Anti-Aliased: Virtual worlds as the great equalizer

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Massively Meta, Virtual worlds, Anti-Aliased

So apparently it's gay pride week. I, pretty literally, had absolutely no clue that gay pride week was this week, even though I was lucky enough to speak at Metaplace's Metapride diversity event. Yes, I'm just that oblivious to my surroundings, even when I'm directly participating in them.

I know I don't hide the fact that I'm transgender, but I'm certain that not many people click on my author link here at Massively or really ponder the significance of my @sera_brennan Twitter username. That last sentence is probably the first time many of you long term readers even heard that I was transgender. (Although I remember someone wrote the site once and told them to correct all of the times in my author profile that I was referred to as "she" because it was obviously a typo.)

I owe much to my online escapes, as they aid me in more ways than just providing a fun distraction. They give me the opportunity to appear as I truly feel inside, and let me interact with others without the stigma of being or appearing to be transgendered attached. Beyond just me, however, are hundreds of thousands, or perhaps even millions of individuals who have gained an advantage or some sort of insight thanks to virtual worlds.

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Anti-Aliased: Virtual worlds as the great equalizer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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9th Transgender Day of Remembrance Observed in Second Life

Akela Talamasca — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Opinion, Second Life

It's all too easy to dismiss those who are different as unworthy of consideration, respect, or even simple human rights. Growing up in Hawai'i and living in San Francisco, I've led a pretty sheltered existence, taking equality among individuals to be a given; it's when I travel outside of these environs that I'm always shocked how much antipathy and outright hate there is for those who are Not Like Us, whoever and whatever that might resemble.

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, an occasion to remember victims of hate crimes perpetrated upon them for simply being different. Cities worldwide will be holding vigils to commemorate lost friends, lovers, and family members, and Second Life is no different. Elysium Gardens, with the support of the Transgender Resource Center, will host its first service: "The service itself will consist of Second Life residents and their allies sharing their personal stories and memories of friends, loved ones, and members of the community who were victims of hate crimes or who committed suicide. Also included will be personal stories from law enforcement officials and service providers who are familiar with such tragic events including the refusal of emergency services from healthcare providers and medical personal because of bias against the transgendered. The service will be held at Elysium Gardens' new Transgender Suicide Memorial."

For more information on this all-day event, contact Random Demina or Jani Myriam in-world.

[Thanks, Jani!]

9th Transgender Day of Remembrance Observed in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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