The Win/Win Of Speaking Your Way To Social Comfort

[tgirlamg]

Hey All,

I just thought I would put this out there as an idea for those who are early in transition and trying to get socially comfortable but it is a thought for the fully transitioned as well...

Early in my transition, I began doing public speaking for Rainbow Speakers of Monterey County... I heard about it through my Trans support group and looked at it as crash course on getting comfortable with large groups of strangers... I found it quite liberating and empowering to walk into a room full of strangers and speak my peace!!!... To talk at length about what had always been my deepest secret in life and be well received was an irreplaceable experience... My first speaking engagement was to a room full of Air Force officers and sergeants at the local Defense Language Institute and I was immediately hooked.

I continue to this day, years later...  at the local University, Junior College, High Schools, Churches and a variety of other venues and I always get something out of the experience... Just letting people know what is going on with us can have far reaching affects towards creating understanding ... Anyway... I never thought of myself as someone who would be comfortable in a public speaking role but once our true self is the one we show to the world... We can do anything!!!

Local LGBT groups can probably provide opportunities like this.. If you just wanted to dip your toe in before you jump in the deep end you could likely accompany and observe other speakers to see what it is all about!!

Onward we go!!!

Ashley

[Annecy]

I can relate 

My undergraduate degree program involved some "SPEECH" classes ... every year ...
(I also (imo) benefited from the Intro to Logic and Argument&Advocacy classes I had ...)

As a MA/graduate student part of my Fellowship was teaching
undergraduates "Intro to Business Computer Systems" ...
Part of my MA/graduate program was
some actual Law classes in the actual LawSchool ~
where one cannot avoid revealing how well one can ...
or cannot ... speak ... their mind ...

My first employer after graduating
got me involved with the local ToastMasters Speech Club ~
which can be a great/free avenue for anyone to overcome
the/ir "Fear of PublicSpeaking ..."

[Tessa James]

Good for you Ashley!  One of our challenges is the lack of understanding and visibility of transgender people.  Being able to articulate and represent a positive message about us is critically needed and there are multiple opportunities formally and informally to make that positive difference.

I have been doing LGBTQ and Trans 101 sort of presentations for years and find it very rewarding to connect with people needing support and wanting to learn more.  I feel it is always important to acknowledge we are an individual and the diversity within the transgender population is reflective of the greater culture.  Therefore if you have met one trans person its a good start but you have only met one and none of us can be the "typical trans person" as there is not just one story, narrative or perspective.  We are everywhere and have always been part of the human story.

Definitions, personal experience, statistical data, professional association statements (AMA, APA, WPATH) issues and established law are places I start while dialogue thru the Q & A process seems highly desired.  Almost every presentation I have been part of features someone coming out either publicly or in private.  We continue to need mentors and successful transgender people who are approachable and willing to share.

Thanks for being real and being "out" there.

[tgirlamg]

Thank YOU Tessa!!!... It sounds like you are making a lot of good things happen in the world!!!

Onward we go!!!

Ashley