out my survey. Here is the ad followed by the link to complete the questionnaire online. Please forward this on to every FTM you know!
Colt

Are you 18 or older? Do you currently identify as a female-to-male transgender or transsexual, or have identified as FTM in the past and now identify as male?
A self-identified transgender male, Stacey Colt Meier, is conducting a research study on persons who identify as transgender men. He is a doctoral student at the University of Houston and the results from this study will be used for his Master’s Thesis. The purpose of this research is to help inform clinicians about transgender males.
In order to qualify for this study you must be at least 18 years old. You do not need to be on hormones or have already had surgery to participate.
The study consists of an online questionnaire, which should take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The questions will assess basic demographic information as well as your mood over the last week, as well as your personal transitioning plans and experiences. You must read and agree to the consent form before filling out the survey. This study has been reviewed by the Committee for Protecting Human Subjects at the University of Houston.
If you complete the full survey, you can choose to be entered into a lottery for a chance to win $250 and ten chances to win $100. Once you complete the survey, there will be a separate link to a secure page (not linked to your data) that you may choose to enter your email address in if you'd like to be eligible for the lottery.

Click the link below to access the survey.

http://www.hostedsurvey.com/takesurvey.asp?c=Transmen

Questions? ftmresearch@gmail.com

Dad's parental coming out letter

2008-12-28T20:39:06Z

Our Parental “Coming Out” Letter
December 19, 2008

Last year, our 25-year-old Stacey came out in a letter to his friends. Now it is his parent’s turn to come out to their family and friends. The Meier’s believe that the information presented below could be shocking to some you, but we love Stacey and want the best life possible for our “child” and others like him.

Fasten your seatbelt. Please do not share this information with people outside your immediate family.

One Saturday morning about 23 years ago, when Stacey was 2 years old and was sitting comfortably on the bed with mother Pam watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bob said something like, “Stacey, isn’t this wonderful? Maybe when you grow up, you will be able to sit with your own daughter, and watch Alvin and the Chipmunks on TV just like you and your mom are doing. Stacey replied, “No, I want to be the dad.” Not wanting to argue with a 2-year old, her dad said, “Stacey you can be anything you want to be.”

When Stacey was 3 years old, one of our good friends Sandra Hathaway came to visit us in our new old house on 20th Street that she had sold us. She saw Stacey and remarked, “Stacey, you are such a beautiful little girl. When you get to be 17 years old, I am going to nominate you to be a Neches River Festival Princess” to which Stacey replied, “No thanks.” When asked what Stacey meant, the reply was, “I want to be the King.” Little did Stacey or her parents realize what lay ahead for this child.

As a child, Stacey never played with dolls, and had clearly shied away from wearing skirts, long hair, ribbons, and girly stuff. Stacey enjoyed studying with and talking to guys, wearing shirts and pants, going fishing, being competitive at grades and sports, winning a National Championship in Tae-Kwon-Do at the 5th Degree level. Stacey had been an alter server at St. Anne’s from 6th grade through high school and even won “most religious student” awards her freshman and juniors year at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School. She always told her parents the truth, made friends with all, didn’t smoke or drink.

While growing up, Stacey prayed to God that she would never, never be a lesbian (a woman who is physically attracted to other women). Stacey’s church, parents, and friends were of the opinion that gays and lesbians were “kind of ok people” but “sort of different”. Stacey decided late in college that she might possibly be a lesbian.

A year later, at age 22, Stacey recognized she was not a lesbian, but that the term transgender (a person whose physical body does not match their gender identity) seemed to fit much better. Stacey strongly felt that “she” was really a “he” born into a woman’s body.

So, in a sense, God really did answer Stacey’s prayer……..as Stacey was not a lesbian…..but a transgender person. Stacey received counseling from therapists at UTMB Galveston and in Houston. After a few years, Stacey, Bob, and Pam had to face the facts; Stacey is a F to M transgender person who has been living as a male, for the past two years.

Back to the parents—When Stacey told the parents about being gay and later transgender, they did not want to believe it, and her dad was in denial for about year. He thought this might simply be a phase, and chose to dismiss what could be happening. He blamed them as parents for being too understanding, Rice University for being too close to the Montrose Area of Houston, the “unisex” look, and too many sporting events for girls like soccer, softball, and Tae-Kwon-Do. His thinking was that as parents, they should continue to love their child, but not go out of their way to support “inappropriate behavior” of their child.

He told Stacey not to worry as this urge likely would not last, and perhaps a committee just made up that “transgender” diagnosis somewhere. However, it did last. Now they understand that they have a son who needs their support, and that using the right pronoun is very, very difficult for parents to do.

With his strong German-Lutheran heritage, through high school, college, and graduate school, Bob did not know of anyone in Indiana who admitted they were gay. Bob’s first inkling about a transgender person was seeing “female impersonators” on Bourbon Street in New Orleans once during college. This was in the “scary and unusual category” of life experiences. These people did not have great occupations.

Bob and Pam have found themselves generally ignorant about gay and transgender issues for most of their adult lives, in spite of having advanced degrees, being on the faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, and doing rotations at the transgender clinic at UTMB Galveston over 30 years ago.

To catch up, Bob and Pam have been attending PFLAG meetings (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in Houston.

They attended parent support groups called “Always Our Children” sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Beaumont.

They saw TV talk shows and interviews with Barbara Walters, Larry King, and Tyra Banks where transgender stories were told.

Also, Stacey gave them books (Straight Parents Gay Children), as well as articles and movies to speed the process of understanding. “FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO” is a very fine film on DVD. If interested, you can simply Google “For the Bible” to order a DVD for $19.00.

Through study, Stacey’s parents have learned that:

• Neither gender orientation nor sexual identity is a choice, as very few people would choose to be feared and hated by people and society as a whole. Scientists, physicians, and psychologists understand some things about gay and transgender people, but much still remains unknown. Genes and birth order play a role.

• Since the beginning of time there have been significant gender identity variations throughout plant, animal, and human worlds. Perhaps it is an evolutionary survival necessity. There are 6 known sexual variations within the lowly bluegill fish family, and no one is afraid of a bluegill except maybe bugs, crickets, red worms, or night crawlers.

• According to the “Always Our Children” message from the US Catholic Bishop’s Committee on Marriage and the Family (www.usccb.org/laity/always.shtml), parents with gay children experience many emotions including relief, anger, mourning, fear, guilt, shame, loneliness, and parental protectiveness.

• Socrates, Aristotle, Julius Caesar, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, three Popes, and Hans Christian Anderson were gay. This is pretty good company. 5% to 10% of the US population has very strong gay feelings and are likely gay. However, both gay and transgender citizens in the US are fearful of telling people, including family members with good reason. A fourth of gay and transgender teens are kicked out of their homes by “parents” thus losing physical, emotional, and financial support.

• Citizens who are gay in Canada can marry and enjoy full civil rights. Citizens who are gay in the US do not enjoy full civil rights. Loving and committed relationships between gay people are neither encouraged nor honored by most states in the US. (Fortunately for Stacey, in many parts of the US, transgender people can get married, depending on how transgender is defined in that area.)

• It is very dangerous to be transgender in the US. No health insurance agencies cover transgender healthcare needs. 60% of transgender people have seriously considered suicide. 50% of Houston transgender people are victims of violent attacks. German soldiers under Hitler killed Jews, Gypsies, Gays, Transgender People, as well as their Medical Providers. See for yourself at the Holocaust Museum in Houston, Texas.

• People tend to fear and then to hate what they do not understand, e.g. sharks and chemistry.

Stacey has accomplished much in his young life, earning all A’s through grade school, high school, college, and graduate school. He continues to attend church regularly and is devout in his worship. He donates time to charitable organizations. He’s always open and honest. He has always come to his parents for advice on difficult issues. He’s presented over 20 talks for students at colleges as well as professional meetings at the state and national level. He recently gave a class presentation to medical students at Baylor School of Medicine in Houston.

He exercises, does not smoke, and seldom drinks. Like a true scientist, over the past two years, Stacey has carefully documented physical changes in voice, emotions, and muscle structure. What more could we ask as parents? As you might expect, we could not be more proud of our child who wants to bring people to Jesus and to educate the world.

We request that you continue to treat Stacey and all people with love, dignity, and respect. Please show gay and transgender people that they are clearly loved as Children of God, as many do not believe this. Help them feel comfortable in your church or home. Please speak out when you hear someone talk about people in a demeaning way.

Please greet Stacey with a big smile and a big hug when you see him. He has changed on the outside into a handsome young man. He is still good as gold on the inside. Stacey is counting on you, and so are we.

Thanks!

Bob and Pam

PS

FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO-Film Synopsis:

“Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?

Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families -- including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson -- we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child.

Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg, Billy Graham, Ronald Reagan, and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity. (www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/).”

Drains!

2008-12-10T19:06:53Z

Last Day before I'm off for Surgery

2008-12-07T04:57:42Z

slmvideo @ 2008-11-10T23:08:00

2008-11-11T05:09:51Z

Top Surgery Fundraiser Flyer

2008-10-06T21:35:21Z

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31678983&l=dfd98&id=3002926

Top Surgery Fundraiser!

2008-10-03T19:58:01Z

Long overdue update

2008-10-03T19:48:47Z

8 month Update

2008-06-17T04:08:47Z

7 months

2008-05-17T21:42:00Z

WOW, these initial screens of my videos make me look so amazingly bad.

6.5 month Update

2008-04-29T03:24:03Z

6 months!

2008-04-15T06:13:31Z

Article on Me in OutSmart

2008-04-05T23:58:01Z

Check this out. It's pretty exciting.
http://www.outsmartmagazine.com/cms-this_issue/200804--Call+Him+Colt.html?PHPSESSID=d3cb3314052aef41df334b87925193ca

5.5 month Entry...I look like a doofus on the first screen!

2008-03-30T17:29:00Z

5 month update

2008-03-30T01:54:00Z

My previous video hosting site stopped offering their service so over the next few days/weeks I will be switching all the videos over. If you don't see the play function, put your mouse over the video.