Presenting Laura's Playground Staff

Presenting Laura's Playground's Staff Members

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 "Training Director", Sharleah (MamaShar). If you are interested in becoming a moderator for either chat or the forums contact Karen, 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 year 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.

Contact info

Vice President of Web Design and Forums Director

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

Died December 1st 2008

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.

Georgiaann Hodnett Memorial

Vice President TG Welfare

Chat Room Director

Karen_H is now a Vice President in charge of TG Welfare. She is part The New Hope Foundation and is working on TG housing in the Houston area. She also is the Director of our chat rooms and the Senior Supervisor. Karen has our hardest job trying to keep users, Moderators, Supervisors and Laura happy.

She is a certified youth suicide prevention counselor. Please direct all Chat problems directly to Karen.

Email: Karen.Simpathi at gmail.com

Vice President of

Chat Operations

Director

Ashley is a PreOp MTF. She is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention, and runs the MTF Group on the chat. Oversees the Assistant chat directors and day to day chat operations. Reports to the chat director.

Vice President of Communications

Assistant Chat Director

Transman Director

Stu Is a pre-op FTM Transsexual. He is The Assistant Chat Director with experience in crisis management. He is certified in youth suicide prevention. Stu is head of FTM Chat And is in charge of our Transman section on the site.

Vice President Crisis Management

Supervisor and Training Director

Assistant Chat Director

Sharleah is now Vice President in charge of Crisis Management And Moderator Training and has saved hundreds of lives here. Those she has trained have saved thousands more. She is also a part of the New Hope Foundation working to eradicate TG homelessness.

Sharleah is a MTF/Intersexxed Transsexual. Sharleah is a certified Youth suicide prevention counselor and Trainer. She hosts the Intersex meetings and co-moderates the Parents of TG Children meetings. Sharleah also trains our new moderators and is in charge of our Suicide Prevention crisis training program. Her work here is an important, critical job that anchors this site. She has brought Professionalism to a whole new level.

Email: capricemama1 at yahoo.com

Vice President and Chat Crisis Supervisor

Back-up News Editor

Special Projects and Resources Director

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 co-moderates the Parents of TG Children meetings.

She supports the staff reviewing the daily transcripts and crisis's in an effort to help us to improve our crisis handling. In addition she is training to be our News Editor.

Monica is also Special Resource Projects Director. She manages our lists like the Gender therapist list and other new ones being created. She is the creator of both the Endocrinologist and Electrologist resource lists.

Chat Support Supervisor

Jess is a PreOp MTF Transsexual. She is certified youth suicide prevention. She handles Chat Technical Support Issues and Feature Updates, as well as Holiday Decor.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Jen001 Jen Is a post-op MTF Transsexual. She is a chat room supervisor with experience in crisis management. Jen is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Couples Moderator

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Kasandra is a GG or Genetic Girl who lives with her Crossdresser husband Darla.

Kasandra holds the TG partners, wives and husband's couples meetings.

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 very knowledgable about Transsexuality. She is the Significant Other of Tony_D.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Forum and Chat AA/NA Moderator

Bobbi/Robin_P is a self described T girl and helps moderate our Drug and alcohol abuse meetings. You can also catch her on our substance abuse forums.

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

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.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Kaylee is an MTF transsexual and supervisor. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

NickJ is a PreOp FTM. He is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Alyea is a PreOp MTF who is also Intersexxed. She is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Rita is a CD and is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention. Rita runs the CD Support group on the chat.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

JaymeAnn is a PreOp MTF who is also Intersexxed. She is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Samantha is a MTF/Intersexxed individual and she runs the weekly Intersex Group Meeting on the chatroom. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Danielle Michelle (aka) Faerie Princess is a PreOp MTF Transsexual. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

Rebecca / Becca is a MTF Transsexual currently in the RLE. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

vanna is a PreOp MTF Transsexual. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Chat Crisis Supervisor

DarienJames / DJ is a FTM Transsexual. He is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Devils_Daughter is an MTF PreOp Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide Prevention course.

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.

Chat Moderator

Bernii is a MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide Prevention course.

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.

Chat Moderator

TraciDeanne is a Post-op MTF Transsexual with much knowledge on Transgendered issues. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Assistant Forum Director

MaryEllen is an MTF transsexual and moderator.in the forums

Forum Moderator

Sophie Jean is an MTF transsexual and moderator.in the forums

Chat Moderator

Abby is a Post Op MTF transsexual and a moderator. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Dionne is a MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.

Chat Moderator

Brianna is a MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide Prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Aarianna is a MTF Moderator. She is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Melissia is a MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Tony_D is an FTM Moderator. He is certified in youth suicide prevention. He is the Significant Other of Sakura.

Chat Moderator

Jd_1008 / JD is a FTM Moderator. He is certified in youth suicide prevention.

Forum Moderator

Jennifer1 / Tinkerbell is a MTF Transsexual and moderator.in the forums

Chat Moderator

Leazabeth Elizabeth is a MTF post-op Transsexual who openly transitioned while working as a research scientist for the US government. She is certified in youth suicide prevention and has been semi-active since beginning her transition in 2005. She is a success story here and hopes to help others in transition.

Chat Moderator

Libby is a MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Samantha is a MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Andi is a Significant Other to a TG partner. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Paula Ult is a PreOp MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Samantha_C is a MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Jamie A Holly is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

DeShanna is a GG Parental Advisor. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention Course.

Chat Moderator

Missundaztood is a Chat Moderator who is presently taking the Youth Suicide Prevention Course.

Chat Moderator

ZoeyOh is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Matthew41 is a Pre Op FTM Transsexual. He is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Alissa is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certifed in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Lonewolf is a Pre Op FTM Transsexual. He is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

jessica_282 is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Cathie is a MTF Transsxeual, and is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Veronica Young is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Semolina is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Seriana is a MTF Transsexual, and is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Constance is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Ashton-Bradley is a Pre Op FTM Transsexual. He is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Emma82 is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

BriannaMarie is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

WonderWoman/Jengirl004 is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Michelle is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth Suicide prevention.

Chat Moderator

Raydub is a Pre Op FTM Transsexual. He is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

zelane is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual who is also Intersexxed. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Nadine is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is certified in Youth Suicide Prevention.

Chat Moderator

Nikki_C is a Pre Op MTF Transsexual. She is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

jj is the father of a Transgendered individual. He is presently taking the Youth Suicide prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Wolfy is a Androgynous individual and is married to a MTF partner. Shewolf is currently taking the Youth Suicide Prevention course.

Chat Moderator

chad-army is a FTM Moderator. He is currently taking the Youth Suicide Prevention course.

Chat Moderator

Bear30 is a FTM Moderator. He is currently taking the Youth Suicide Prevention course.

The following staff have now been inactive for a year or more and may return to the active staff at any time: Katherine, Rachelcrown, Jake, Oz, Betty B, Kieraleanne, Brina, Sondra, bobbie, Brittany, BeckyAnn, Diane, AJ, Beth, Shelby (lil shar), ashley4262, jessica72.

Forum Moderators

Teen Mentors

Moderators behind the scenes