SEEKER

I have been reading and writing a lot. I am presently reading an excellent book 'Thomas Merton: My Brother'. I have fallen in love with this man's work. His books have expanded my horizons because I'm a seeker. Merton (1915-1968) was a seeker. He was a man who was in tune with the issues of his day. Some may dismiss Thomas Merton because of his religious zeal. His was a quest for God and a deep concern for his fellow man.

I am seeking to integrate what I am learning with the transgender issues that concern me. Merton 's thoughts and ideas are relative today. In my opinion, Thomas Merton would be grieved by the bigotry and prejudice by society against transgender and gender variant people.I go through those periods where I come upon another road and decide whether or not to cross it. It seems that I'm gently nudged in this direction. There's no fear or trepidation because I have an inner peace about where things are headed. At this point I'm wondering if the future involves working with transgender people wihich I would certainly love to do.

I have been out more as a transgender woman. It has nothing to do with telling everyone I'm trans but my being out in public expressing who I am. Action does speak louder and this is something that I believe I need to do. I crossed a huge threshhold two weeks ago walking through my neighborhood wearing women's clothing. Two years ago I was apprehensive. Now it's no sweat. I have shared some of what is happening in my life. There's so much going on inside that it would take many blogs to comment. The journey will continue.

Genevieve

ANNIVERSARY

Yesterday was the third anniversary of coming out to myself as a crossdresser and transgender. The past year has been wonderful. I marched in the gay pride parade. I declared myself a transgender woman publicly. I have never been happier.

The most important aspect of life is being comfortable in my own skin. Without that, nothing will seem to be right. Life would be misery. My wife and son support me and that is a blessing. I am involved with trans issues and have been more vocal about some comments others make against us. I cannot stand idly by while some transphobe heaps trash on us about how bad we are.

If anyone is celebrating an anniversary, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Genevieve

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

In moving forward we sometimes discover those little nooks we may have passed over.

COMTEMPLATIVE

It has been three years that I have been a crossdresser and transgender woman. The experience has been wonderful. Having come out in my fifties I'm still discovering much about what it is to be a transgender woman. I am also gaining the understanding that there are many issues that will affect all my transgender brothers and sisters. It is why I am seeking to become more involved with transgender issues.

Over the past few weeks I have been comtemplative as to where all this will lead. I am convinced that much of things done against transgender people are wrong. It doesn't matter if it's a company, church or landlord. I have been following events all over the country as much as possible and there's certainly much that needs to be done. I already belong to two groups and am looking to be even more involved.

I love dressing and I love where I am personally so far. Deep inside I knew that there would come the day that I would begin to see that this journey is much more than pleasure and social events. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy them and hope to be out more. I also see that lives are at stake because the battle will not be easy. Ther's been too many lives lost to suicide and violence. There's too many of us who suffer discrimination and bigotry. Society will try to make us feel ashamed or guilty about who we are. I refuse to be ashamed of my transgender status.

I have been reading a book by Thomas Merton, a monk who finally saw the way God saw him-as His child. He was a seeker and so am I. Sometimes one has to go through things in order to be a vessel for God. I am willing to do this for transgender people. I'm seeking what the next move will be. One thing is certain- I can't go back.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

A community is like a ship-everyone ought to be prepared
to take the helm.

-Henrik Ibsen

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

I feel as if I'm back in my twenties, when nature and life
filled me with awe and wonder.

marched in pride parade

This past Sunday, I marched in my first New York City pride parade. It was a warm day to start. I wore a black skirt, pink pullover and sneakers. The contingent I marched with was the American Veterans for Equal Rights.

It was about a three mile march down 5th Avenue. Thousand of people lined the barricades cheering each contingent that passed by. I was very proud of being out and participating. Someone I know recognized me and told me so in an email I received from him. I knew that there were many LGBT people in New York but not this many. I was reaaly with family! I was also happy to see many transgender people out because we need to be more visible.

With less than a mile left the rains came. It seemed to pick people's spirits up. I could feel the electricity in the rain soaked air. I truly enjoyed the experience.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

PROPHECY CAN OPEN UP DEEP SEATED YEARNINGS AND THE DESIRE TO DISCOVER WHERE WE FIT IN THE UNIVERSE.

Exploring Native American heritage

Currently, I am reading a book named 'Queering Creole Spiritual Traditions:Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual, and Transgender Participation in African-Inspired Traditions in the Americas'. I am African-American and have Native-American ancestry (Choctaw). I rememvber when my parents revealed to me as a boy that I have Native-American blood., I was very proud.

From time to time over the years, I would read about Choctaw Indians in the Americas. They are principally in the southeast section of the US. Since I am exploring my transgender identity more, I want to know if any of my relatives were transgender. I thimk that this may be a fulfilling of some Indian prphecy. I have always loved nature and the natural sounds of nature.

I have felt for many years that I was different. Coming out as transgender has completed and liberated me as a person. I seek a deeper meaning as to what this means and what my purpose is in this prophecy. I will contiinue to read this book and glean some things that may help in my discovery.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Parents: Loving and affirming your transgender and gender variant child goes a long way toward enhancing their self-esteem.

Make Yourself Seen and Heard

With pride events happening this month (and summer) all over the world, I hope that we attend and support them. Transgenders have made some progress this year and more needs to be done. I am meeting more transgender people in my circle. One of the volunteers who is with the same organization I'm with is a transsexual of many years. Yesterday, I saw a transgender woman near city hall. We're everywhere and the world is getting smaller.

I will be marching in the pride parade here in New York City. I will represent the American Veterans for Equal Rights. I'm excited about it. I hope that more transgender people will partake in the march because not showing ourselves at these events is often leveled at us, and rightfully so. I'm dress quite a lot these days. I'm wearing a suit now because I'm job hunting but soon as I get home, off goes the suit and tie. On goes the skirt and cami.

I am considering a lot of options for the future. Starting an online business and a non profit organization are just a couple of them. I'll be busy as ever.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

IN DECLARING MYSELF AS A TRANSGENDER WOMAN, I AM FREE TO LIVE LIFE AS I AM. I AM ABLE TO SHARE MY JOY WITH OTHERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE WHO THEY ARE.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

A word of encouragement goes a long way to saying to a person "You are valued and loved".

You Did It

Free Comments & Graphics

Transgender woman

Today, I made a personal declaration that I am a transgender woman. I recognized that the transgender label fit me three years ago. I have mentioned it in past but today I wish to make a public statement of what I actually feel inside. It is another threshhold I have come and have passed.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Dress your best...and if anyone finds that perfect black dress, let me know.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Of all the qualities that are revealed when groups come together for a cause, perserverence consistently comes front and center.

A Radical Church

I am fascinated by the make up of the first Christian church. There were people in attendance who were not normally welcomed in other religious settings. There were women, the poor, the lame, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, tax collectors, robbers..you get the picture. Jesus opened up the way when He died on the cross for our sin and broke down the barriers that separated people.

It didn't matter if you were Jew, gentile, male, female, rich, poor, reputable or had a reputation of ill repute. Many came to the first church because they were inclusive of everyone. This was quite radical in the patriarchial society of that time.

I have no doubt that there LGBT people there too. I believe that this is the type of church that is needed today. All inclusive of every one regardless of gender expression, sexuality, or race. The way I see it, it is the Christian church that can set the tone for including transgender people in their congregations. There are transgender and gender variant people who need love and acceptance. They need someone to share with them that they are loved and that God loves them. God hasn't called me to the ministry but I look forward to a day that the church is truly ALL inclusive.

California marriage bill affects all

With the passage of same-sex marriage bill in California, it serves to remind me that it affects us transgender folks too. Though ENDA failed to pass, it cannot stop us fro the pursuit of our goals and equality. Many in society have the mistaken notion that we seek special rights. I have heard this before because as an African-African the same stuff was said about us. If the Constitution deems all men (and women) are created equal, then it's high time this lofty ideal was put into practice.

If a group of people are denied basics rights, the powers that be will find some other reason to deny another group of its rights. An example is the profiling of men from south east Asia and the middle east. Thousands are being held in prisons all over the world just because of who they are. Transgender folks suffer discrimination and marginalization for the same reasons.

One reason I believe Republicans can come back is that they think long term. They raise funds and awareness on a few causes and get out to the public. When the lose an election or a goal is failed, they assess what went wrong, regroup and then move ahead. I do admire this strategy. We transgender and gender variant people need to do the same thing. The passage of this bill in California took hard work, getting out in public and perserverence. This is something that we have to do.

I am making it a point to be out more in public and become involved in change. It may also mean that I will express my cross gender status to others. I meet more GLBT folks in groups outside the umbrella and I'm heartened. Now if it can translate into equality and respect.

Genevieve