On
April 3rd, 2004 Laura's Playground was born. Its main mission
is and was to provide support for our transgendered brothers
and sisters as well as to try to reduce the high suicide rate
in our Community. As I built the site it quickly became apparant
that I could not fulfill the sites mission alone unless I cloned
myself. So I observed in the chatrooms to find the most exceptional
Moderators I could find who would all work from the same set
of rules for the same mission. I wanted to make this a safe
site. One by one I found them. This page is dedicated to introduce
those fine people who have become our staff members, All of
our moderators are dedicated volunteers who work for no pay.
They put in countless hours in the chat rooms and some in the
Forums. Between them they have saved thousands of Transgender
lives.
One
of the great benefits though, have been our users. As the moderators
started projecting their support it became infectious in a miraculous
kind of way. In a very short period of time Support seemed to
build from everyone. Even in the few hours that we are not covered
by moderators, visitors of our chat rooms are overwhelmed by
the support here. We also hold peer Online
moderated
support group meetings . More are planned.
Remember
that moderators are here to provide you with a safe site to
chat and they are carrying out and enforcing the rules of Laura's
Playground that I put forth. They deserve nothing less then
total respect and courtesy for their dedication. Please treat
them right. If you need to debate the rules write to me. I wrote
them, not the moderators. So don't argue with the moderators.
It is reason enough to be banned.
Many
of our moderators are training, or have been certified in Youth
Suicide Prevention. This is the same Professional Training that
suicide hotline personel receive. We are the only Transgendered
Support Web Site that provides Online Peer Counseling and Transgender
Support Group Meetings, as well as suicide prevention. In addition
moderator's go through a unique course run By our two Crisis
Trainers Vanna And Becca. Aura runs the final part of crisis
preparedness training for staff. If you are interested in becoming
a moderator for either chat or the forums contact Stu, PetraJane
or Laura.
ALL
persons featured on this page are unpaid volunteers working
for their community. Most have put in thousands of hours of
hard work for the sole purpose of supporting you our users and
our community. Only staff members who have been active
within the past six months are listed on this page. Others are
inactive staff who are always welcome to rejoin at any time,
and are given special mention at the bottom of the page.
A
new position here is the Chat Crisis Supervisor. Their primary
job is to backup our moderators who are handling user crisis's.
They are well experienced in crisis management and suicide prevention.
Their crisis management skills have been invaluable. They usually
are online for long shifts in the background and are always
a mere shout away. While you may not always see them they are
always there.
The
staff here is a team working together for the same mission which
is saving Transgender lives. No one can do this job including
me by myself. Every position is important here and critical
to our mission.
In
emails below replace at with @. This is to cut spam mail.
The
Staff, Supervisors and Moderators
President/Site
Owner
Linda S. Details Private
Volunteer
News Editor
Author
Laura
Amato,
author of Laura's Playground and Laura's HBS site.
Laura
has a psychology and management background and is a
certified youth suicide prevention counselor. She is
not a therapist. She pays all site expenses out of her
own pocket.
Laura's
work is way too much for one person. Most duties have
been divided up. The staff below has been hand picked
by me for their talent and expertise in certain areas.
Without them this site could not exist. These team members
have helped make this site successfull.
Vice
President of Web Design, Forums Director and Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Petra
Jane has
run the forums
since the very beginning and still does. She is now
a vice president in charge of web design as well and
has a great knowledge of HTML. She has put in Thousands
of hours of work into this site.
She
is a Crossdresser from the UK who is also a Grande Dame.
Petra Jane has a site dedicated to Trans Fiction. She
is also a dear friend.
PJ
has been 100% active in site management since May of
2004 and was our first moderator. She has shown a willingness
to do the hard work necessary to put in the time and
effort to run this site and has the experience to do
so. She will be my successor in running this site and
making day to day decisions. She also plans to keep
the site design as it is and not get rid of our unique
features our users all love such as our Site Pals.
Email:
forums at lauras-playground.com
Vice
President of Communications
The Chat Director
Transman
Director
Stu
Is a pre-op FTM Transsexual. He is The Chat Director
with experience in crisis management. He is certified
in youth suicide prevention. Stu is also in charge of
our Transman section on the site.
Email
for chat issues: dontask66 at hotmail.co.uk
Vice President
Special
Projects and Resources Director
One
of the three Co Assistant Chat Directors
Monica_Jennifer
is a MTF Transsexual who has been on hormones
since 1996. She is certified in youth suicide prevention,
and is a Chat Crisis supervisor. She is also a Wiccan.
Monica moderates the Parents of TG Children meetings.
Monica
is our Special Resource Projects Director. She manages
our lists like the Gender Therapist List and other new
ones being created. She is the creator of the Endocrinologist
and Electrologist and Entertainment resource lists as
well as other pages.
One
of the three Co Assistant Chat Directors
Amethyst
is
a Post Op MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth
Suicide Prevention.
Email
for chat issues: amy_gibbs at live.com
One
of the three Co Assistant Chat Directors
4MySOJenn_ImMichelle
(Michelle) is the GG (Genetic Girl) wife of a CD. She
is supportive and patient. She will be running a second
S.O. (Significant Other) support meeting on Tuesdays at
7pm est. As a chat moderator she is also certified in
Youth Suicide Prevention. Michelle believes it's good
to learn about new things everyday.
Assistant
Forum Director and Chat Crisis Supervisor
MaryEllen
is an MTF transsexual and moderator.in the
forums
Vice
President
and
Chat Crisis Supervisor
Justin
is
a 25 year old FTM. Certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Plus, holds a Bachlors Degree in Psychology. He helps
to run the FTM meetings.
Crisis
Trainer and Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Rebecca
/ Becca is a MTF
Transsexual. She is certified and experienced in Youth
Suicide Prevention. She has succesfully handled several
suicide crisis's and Trains other Moderators in Crisis
Handling in addition to the course.
Crisis
Trainer and Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Vanna
is
a
MTF Transsexual. She is certified and experienced in Youth
Suicide Prevention. She has succesfully handled several
suicide crisis's and Trains other Moderators in Crisis
Handling in addition to the course.
Administrative
Assistant
Sammi-Lee
is
a MTF PreOp Transsexual. She is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention. Sammi is one of 3 Co-Moderators for the
Parents of TG Children meetings.
Email
for chat issues: samhodder at rocketmail.com
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Rays
is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
jenerosity
is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
MeganJb2000
is a MTF PreOp Transsexual. She is certified in Youth
Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Sakura
is a Chat room supervisor and is certified in youth suicide
prevention. She is currently in the Real life test (RLT)
and is very knowledgable about Transsexuality. She is
the Significant Other of Tony_D.
Significant
Other, Wives Partners Chat and Forum Moderator
Chat Crisis Supervisor
Anyushka
likes to be called Anne (not Annie). She is the
GG (Genetic Girl) wife of a MTF who is on hormones. She
is very supportive. She will be running our S.O. and wives
Support Meetings. She also moderates the Partners Forums.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Jayme
is
a PreOp MTF who is also Intersexxed. She is certified
in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Chloe*
is a PreOp MTF Transsexual. She is certified in youth
suicide prevention.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Aarianna
is a MTF. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Aura
is a MTF PreOp Transsexual. Aura does the final part of
the training of staff for crisis room readiness. She is
certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Crisis Supervisor
Silke
is a PreOp MTF and she is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Synyster
is a Post Op FTM Moderator. He is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Alex-Squirrel-Boy
is a FTM Moderator. He is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
~Sophie~
is a MTF Moderator. She is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
YinYang
is a MTF Moderator. She is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Lucy Anne
is a MTF Moderator. She is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Dixie
is a MTF Moderator. She is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
melissab1973
is a MTF Moderator. She is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Lydia
is the SO of Aura. She is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Seriana
is a MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth Suicide
prevention.
Chat
Moderator
crystinaTX
is a MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth Suicide
prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Christastrophe
is certified in Youth Suicide prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Cathie
is a MTF Transsxeual. She is certified in Youth Suicide
prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Drea
is a MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide
prevention. Drea requested the comment that she is "Mostly
Harmless."
Chat
Moderator
jessica_282
is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth
Suicide prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Elizabeth
K
is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth
Suicide prevention.
FTM
Forum Moderator
Buzz
is our FTM Forum Moderator and is currently on
Hormones. He helps run our FTM weekly support meetings.
He is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.
MTF
and AA/NA Chat Moderator
Sarah1
Sarah is a Post-op MTF Transsexual and is very
knowledgeable on transgender issues. She co-moderates
in the MTF meetings and in our Alcohol and Drug Abuse
support meetings. Sarah is certified in youth suicide
prevention.
Forum
Moderator
Sophie
Jean is
an MTF transsexual and moderator.in the
forums
Chat
Moderator
Melissia
is a MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide
prevention.
Forum
Moderator
Jennifer1
/ Tinkerbell is
a MTF Transsexual and moderator.in the
forums
Chat Moderator and Forums
Mod
Paula
Ult
is
a Post Op MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide
prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Alissa
is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth
Suicide prevention.
Chat
Moderator
BriannaMarie
is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth
Suicide Prevention.
Chat
Moderator
Willow
Ann
is a MTF transsexual. She is certified in Youth Suicide
Prevention.
Vice President TG Welfare
Chat Supervisor
Karen_H
is now a Vice President in charge of TG Welfare. She
is working on TG housing in the Houston area.
She is a certified youth suicide prevention counselor
and Chat supervisor.
Note:
It is with great regret that we announce that Karen
has died of cancer. She will be missed.
Georgia
Ann Hodnett
is a Vice President of Laura's Playground and Laura's
HBS Site. Georgia was the second to enter our realm.
She has been here from almost the start of our humble
beginnings and has been my mentor and a good friend.
She urged the founding of our Transgendered Daily
News Room which is now legendary. She has been an
activist, author and a spearhead for the Transgendered
Community.
GeorgiaAnn
Died on December 1st 2008. She will be missed not
only as a staff member but as a friend, advisor and
mentor.
The
following staff have now been inactive for 6 months to a year
or more. Tho they may return to the active staff at any time,
They will start as Purple staff and have to go through retraining.
They are : Katherine, Rachelcrown, Jake, Oz, Betty B, Kieraleanne,
Brina, Sondra, bobbie, Brittany, Diane, AJ, Beth, Shelby (lil
shar), ashley4262, jessica72, Alyea, BeckyAnn, bobbi, DarienJames,
nibbler, nick-j, Rita, Abby, Angelic Devil!, ashley4262, ashton
bradley, Chrissie_Nightstar, Glo4U, JackieP, James73, jessi72,
LadyLuck, Michelle Butterfly, MichelleDA, Mischa K, MissCassandra,
pebbles, semolina, Bekky, butterfly, Constance, ElizabethP,
ladymay, MonikaC, WonderWoman, Bear30, jenny75, wolfy, jj,
Nikki_C, Nadine, zelane, Raydub, michelle, Emma82, Veronica
Young, Lonewolf, Matthew41, ZoeyOh, Missundaztood, Jamie A
Holly, Samantha_C, Andi, Leazabeth, Jd_1008 / JD, Tony_D,
Brianna Marie, TraciDeanne, Bernii, TaylorZ, Shaney, Cassandra,
Samantha, Kaylee, Kasandra, Jen001.
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