Erika from Ohio

[Erika J Spangler]

Hi My name is Erika J Spangler yes that's my real name in my profile I figure I have nothing to hide here.
I am a 38yr old male to female pre-op transsexual who has been on hormone replacement therapy for 7 years and have been living full time for 6 1/2 years. I live in a rural sleepy little town of 400 people in Meigs county Ohio.

I have "known" since I was little that I wanted to be a girl, but sadly could not come out as Erika till 7 years ago.
The small town I live in is a very hostile place for a transsexual to live in. I really don't have a choice to live here because I care take for my mentally handicapped mother, whom I am her full time caretaker due to not having any brothers or sisters. My mom is my biggest supporter and I am eternally grateful that since coming out she has been there for me when I needed support.
When I came out I lost most of my friends and family due too their religious beliefs infact I was banned from church because of my transition. It was a real eyeopener and I have forgiven them for their stances , but they have yet to forgive me. 
Anyways I have moved on with life and am planning to have SRS in a couple years to finally realize my dreams.

[Laurie]

Hi Erika,

  Thank you for coming here to tell us a bit more about yourself. And of course Welcome to Susan's Place. (Hug) Do come in and make yourself comfortable while you share a bit of our lives through our post and we share yours.
  Unfortunately encountering hostility is not limits to small towns nor close proximity. It can be far reaching. I'm glad you have not let it stop you and that you were able to put it behind you. Having your mother be one of your supporters is a definite boon and it is nice that you have her right there with you. My own Mom passed away a few years ago. She knew of my crossdressing  but never let on that she knew. At that time I did not know myself that I was transgender so I never had the chance to tell her I was her daughter. I have no doubt that she would have supported me in my transition. Would that all family members could do the same.
  Thank you again Erika for becoming a part of Susan's Place.

laurie

[V M]

Hi Erika 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M

[rmaddy]

...I was banned from church because of my transition. It was a real eyeopener and I have forgiven them for their stances , but they have yet to forgive me. 

I got booted too and I'll never forgive them.  The idea that you have to forgive everyone is a bit too arbitrary and convenient for the oppressor in my book.  I try to forgive most people, but some of them can flake off ad infinitum as far as I am concerned.

I hope you took your excommunication as an opportunity.  When I was kicked out, I used it as a time to clean house in terms of my beliefs.  Authority was obviously corrupt, so arguments from authority can be ignored.  As Hitch used to say:

"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

[Kendra]

Hello Erika!  Thank you for becoming a member of Susan's. 

I grew up in a town of 2,000 (Arlington, Washington State) where I ran into quite a few "traditional" issues and couldn't wait to bail once I completed high school.  Some of the school administrators and the parents of my friends were the worst.  One my friends' parents called me a liar when I told them I was born in the USA - they said anyone who looked like me couldn't be from this country.  When the school found out my mother had immigrated from Japan the school brought in a specialist for language tests to determine whether I required remedial language classes.  They never bothered to ask, but my mother was an English major in college and taught me how to read before the first grade.  The Arlington school district seemed more interested in sports than academic topics so I went to a community college full time at age 14, graduated at 15 and entered the University of Washington before I was 16.  I had escaped my small town by studying. 

I admire you for staying where you are and taking care for your mother - proof you are an incredibly kind and caring person.  My mother and father are still around, they have been married 60 years and completely understand my decision to transition - in fact my mother is excited.  I can understand from personal experience if you are fortunate to have a parent who truly accepts and loves you for who you are, absolutely nothing can stand in the way of reciprocating.

I also admire you for forgiving your acquaintances from church.  Ironic, isn't it?

Great to see you here.

Kendra

[Cure Bunny]

Hello Erika


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Roll]

Wow, and I thought I was in a small town (well, at least when only counting year-round residents, its summer home-y). I am in awe of your courage Erika, and your willingness to forgive speaks volumes.

[Erika J Spangler]

Thanks for the support girls