Trinidad Colorado, and the Copper Country in Michigan

[kathy bottoms]

I just watched all of the documentary Trinidad on Netflix.  We all know how a group of citizens in Trinidad forced Marci Bowers out, but I've wondered how that town has done since then.  So if anyone knows it'd be nice to hear. 

As I was watching the movie it made me wonder how it'll work out this summer in the small town I'm heading to in Michigan.  It's a simple little village of 500 people, with two larger towns nearby that have a total of 10,000 people.  But up until a few years ago these towns weren't even gay friendly, and although there's now a small transgender population in the area it doesn't mean the communities are accepting.  I'll be coming out to a few relatives and some friends, but other than that I won't dress, and will pretty much be alone except at night with those few liberal friends. 

This whole adventure is a grand plan to make enough money to fund everything in my transition, from electrolysis to surgery.  My wife came up with a good idea and we sent off the payment to close on a small house yesterday.  I suspect it's the last thing we'll invest in before we separate, but it's wonderful that she's given me this chance to fund my future.   And it's going to be a very difficult four months, with a need to be clearly focused on my final goal.  Hope I can keep it together, and that I'm not harassed by the people I've lived around for so many summers over the years.  I can't hide the changes in my body now, and I really don't want to. 

Kathy

[Joanna Dark]

I have no idea who Marci Bowers is but I guess something bad happened to her by a bunch of thugs. I hate thugs. Makes me want to put on my wonder woman outfit and go kick some a**. JK I don't have a woner woman outfit lol.

I really hope it works out for you. Can I ask why the small town in Michigan? I'm a big city gal myself from the city of brotherly love but I couldn't imagine being in a place that isn't LGBT friendly. But at least you have family who loves you. That's important.

[bullwinklle]

Also, who's Marci Bowers? I'm familiar with Trinidad CO though.

She's kind of a big name in our community. One of the more well-known US surgeons for SRS, also happens to be MtF. She learned from Stanley Biber (one of the earliest SRS surgeons).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marci_Bowers

[Joanna Dark]

If you're too lazy to click the link I took the liberty of condescending the Wiki page:, Marci Bowers is a surgeon who performs sex change operations and is an MTF herself. In 2005, a church in Trinidad, Colo. tried to shut down her clinic but failed. They cited a 1972 study of mental patients who had transitioned as reason why SRS does not work. She pointed out the obvious flaws. In other news, she is also the woman who answered the question posed just last week about transition being called brave and courageous with the quote:

"Transitioning is like walking on lily pads: You have to be careful with each step, or you're going to sink. It takes a lot of money, courage and a certain amount of planning, I'm just glad I can help."

I don't have to leave my city to have SRS though. I want to go to Portland however.  The name Marci thru me off. I only know her as Dr. Bowers.

[bullwinklle]

Well, rub it in why don't cha?

Have you ever heard of Helmut Van Doorfen Weasen??? 

Ya, didn't think sa... 

My apologies if my reply came off as rude; that wasn't intended.

And, um... who is Helmut Van Doorfen Weasen? Google doesn't seem to know. 

[Antonia J]

I'm in Michigan and the copper area is not real far from me. Very socaially and religiously conservative.  I spent 21 months in the Mideast and joked the religious conservative Muslims were not much different than the Dutch Christian Reformed back home. Its not an easy place to be different.  Good people, salt of the earth type. Just slow to accept change and things different.

[kathy bottoms]

.... If I were to guess, you've bought a fixer upper that you're going to flip for profit. How'd I do?

Yea, that's the answer.  But sorry no prize.  Bought an 1890 house that needs work in every room and I have four months max to fix it.  We have an old family home in a little village a few miles away so I don't have to live in the place I'm fixing. 

I'm in Michigan and the copper area is not real far from me. Very socaially and religiously conservative.  I spent 21 months in the Mideast and joked the religious conservative Muslims were not much different than the Dutch Christian Reformed back home. Its not an easy place to be different.  Good people, salt of the earth type. Just slow to accept change and things different.

The Copper Country is deffinitely conservative.  All my relatives grew up milking cows on Dairy farms and my parents took us kids there every summer to help them cut and bale hay, then hoist it into the barns.   They're also Apostolic Lutheran and they don't listen to music, or own TV's.   So yes, in their church I'll be going to hell, no questions asked.      And even if I'm going to hell, I love it up there anyway. 

If anyone's interested here's a link that has more than you'd ever want to know about the Copper Country. http://pasty.com/

[Flan]

Considering Bowers was a fairly significant source of income to the hospital and services around it, I wouldn't be surprised if the town has gone downhill economically since Bowers left to SF. And no, it wasn't just a church that tried to get Bowers out of practice, the hospital she worked at was playing hardball with malpractice insurance rates and Bowers decided not to play their game.

[kathy bottoms]

Hi Flan.  The hospital board apparently had some new members that didn't want the town to be known as the sex change capital.  Or maybe they feared becoming another San Francisco (lol) and that meant more than loosing jobs and income.   Oh well, so much for smart growth in small towns.

Kathy

[calico]

So that is why Marci Bowers moved.. I didnt know that,lol and up untill I decided to go where I went my mom was like "you should go to trinidad." 

[kathy bottoms]

.... she is also the woman who answered the question posed just last week about transition being called brave and courageous with the quote:

"Transitioning is like walking on lily pads: You have to be careful with each step, or you're going to sink. It takes a lot of money, courage and a certain amount of planning, I'm just glad I can help."

I don't have to leave my city to have SRS though. I want to go to Portland however.  The name Marci thru me off. I only know her as Dr. Bowers.

I'd like to thank Marci for being out there in the public for us. and for all the time she gives for us.    I'll be visiting her for consultations and surgery in San Mateo at some point in the future.  When ?  I don't know, because I'm too broke now.   

[JoanneB]

My wife, 25+ years post-op, is a Biber baby. When she was out in Trinidad the hospital and I suppose the town was formed into two camps. There was those those who initially recognized what a financle boom it was that Biber was there. If it weren't for the hospital, the town was essentially dead.

In time as they saw just who these "strange" people were, talked to them, felt their pain, and over time they became sympathetic. Of course, there were the religous zealouts forming the other camp.