Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Transgender Samoans

 'glorious miracles'


'Talofa' means 'Aloha' in Samoa

" To see the Summer Sky
Is Poetry,
 though never in a Book it lie -
True Poems flee. "

~Emily Dickinson









 " -a man's mind grows narrow 
in a narrow place." 

Samuel Johnson








" The sky 
is the daily bread 
of the eyes. "

Ralph Waldo Emerson



(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")


Transgender Samoans
are 'Glorious Miracles'


Tamara McLean, AAP South Pacific Correspondent,
 The Sydney Morning Herald 
July 5, 2011 - 9:34AM


Transsexuals, known as fa'afafine, are common in Samoa and are so socially accepted that the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele, is their association's lead patron.


Samoa's prime minister has offered high praise to the country's transsexuals, calling them "glorious miracles of God" who "us men" can't help but find attractive.



Addressing a workshop in the capital Apia, Mr Tuilaepa was full of flattery for the group of biological males who identify as women,according the government news website Savali.


He acknowledged they believed they were a 
"special gender." 
"That is why some of you have spent considerable money on special operations," he said.

"But it is not your will that you are the way you are.
 You are just another shining example of the glorious miracles and creations of our Lord."

The comments were taken as compliments in Samoa-

This story was found at: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/transgender-samoans-glorious-miracles-20110705-1gzr1.html

        Leave a Comment with sequins! cloudia
at

31 comments:

  1. the walking manJuly 6, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Let people be as they are then you can have expectation of the same from them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AkelamaluJuly 6, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Fascinating video Cloudia. I think it's wonderful that people are accepted for who and what they are. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Commander ZaiusJuly 6, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    What Walking Man said, most people just want to get along.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 6, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Daily Bread
    I love the quote. Excellent said.
    Thanks for sharing. And yes, I am visiting after long time because busy with travels for past one year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LynnJuly 6, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    I love this acceptance and celebration of the transgendered Samoans.

    ReplyDelete
  6. DarylJuly 6, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    Its sad this is the exception rather than the rule ... all men/women and any version thereof .. were all created as equals; it took laws to change that ... now we're moving toward righting things .. making that the rule at least in some places

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  7. IndraniJuly 6, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    Acceptance is must for a peaceful coexistence.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Elephant's ChildJuly 6, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Daryl is so right. Lovely that the transgendered are not only accepted but valued in Samoa. A lesson for many of us.
    Thank you, as always.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jenn JilksJuly 6, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    Many of us are so uptight about all this. I grew up in downtown Toronto, with many LGBT folks around. Also a multicultural city, everyone just *is*.

    Cheerful post.
    Aloha!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Charles GramlichJuly 6, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    I saw a special on this not to long ago on one of the science/history channels. Really interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kavita SahariaJuly 6, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    Acceptance and celebration - wonderful !

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pierre BOYERJuly 6, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    Have a nice day...

    Pierre

    ReplyDelete
  13. TrotterJuly 6, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Interesting!!!

    PS: Waiting for you in Corsica... an island also...

    ReplyDelete
  14. D.AngelJuly 6, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Μια γλυκιά καλησπέρα από Ελλάδα
    Have a sweet night
    Wishes from Greece

    ReplyDelete
  15. Pinecone StewJuly 6, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    Have a SUPER week, Cloudia !

    ReplyDelete
  16. Windsmoke.July 6, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    Except people for who they are no matter what the gender we are all the same inside. Many people have narrow minds because they are scared of what beauty lies beyond :-).

    ReplyDelete
  17. FireblossomJuly 6, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    Different strokes for different folks

    and so on and so on and scoo be doo be doo be

    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Milandailyphoto.comJuly 6, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    i agree on what Ralph says about the sky

    ReplyDelete
  19. MargueriteJuly 6, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    Very interesting post! Great quotes and pics,too!

    ReplyDelete
  20. CloudiaJuly 6, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    I love you like GaGa!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Country GirlJuly 6, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    I loved the quote about the sky being the daily bread for our eyes.

    Tolerance and acceptance - it's all good.

    ReplyDelete
  22. magiceyeJuly 6, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    that was interesting and comforting

    namaste /\ from mumbai
    aloha or talofa!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. SandyCarlsonJuly 6, 2011 at 11:27 PM

    Thanks for this reminder that so often we worry about the wrong stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  24. HattieJuly 6, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    Very nice. I liked the video. At the prison where I worked transgender people were often in physical danger while being blamed for the "dispruption" they "caused" by their presence, as the men treatened them and/or fought over their favors. The best that could happen is that they would find a "protector" so the other men would let them alone.
    I did not see much understanding for them among other prisoners or staff, I must say.
    Transgender people have it tough in any setting, and I wish them the best.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Betty ManousosJuly 7, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    love you for being you!

    betty xx

    ReplyDelete
  26. Brian MillerJuly 7, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    acceptance is a powerful thing...

    and those clouds are awesome!

    aloha from va!

    ReplyDelete
  27. PerthDailyPhotoJuly 7, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    What a great video Cloudia, I really enjoyed it, what a fantastic word fa'afafine, excellent!

    ReplyDelete
  28. NordisJuly 7, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    You have a very fine and interesting blog.
    Greetings
    Nordis

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousJuly 7, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    Cool video Cloudia -- even with just one gender to keep track of, I wish I could think better around questions. Here's my sequin: *
    DrumMajor

    ReplyDelete
  30. gabrielleJuly 8, 2011 at 12:18 AM

    from "tolerance" to celebration. What a gift in guidance to be free from the strictures of "gender".
    Beautiful post!

    ReplyDelete
  31. KayJuly 8, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Good for the Samoans for respecting everyone.

    ReplyDelete

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