LGBT meeting

[Guest sienna]

In my life as far as I know, I've only met one transgender person, a crossdresser, actually in person. This was years ago when I was still very confused about myself and figuring out what I really was. I soon came to realize I was MTF and I didn't hit it off as friends or even stay in contact with this person. Years have passed since that occurred. I have connected with what I feel is the best term to how I feel inside, but am still only out to my wife. Anyway, I have the opportunity to go to a technology conference for my job and discovered there is a LGBT networking meetup there on one of the days. I have known, worked with or met, roughly a dozen gay and lesbian people in the past none of which ever knew I was tg. I feel a little nervous attending this meetup, but in a way feel like I should open up a little, be comfortable and do it. Everyone will be strangers basically. I guess I'm more curious about meeting others like me in person. I'll be in guy mode of course, but... Maybe this is all very silly. What do you girls think?

Sienna

[Carolyn Marie]

It's been my experience, Sienna, that doors are meant to be opened. Most of the times I've walked through them, I've been grateful that I did. No one can guarantee how things will go, and of course it is your comfort level we're talking about. But I've always been a risk taker.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

I agree with Carolyn that you will not know if you do not go. I do not see where there is any type of danger there, at worst there will not be any other TG people there for you to network with, but there could be a few or there could be many as well, and that would at least give you some IRL experience and some leads on things to do. Good luck, it may be scary, but that will pass if you do meet others in your boat. GLB people are not going to readily "make us" as trans* any more than we would make someone as gay or lesbian, in fact probably less so for TG, since in our non-preferable gender, we try so hard and do so well at hiding our Trans*ness.

[Guest sienna]

Thanks Carolyn and Vicky. Great advice! I'll see how it goes. Wish me luck.

Sienna

[Guest sydney]

Sienna,

I also work in the technology field as a software developer (databases to be specific) and fortunately I find most people in the field are very open minded and accepting. In our local users group, I've been accepted with open arms. We have our yearly conference of about 1500 geeks (in San Antonio, TX in July this year) and there is a small LGBT group to meets for lunch on one of the days of the conference and I look forward to that. I can only imagine it going well for you. I've attended this conference nearly every year for 10 years and this will be the first time since transitioning and the way things are going I'll be going as Sydney It's going to be an interesting conference in many ways for sure.

[gennee]

Go there with an open mind. It can turn out to be a very positive experience.

[Guest]

Thanks Carolyn and Vicky. Great advice! I'll see how it goes. Wish me luck.

Sienna

Lots of luck Sienna.

Go have fun at the meeting.

Huggs,

Joann

[Charlize]

Enjoy and grow!!!!

Hugs,

Charlize