I can’t speak for anyone else but I, for one, am glad the weekend is here. It comes just in time – I need a couple of down days to recuperate.
I’ve got no plans other than to spend some time on my Mac doing photo stuff, spending time with the pups, running a couple of errands, and generally going with the flowing. Maggie is going to the vet on Monday to be spade so I need to pour some extra loving on her over the next couple of days.
My son has been watching Family Guy lately and I’ll admit it’s pretty funny (and fairly raunchy for “family” TV!) In one episode Peter finds his feminine side – I laughed out loud. (clip here). Oy.
I confirmed a couple of suspicions while I was in DC for the inaugural. One is that HRC really isn’t interested in rebuilding the relationship with the broader trans community. Sure, they’ll take it if they can get it but they’re not willing to do anything to earn it. Rather, they’ve got a small group of transpeople who provide the illusion of inclusion and that’s as far as they’ll go. That’s disappointing.
Another is that there continues to be a thirst for information both for and about trans lives. The audience for the NCTE training event on Monday was a diverse mix that included teachers, clinicians, political folks, family members, community workers, and others looking for the best ways to be a trans ally. The inaugural committee specifically asked for this event and originally set the size limit to 25. It filled up quickly so they increased it to 30. I’ll bet they could have filled it at twice that size or more. Anyway, there’s a world of opportunity out there.
A third realization is the deeper self-analysis that seems to be triggered by turning 50 next month. The last profound event in my life that caused this kind of self-analysis was the death of my father 10 years ago. I’m scheduled to have my 50 year physical on Monday – it’ll be interesting to see how that goes. Anyway, I’ve been actively reclaiming more of my own time and expect I’ll be finding creative ways of using it.
I was reading a friend’s blog yesterday (that means you, Lori) and she was debating whether or not being transgender “defines” us. That’s not an easy thing to answer. For me, I’ve come to accept that it’s not everything but it’s not nothing, either. In my day-to-day life it’s pretty much of a non-issue but I find ways to embrace it. Why? I found that trying to push it aside and leave it behind was unfulfilling as well. The key, I think, is the same key I’ve found for most things in life. Balance.
Did you see that the Pope will be selling himself on YouTube? (Details here). Great.
Turning 50 is a bit traumatic, but you get over it after a little while. I’m 53 now and I survived it!
As for the HRC, I’m not really surprised. We still have to sit in the back of their bus. I just hope that they continue getting more irrelevant to the larger discussion as time goes on.
Donna,
We, the transpeople, really need another group to be in Washington DC. like the NCTE. We need people like you, who are out there in the national spotlight and others who are up and coming. We need to drop the HRC from our books. Like you said they would throw us under the bus in a heart beat. We need the transpeople who are part of the HRC to quit and go to work with NCTE and get our position into the DC area.
Turning 50 was my best year or decade. I will be turning 60 this year and hope that it will be as good as my 50’s. So you have the best years ahead of you. Enjoy them.
Being trans is not my whole being but part of me, a big part. There are other duties to behold and I had to learn the hard way. I’m not a politician, I’m just me. I feel I do the trans community better if I just shut up and do my daily routines the way I have always done. It shows that I’m just a person.
Donna, keep up the good work, I love you.
Sheila
The forties were my worst decade. When I turned 50, I breathed a sigh of relief and went forward. The fifties has been the BEST decade of my life!! I wish the same for you.
Is NCTE the vehicle to replace HRC for the trans community? How do you see the trans community going forward?
I choose to not be defined by being T, but I won’t abandon this special place in life just because I’m afraid others will attempt to ONLY define me by it…that’s probably the best way I can explain this. I was surprised to see how many people would pipe in on that as well.
For now, I will let my talents, my concern for my family and my friends, and my goals in life define me. People can judge me on that.
I like Kay’s comment as I’m half way through my forties, and so far my forties have been hell for me. Kay gives me something to look forward to.
Donna…. What do you think the time frame might be for getting a trans-enclusive Enda passed? Do you think there is a possibility of getting something passed on a federal level as far as medicaid and or other health insurance coverage for trans-folk?
You are only as old as you feel you are!
50? Is that all? I’ll be 58 in March. Ah, to be 50 again. *sigh* You’re ready for the Big Five Oh. Not a big deal.
Having recently turned 55, a year into transition, I have to say that my 50s have been the best decade of my life, although it didn’t start that way. And of course you look fabulous! Hopefully your physical will say your health is fabulous too.
Yay Monica.
And I’ll be 61 in August. And the problem is (besides no one wanting to hire us foggies) what??
So far, the 60’s are much better than the 50’s
Gwen,
I know that if I lose my job, I will have a harder time getting a job because of being 58 then being trans. I also find that it is the same problem in dating. Putting my correct age on a matching site keeps women from contacting me, even if I don’t put in my profile about being trans.
I just turned 52 and life has gone on. I am still in the process of defining who I am. I know I am trans but to what degree and I need to be honest with myself