Transgender Author Toni Newman Opposes Dr. Keith Ablow Position That Transgenders are Heroin Addicts

Oct. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Dr. Keith Albow has described Transgenderism to being addicted to heroin or being a drug addict.  I recently met Transgender Author Toni Newman who just recently wrote a memoir called I Rise-The Transformation of Toni Newman. Her book talks about a 20 year journey of transforming from male to female.  Toni Newman is the first African American Transgender to write a memoir in the United States.

I Rise, is the true story of Toni Newman's transformation from an effeminate, conflicted male to a proud, educated transsexual. You will follow Toni on her rise from a "sissy boy," a scholarship student, a business professional, an escort, a drag queen, a NYC prostitute, an LA dominatrix, and finally, a transsexual attending law school in order to help her transsexual sisters in need. Along Toni's journey you will see the highs and lows, as well as life-long quest for self-acceptance".

Toni addresses the comment of transgenderism as being addicted to heroin by saying "I lived on  the streets as homeless person of New York City for two years and I have lived with drug addicted people in a crack hotel and from time to time I ate from restaurant trash cans, but not once did I partake in any type of drugs or become addicted to heroin or any type of drugs.  I had no support from family or friends during my initial transformation which left me in a really bad situation.  I lived in a drug environment for two years and I never became a drug addict.  
My focus was transforming from male to female and being true to myself.  I can assure you kids reading a transgender book or watching a transgender on television will not desire to change to the opposite sex.  Transforming comes from deep deep within and one does not take that journey unless they are convinced within that they were born in the wrong body.  It took me almost ten years of soul searching after graduating from Wake Forest University to begin my personal transformation from male to female.  I know heroin addicts and I can assure you being transgender is not like a heroin addict."

Dr. John Oldham, M.D. (President, American Psychiatric Association) wrote:  "The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognizes gender identity disorder (GID) as a psychiatric disorder that involves significant distress or impairment in functioning.  The APA supports access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment for persons with GID and recognizes that the decision to undergo gender transition is a deeply personal one.  The APA opposes all forms of discrimination against persons with GID.  There is no evidence that viewing a television show with a transgender contestant or reading a book by a transgender would induce Gender Identity Disorder in young people."

We are all just trying to be true to ourselves no matter who we are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Toni's Book I Rise-The Transformation of
Toni Newman can be found on http:// www.amazon.com through hardcopy or Kindle. Toni can be found on myspace, twitter and facebook at tonidnewman. Her webpage is http://www.tonidnewman.com. The Publicist is Kayo Anderson of Kayo Anderson Media at Kayo@ohyeahnetworks.com.