This page is dedicated to the comments I have received regarding my love and devotion to Bubba the cat.
10/11/08:
i am in no way questioning your love or dedication to "bubba", but as a homosexual 26 year old, i have to question the social responsibility of you asking for other people to pay for a possibly fictional person who participates in an unprovable "profession". you seem to want to urge many to recognize the trauma this can cause in a pet, and if they're able to, give you money to pay for his "treatment". the question comes to my mind, how much have you championed the cause of transgendered, and how much of your money have you given to parents of teens troubled by it? i already know the answer is none, and i can accept that, i can even accept you not recognizing your incredible hypocrisy and selfishness, but what i cant accept, is that youre anything other than a fraud, exploiting a weakness that many people, myself included, have; the love for their pet.
im going to forward your site to the fine people at GLAAD, and allow them to show you the error of your ways, as what you are doing is harmful not only to animals, but also to the cause of transgendered youth everywhere...
-james michael long
***Response: As of 10/12/08 I have received a total of $4.00 in donations. After paypal deductions that amounts to approximately $2.53. I have not championed these donations for the cause of transgendered people, but rather my transgendered cat. I have not given any of my $2.53 profit to the parents of transgendered teens. I clearly stated that donations are for Bubba's therapy and pending sex reassignment surgery. Never did I imply that money received would go to the parents of transgendered teens. Also, I clearly stated that this was not an official charity, but rather a concerned mom of a transgendered cat looking for support. I do not see how raising awareness of transgendered pets minimizes the struggles of or causes harm to the transgendered community.
You say you are an animal lover. Why is a transgendered cat any less important than a transgendered human. Do animals not have emotions too? My Bubba has struggled with his issues since kittenhood. As a matter of fact, given that he gets crystals in his urethra (despite eating prescription food), a sex change operation would be of physical benefit as well since it would enlarge the size of his urethra and crystals would never get stuck in his penis again. Imagine if your urethra was plugged with sharp crystals, blocking off your urine flow. It is quite painful. A cat can die if this problem is not addressed in a timely fashion. How is wanting to save my cat causing pain to other animals and transgendered youth? If anything, I should be applauded for my dedication to my cat's physical and emotional well-being.
You seem to focus on the transgendered youth in your commentary. While it is a fact that the teenage homeless population is composed of a disproportionate amount of gays and transgendered teens that have been kicked out of their homes by their parents, do not discount the struggles of transgendered adults. Transgendered men and women, many who have established careers and families, must make their transition in the public eye. Many lose friends, family, and their jobs. They often have to lose everything in attempts to be true to themselves. The suicide rate of those that cannot afford the transition or cannot deal with the public's scrutiny is quite high, yet you make no mention of their struggle. As an activist, I would think you would be aware of these issues, yet you make no mention of them. Come on now. Am I really the one causing harm?
10/13/08: If I was a transgendered human, I'd be mighty pissed off with you right now.
Trans people don't get diagnosed on the basis of a single visit to a psychic. They have to go through a mind-numbingly long and arduous process of convincing various doctors, psychiatrists, and social workers that they really are trans and they really do want surgery. The burden of proof they're expected to meet is nothing short of unreasonable.
You, on the other hand, received a single diagnosis, and you accepted it on the basis of nothing other than the fact that your usually-frightened cat was friendly with the psychic.
In light of this very important difference between their claim and yours, it is quite disrespectful to them for you to go making emotional appeals for money, while talking about all the struggles that trans people face but which you've never actually had to experience.
There are any number of reasons your cat might have had such a friendly reaction. After all, a "pet psychic" must make her living entirely by convincing pet owners that she understands those pets. Maybe she knows some techniques for doing this. Pheromones(natural or artificial), mannerisms, particular types of movement all may play a role.
So what you know for sure is that this psychic is good with animals, or
at least good with your cat. What that DOESN'T tell you for sure is that it's possible for a cat to somehow communicate its gender identity to a human.
Have you done anything further to verify her claim? Maybe you'd consider getting 2 or 3 other pet psychics to have a chat with Bubba. Don't tell them anything about what the first psychic said. If they're for real, you should be able to find at least one other psychic who comes up with the same theory independently.
Finally, please consider the results if you're wrong. If Bubba is indeed a male-minded, male-bodied cat, consider what the psychological damage to him will be if you DO go through with this. If you really care about your cat, you owe it to him to do a little more investigation first.
***Response: I am not under the false belief that transgendered humans get diagnosed through a single visit to a psychic, but then again this site is about a transgendered cat, not transgendered humans. If, in some way, this site draws positive attention to the struggle of transgendered humans, then that is an added benefit. If, on the other hand, this site draws negative attention to the transgendered community I apologize as that is not my intent. This site is about Bubba the cat, not the GLBT community.
I don't understand how this site can be disrespectful to the GLBT community as this site is about a cat. This is a free country with freedom of speech. If a transgendered human wishes to start a website to garner donations, that is his/her right. Why bash me? I'm just looking out for the well-being of my cat.
You criticized me for making reference to the struggles of the trans-community? First you tell me that I am disrespectful and imply that I do not take the feelings of the GLBT community into consideration. Now you knock me for trying to make the public aware of the very real struggles of the transgendered people. Also, if you had read my reply to a previous poster, you would realize that I was trying to make him aware that transgendered adults suffer as much as transgendered teens (as he seemed to discount trans-adults). Perhaps adults may be more mentally able to deal with the situation (I am not sure on this). You also criticized me for talking of struggles in which I have never experienced since I am not transgendered. You clearly stated that you are not transgendered, yet you talk of the struggles of the transgendered in your post as if you are an expert. Why is it that you can be an advocate but I cannot?
I have considered all options for Bubba (name to be changed later) and I thank you for your concern. Let it be known that my cats are like my children and I want nothing but the best for their mental/emotional/physical health.
10/14/08: They have redefined "sexuality" and made it the norm.
Now it's okay, even protected, to be a person "trapped" in the wrong kind of body.
And they say that redefining what marriage means, and allowing "Gay Marriage", won't EVER POSSIBLY lead to things like ... a man marrying two women, or a man marrying his dog.
Yet by making normal this.. transgender bullshit, the path has been paved for transgender animals, as clearly displayed here. Crazy fucks know no limits! And they will push!
I'm going to get tit implants on my forehead. So that I can say I was born with boobs on my mind... now I feel "right".
***Response: Wow! I don't think I even need to comment on this one. It's a shame rednecks breed at a higher rate than intellectuals.
10/19/08: Okay, I missed this one previously. Here goes:
As someone who has read the scientific literature on the transgendered (as opposed to consulting a psychic), this is utter litterbox-berries. Animals are not people. Really. They aren't your children. They are cats and dogs (or bunnies, or ferrets, or whatever), and their behavior doesn't necessarily obey the rules of human behavior. Cuddling a frightened dog doesn't calm it, but encourages it to remain frightened. Animals depend much more upon their hormones and physiology for their sexual identity than humans do. If poor little Bubba thinks he's a queen and not a tom, go get the boy neutered and he should feel a lot better. Shouldn't even cost much. So stop shilling for handouts by insulting transgendered people
***Response: I have never insulted transgendered people.
Good luck with your cat. I have two myself. But for the sake of trans people like myself, I urge you to volunteer to take down your site. Or, at least first take steps to see if there's a vet who will do what you're asking and that it's not prohibiting by local animal abuse law. Or, put your psychic to the test; if they can realize my birth name prior to changing it, I'm willing to consider them to have a valid opinion. Cheers,
Jonathan
***10/21/08: I will respond to this at a later time in order to give it proper attention and respect.
As seen on Military.com message boards:
10-05-08: That is some messed up sheet...............
10-12-08: I consulted a pet psychic once--he told me that my transgendered feline-American critter was just waiting for me to fall asleep so he could nibble off my fingers and toes! He hates Purina, and I haven't slept since....
10-19-08: Yikes, it is real ! http://helpbubba.synthasite.com/
probabilities:
· It is a joke. 25%
· They hope to get free money. 50%
· The lady is seriously in need of a life. 24.99%
· The cat is seriously in need of a sex change operation. 0.01%
10-19-08: THANK YOU. In today's crazy mixed up world, a person needs every laugh they can run across.
Uhhhh, this was for laughs right?
10-20-08: Send me money to keep my pet psychic comforting my trans-gendered cat until I can afford the sex change operation.
I need a gimmick like that.
Children are starving to death in this world, and this b1tch wants money to get her cat's sex changed.
This is, bar none and by far, the most ridiculous scam I have ever heard. Her parents should have beat her harder.
