Do they dictate what type of ponytail clip, scrunchie, or band you use? What about how high on your head it is? While I’m glad they’ve redirected their attention towards someone else, leaving you alone. It’s not right for them to pick on anyone.    Hugs,   Mindy🌈🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

I feel the same way @Mirrabooka    Love is Love

First day back at the centre this week (I stayed home yesterday).   They have been picking on someone else lately, so they have left me pretty much in peace.    Latest concession was "wearing only ponytails" into the centre or cutting my hair off, I can wear a ponytail.     

I'm with these folks.  Last night i was a meeting where a teacher (trans) mentioned she was taking a busload of kids from her district to visit Stonewall today.  WOW have times changed!  There may be terrible pushback but things are so much better than ever both for the country and for this older trans woman who just celebrated the 37th anniversary of her 39th birthday.   Hugs,   Charlize

That is a nice boost, @MirandaB.   I don't care to share my photo, but this did make me think of several years back when the Google Arts and Culture app came out. There was a feature where you could take a selfie and it would match your image with famous or historical works of art. This was before I came out to myself, but I got a big kick out of it matching me with either portraits of men and boys, or abstract art, and only one portrait of a woman. In fact, the first portrait it matched me with was one of Charles Lindbergh. (Don't mind being compared to his face; our political sensibilities diverge significantly, however.)

Polls suggest that the Tories are facing their heaviest election loss in 100 years.    I think we're safe.

Hello & welcome @Kay3Seven. Thanks for sharing your story. It's remarkable the ripple effect events and impressions have from our early life. Although my story is different than yours, I can relate to the essence of a lot of what you shared. One thing I can say is that at this point in my life, I appreciate the value in the challenges I've gone through. It's not so much the platitude, "it's made me who I am today", that I'm expressing, but the truth in that statement is that we do grow and develop in, I believe, ways which are important and good for us. It's mysterious, though, and definitely not obvious while you're going through it. In particular, I used to deeply lament the things I've been though and grieve over the person I "could have been" if circumstances had been different. It's taken a lot of intense work, introspection, and grace to give up that narrative and accept everything as it has been and is. It's a MUCH easier way to be and allows one to see life as much brighter. Sounds like you've done much introspection yourself as you've gained insight into the past and have had the courage to trust your loved ones with your truth. 

Hi Heather, is this for an online community or in-person groups?

Gender rarely enters my dreams too. @MaeBe, IMHO our dreams ignore much about ourselves and focus on the situation regardless.   I hope this makes sense - I have an uncle who lost both legs below the knees in a workplace accident when he was 37 (he's 80 now). About 30 years ago he told heaps of present family members that in his dreams throughout his life before the accident, he never ever saw his legs, so maybe his dreams were a premonition. I soon realized that I've never dreamt of having legs either, yet I still have them. 😉    Point is, I think our dreams are irrelevant when it comes to identity or anything else. If, in your dreams you are a woman, good for you! But you can't beat yourself up for not having that experience. Our dreams don't care who we are.

Hi and welcome Kay. It’s terrible what that therapist said to you. It’s absolutely not okay. There is no evidence whatsoever that sexual abuse or trauma causes gender incongruence. I’m so sorry that happened to you and I can easily imagine how that experience, along with all the other experiences you describe, could have pushed you in the closet for many years. Congratulations on coming out and I hope it is as positive an experience for you as it has been for me.

That you so very much @Mirrabooka

I've seen that one many times before @Mmindy and it is one of my favorites. I fantasize that it is my wife and I, but even if she's somewhat accepting, which she is, she's definitely not enthusiastic, so it could never be. 😞   So much has happened here since my last visit!   Condolences for your family's loss, @April Marie.   Congrats for getting your volunteers card @Ashley0616! It's a badge of honor!   @Willow, Am I Trans Enough is something I never stop asking myself. I did start to read the book with that title last year and decided after 10 pages that it was pitching to a slightly different audience, but I must, MUST make the effort to read it through one day.

If interested and don't mind sharing a picture with this particular app...   https://www.nyckel.com/pretrained-classifiers/gender-detector/   Got a 'female' from this, nice little validation to start the day.    

Welcome @Kay3Seven! Glad you're here! So happy for you having a supporting family! You are among kindred spirits here, all of us on the journey of finding where we fit comfortably on the gender spectrum. I hope you find the wonderful advice support & acceptance here as I have.   Hugs! Delcina

Service to others is very fulfilling.