Service to others is very fulfilling.

A few more years and I hope to be one of those 65+ trans people, maybe we'll get up to 0.4%!

I've been to (or volunteered at and been to) 7 or 8 Pride events over the last years, there always seem to be giveaways at the ones I've attended, fans, wristbands, stickers, pins, etc. People come dressed all ways so come in whatever you want!

Can anyone suggestion way to start a safe, fun place for young LGBTQ+, maybe gaming, movies ?

Thank you both for sharing

Well, I met my two trans friends accidentally.  One was part of the nursing staff when I was taken to the hospital after being assaulted.  She figured out what I was pretty quickly, and stayed near me and we became friends.  My husband helped her find a place to rent near where we live, because she was looking for a change, and now she's a nurse at our county clinic.  My other trans friend was somebody my husband discovered at a job site.  She was in distress, and he figured out that she was trans and brought me in to talk with her and help her feel comfortable.  She's quite a bit younger, but we're pretty close.  My first friend offered her a place to stay, and being roommates has ended up in a romantic relationship for them, which is pretty cool.    Not sure if that qualifies as being some sort of LGBTQ+ pocket but we're here.  Not "Portland liberal," though.  I'm politically independent, one trans friend is a mild Democrat and the other is actually a MAGA Republican.  We're an odd mix.  Sometimes we go to the LGBTQ+ bar in the city nearby, but we don't fit 100%.  We're rural, and there's a rural/urban divide that is noticeable. 

I have a thing about only wearing one layer.  I'd rather wear none, but its frowned on at the grocery store.   So if I'm wearing shorts...that's what I'm wearing.  If I was to wear panties...that would be what I'm wearing.  Which I have done back when I was in girl form (and I didn't enjoy girl form).  Boy form has the advantage of less expectations and less attention, I think.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/after-decades-fear-transgender-elders-celebrate-freedom-progress/story?id=110435380     I think there are an awful lot of folks on this website who identify closely, and happily, with the sentiments expressed by the folks featured in this article.  I suppose I'm one of 'em.    Carolyn Marie  

I went to my first Pride event yesterday (Sunday) @FinnyFinsterHH.  I was dressed rather conservatively compared to some but what I noticed most is what @Carolyn Marie and @VickySGV said ... Everybody is there to celebrate our unique individuality and identity (and that covers a very wide spectrum) and nobody really cares what others look. It's about acceptance and celebration of ourselves and our Community.  Hope you have a Wonderful time! (I'm sure you will)

I echo what Vicky said.  Just be yourself and plan to have lots of fun.  Smile, enjoy the camaraderie, wear whatever you feel comfortable in, and like Vicky said, be sure to say Happy Pride!!  From personal experience, you won't have any trouble picking up freebie merch like Pride buttons, stickers, pins, etc, and more elaborate things that you'll have to shell out for.   Carolyn Marie

You can go to these things as visible, or as invisible as you feel you are able to be.  Major rule, be ready for fun and acceptance, also be ready to see any type of diversity you can imagine.    My second event this year was actually a Pride Garden Party where one of the "contests" was to wear a garden party hat you had decorated and made to stand out.  Another Trans Person won the Activism award with a hat with Trans Pride colored long fringe on the back of their hat.  I just wore one of my normal hats with a blue, pink, and white hat band on it.  I had fun, but no prize.  There were other hats that had really been decorated and were really something to see.   Unless you are standing on a corner telling other people they are going to hell and are angering a deity, whatever you look like will be fine.  The idea is to be the real you as much as you can.  A sticky mailing label with your pronouns on it will do the job if you even want to bother with it, but I would have something that gives your name on it.  I wear a baseball cap with my first name on it to most events and being addressed by the name beats the heck out of "HEY YOU".  If some one makes a mistake either, don't let it bother you, or smile and let them know you preference and don't be afraid to just meet people.  There will probably be vendors at the Festival that will have shirts for the event or just for membership logos of the groups attending. (Bring some extra cash to buy merchandise  there and you will leave with enough to keep you in good shape until next year.)  One rule though is, know how to say "Happy Pride" and mean it, really mean it. You and the others are generally safe and happy.  

I am hopefully going to pride but dont really know what to wear despite doing some research. I know the basics about being comfortable and dont get sunburnt and stay hydrated but feel nervous about passing or people knowing my pronouns. Unfortunately i dont have pins or a flag making this harder, Is there any way to signal with body langauge or jewelry? Also is there any unspoken rule to follow so i know what not to do? I am planning cargo but think it will be too hot and online it mostly says bright or rainbow colors.     

I'll just do the commando thing sometimes.  I prefer longer skirts/dresses anyway.  Feels better in hot weather, and there's less laundry.

Most of my interaction with other trans folks is online, specifically here.  There are a few in my area (largely rural NC county) but the ones I'm aware of are mostly younger and in families.  I might see them occasionally at a monthly Pride meeting.   I do have a support group at the VA hospital (where I get my HRT) but it is an hour and a half drive up the mountain, and only twice a month.  That is in Asheville and there are more trans people up there.  In the last couple of months, some of the people in the group have invited me to stay up there after the meetings and go out to eat together.  That has really been nice.  There is something wonderful in being in the physical presence of other trans people closer to my own age.  And HUGS ! One time I asked one of them if I was likely to get in trouble using the bathroom in a restaurant where we were and they just told me, "This is Asheville."  (they know where I live) I've toyed with the idea of moving up there, but I couldn't afford it.

I have often wondered about my dreams.  I have never dreamt I was a girl but I have had lots of dreams about being dressed as a girl.  I'm not sure this was telling me anything profound.  Generally the situations I was in my dreams were stressful.  I haven't had dreams about dressing as a girl in a very long time, so perhaps since the anxiety that was associated with dressing female in real life is now mostly gone, so are the anxious dreams.