We've had many previous Talossan LGBT+ organisations, but I think at this time in history we should specifically acknowledge the bravery of Talossan citizens who move beyond their assigned gender at birth.
20 years ago, anyone doing this would instantly be the target for the most outrageous mockery, slander, dead-naming and descriptions as a pervert, mentally ill, a liar, etc. For an example of this, read anything that KR1 writes about myself in Ár Päts. In some parts of the world, not much has changed - eg. the United Kingdom, where transphobia is remorseless in public discourse disguised as "radical feminism" (aka TERF politics).
I would like to encourage Talossans to applaud, cheer and toast the bravery and the good fortune of our dear sister
@Amada.
We applaud you, Amada, and we are blessed that you felt trusted enough to open up to us! May your journey through life continue to be so brave and joyous.
As a trans-person myself, I'll share some stuff. Might be helpful or it might be shit.
Right now, I'm sure you are feeling relieved and terrified. That's normal. It might take some time but eventually life will get back to 'normal' and you'll carry on like nothing is different.
You might (more like probably) 'lose' some people. Could be family or friends or both. It will suck. Just know that the ones that stick around really care about you.
You've got to be strong AND tough. Life's hard and it gets harder for us. Sometimes you'll have to be a bitch. Don't take shit from anyone.
Last but not least, and this might be the hardest bit, YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL. Don't expect any special treatment. Just live your life and be a good person.
Best of luck.
Trust me I know about the family part. That's why I have a different surname... My family are transphobes - openly as well...
I grew up believing what I know now is called the LGTBQ community was populated with those who needed to repent of their wicked ways and come to Christ. I am fortunate in that I did not make choices growing up to talk trash or otherwise harm LGTBQ people. I was merely concerned for their souls and that the only thing for which I needed to 'repent' was having an understanding ill-informed by well-meaning family when I was a kid.
My evolution to this point has taken about the past twenty-five years and has been helped by being in an 'arts' echo-chamber that was able to reach into my empathy. The sermon I heard preached once describing a lesbian couple who committed joint suicide helped things along drastically, as did seeing homosexuals raising children and living like everyone else: as normal human beings.
It also helped that a lady on whom I had a crush at one time was overtly-LGTBQ-allied. My enduring gift from her has continually been to realize concerning LGTBQ, she was right. I remember where I was when that epiphany hit me: the final 'heave-ho' for me in becoming fully allied with the LGTBQ community.
As for the trans community, growing up, I was not around them at all (as far as I know). I have to confess the start of any semblance of understanding of the trans community began with my virtual friendship with Miestrâ Schivâ, which started in the days and weeks after the founding of the 2004-2012 Republic. With two Witt posts, she won me over: she was not the horrible, repulsive creature Ben Madison made her out to be, April to June 2004 being the time in which I was freed from the Cult of Ben.
With my dawning awareness of 'trans' has also come a dawning awareness of the 'gender-spectrum'. To put it in Star Trek terms, God made us male and female...in infinite combinations. It's a crude way to put it, but it's the best way currently I know how to express this eternal reality.
One of the titans of Talossan history is Ián Metáiriâ. He is an old-growther who before he came out ca. 1990 as homosexual was farther to the right than even J. Ventrux ever dreamed of being. His coming out destroyed institutional homophobia in Talossa because his best friend, Ben Madison, was forced to confront the reality of LGTBQ full-on in the face and person of his best friend.
Trans-phobia for Ben was another matter, and Ben's loathing of Miestrâ was not helped by this. Ben first hated Miestrâ for political reasons. At that time, Miestrâ was, I think, far mor obnoxious in her dealings with people in general than she has been in many years. She, like Kane Gruber, could be highly-abrasive, and if there is anything Ben hates is abrasion from anyone save himself.
Of course, Miestrâ, like most Talossans, has aged well with time. ;-) And for me, she has been the chief and unintentional catalyst for my 'heave-ho' into trans-acceptance and the full affirmation of that part of the LGBTQ community.
Amada, you are a Talossan, and for as long as I'm a Talossan, I will fight to keep our nationette at least as accepting of LGTBQ as it is right now.
Blessings on you and happy holidays!
Gödefrïeu Válcadác'h
former Kingdom Seneschal and current Senator for Fiôvâ
P. S.: Yes, you will be mis-gendered and dead-named intentionally and unintentionally. In Talossa, you have a community, and in the 'real-world', find your community there, too. - GV
Quote from: GV on December 20, 2019, 03:56:54 PM
Trans-phobia for Ben was another matter, and Ben's loathing of Miestrâ was not helped by this. Ben first hated Miestrâ for political reasons. At that time, Miestrâ was, I think, far mor obnoxious in her dealings with people in general than she has been in many years. She, like Kane Gruber, could be highly-abrasive, and if there is anything Ben hates is abrasion from anyone save himself.
Of course, Miestrâ, like most Talossans, has aged well with time. ;-)
Let's put it this way - living in the closet makes you angry, bitter, suspicious and rageful.
Quote from: Miestrâ Schiva, UrN on December 22, 2019, 09:03:05 PM
Quote from: GV on December 20, 2019, 03:56:54 PM
Trans-phobia for Ben was another matter, and Ben's loathing of Miestrâ was not helped by this. Ben first hated Miestrâ for political reasons. At that time, Miestrâ was, I think, far mor obnoxious in her dealings with people in general than she has been in many years. She, like Kane Gruber, could be highly-abrasive, and if there is anything Ben hates is abrasion from anyone save himself.
Of course, Miestrâ, like most Talossans, has aged well with time. ;-)
Let's put it this way - living in the closet makes you angry, bitter, suspicious and rageful.
Point taken.
You will note how JJ backed away from outright white-nationalism after he came out.
Quote from: Miestrâ Schiva, UrN on December 23, 2019, 02:18:43 PM
You will note how JJ backed away from outright white-nationalism after he came out.
Yes, he did! Once he came out, he was just a regular Republican-voter.