Two words always stuck with me at Russian Ballet School Legat, you were not permitted to say I cannot do that and no. we all had to have our heads facing the same way staring at a point on the wall, we all had to life our legs to the same height if we failed the whole class got extra work, it was hard going.

Another hot day and a long walk ahead, ive packed plenty of water and layered cotton which i can add or remove along the journey. its an 11 mile walk so no doubt some interesting sites to see. Hope your day is bright and beautiful. I have also been asked if i would like to be a volunteer for https://translucent.org.uk which i have provisionally accepted. plenty to keep me busy with quiet a few groups on my list.

Pretty reasonable.  You move (or stay) where you're comfortable.  Lots of folks doing it these days...my area has had a noticeable influx of former Californians since 2020. 

Dang.  That's very...complicated?  I'm guessing other major denominations are similar?  Let me ask... as a "ruling elder" is that related to spiritual affairs (like teaching) or just temporal affairs like money and organization?  Or a mixture?  Are there rules about who is eligible for a responsibility like yours?  Since ministers don't vote, is it because they considered employees of the church?   In my community, there are two different elected groups.  There are the Elders - only married men are eligible, and only those who have just one wife.  They handle spiritual affairs, and the head of the group is our Apostle (the minister, if you will).  Then there is the Council, and they handle temporal affairs such as finance, outreach, maintenance, security, etc.  Any adult is eligible for election to the Council, and my husband was on the Council for several years as chief of security.  Of course, we don't belong to a broader denomination, so I guess that makes our organization more informal

I am waiting to hear more about our Pride observations this year.  I am keeping a skeptical eye on other June centered events as well to see what kind of trouble will be in our public announcement systems in the coming weeks. I am sure that political elements will NOT let an opportunity to stir the cauldron pass by.  Good for the British organizations though.

Not terribly surprised with this.  I know the people at Williams well enough to accept this report as is.

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/uk-pride-marches-suspend-political-parties-trans-rights-rcna206527     Carolyn Marie

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/transgender-moving-desire/     Carolyn Marie

Whoops, I left out this bit. What does this sinister innuendo mean exactly? I take it to be an endorsement of the attitude taken by the UK’s NHS in choosing Hilary Cass to author the Cass Review, precisely *because* she had no experience whatsoever treating trans people or direct involvement with the trans community. In what other field of medicine would this be seen as valid? To exclude specialists in cancer from chairing a review into cancer treatments on the grounds that they might be biased, for eg? Does that ever happen?! Yet for some reason physicians involved in trans care are automatically viewed as potentially suspect. Again, not fair or balanced.

@Ivy you are right, my choice of word there was probably not the best there 😅 Especially as there are plenty of things about myself that I want to keep in the process.   Maybe what I meant there is that I want to "destroy" the shell behind which I'm hidding most of who I really am. For example all these coping mechanisms that I developed to try to act as much as possible as I was expected to and are not fitting who I really am.

Yet it is not, by a far margin, and to state that it is reasonable without knowledge of the HHS report is just as dangerous as this piece is. Honestly, I can't even.

Hi. I got home about 5pm. Rested a bit and had dinner and I thought I’d check in.   To try to answer your question @awkward-yet-sweet, first the meeting was held in Sumter, SC which is two hours drive from my home.  I am a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church PCUSA denomination.  I’ll assume you don’t know how the Presbyterians govern so bear with me if you do, the local church has a session elected by the members that determine how the church operates within the rules of our book of order.  Which would be the rules of governance of the church from the national office to the local church.  That’s where I fall in the picture.  The next level is a Presbytery.  That is a geographic area of churches.  Quarterly, each church within the Presbytery sends a commissioner to the meeting.  At the meeting we go through many aspects of the business of the Presbytery.  We voted on commissioners elected to attend the next geographical area, a synod which for South Carolina is the entire state and has 5 Presbyteries.  We voted to accept three people to become ordained ministers of the word and sacraments and other church business including a worship service. When you arrive they have a light breakfast available.  You sign in so they can determine if there is a quorum.  The meeting. New commissioners are introduced.  Reports are given and when required voted on for acceptance by the commissioners.  We are the only ones allowed to vote, no guests and not ministers or staff. Including lunch the meeting lasted 6 hours but even lunch included a presentation.

This is way more fun than doomscrolling!  You look very cute.

Welcome to TGP, Marceline!! We're so happy you found us! While each of us is unique we also share many similarities in our journeys. We help each other, lift each other up, lend a shoulder to cry on or share a laugh together. We are here for you.

Welcome and congratulations on beginning your journey of discovery! While it might not be easy going, I can guarantee it will be filled with surprises and excitement. Finding self love is the most critical part of the journey and it seems as if you have!! Best wishes and know we are here to help.

Welcome back! Taking time to both define and understand you journey is admirable and smart.   Best wishes as you continue to learn about yourself!

Welcome Aydhindril  I don't think you need to "destroy" your past.  For me it has been more of beginning a new chapter of my life. When I get junk mail under my dead name, I just say "He doesn't live here anymore." Sometimes it takes time, I hope you can find what you're looking for.

Trying to escape the madness, why?

Trying to make sense of me, my first six months past without hormones, now the letter of referal for hormone care, but, i wanted to try and understand why am i trans?

Back from Sicily. What a trip!