Quote from: Lexxi on March 22, 2025, 11:32:36 PMHi Ashley,
I wanted to ask you a question. Now that I've had my vocal cord surgery and am finally happy with my voice, I've been thinking about starting some side work as a presenter. One day I got to thinking that maybe people wouldn't hate trans people if they knew more about us. If they can see that we're just normal people and not the monsters they've been told that we are.
That led me to thinking about maybe putting together a presentation that can be given at schools.....and churches. I'm specifically thinking about churches because churches and their organizations are quite powerful politically, so maybe if trans people can make inroads with them, maybe we can turn around some of this hate that pointed our way.
With this in mind, do you think doing presentations like this could first do some good, and second be something that I could turn into a bit of career? I would find something like this VERY fulfilling, but it would be hard to do it just for fun without a little bit of compensation.
What are your thoughts, and do you have any suggestions about something like this?
Thanks in advance,
Lexxi
@Lexxi 💕
Being a speaker is an experience I have long recommended to anyone who has any interest at all... Even if they attach some degree of discomfort to the thought of public speaking! 😰
I started in 2013 before I had even started HRT when a speaker came to my support group and said the experience was available to any of us... At the time, I knew I was going to go into full medical and social transition very soon and, with all the unknowns about where this decision would truly lead me... I thought that being able to walk into rooms filled with strangers and speak my peace about what had always been my deepest secret would be a good skill to have under my belt as I moved into my new frontiers!... There is another gift in the experience as well... when we have to convey to others our challenges and motivations for making the decisions that we do, we ourselves gain even deeper understanding of our own journey🌻
I dove right in and about 2 weeks after volunteering, I found myself going through the security checkpoint of a local military facility that I had worked at many times over the years but, this time... in a black lace top and skirt to address a roomful of Air Force Officers and Sergeants... It went very well and from that first day, I was hooked. 🌻
Since then I have found myself speaking mostly at the local university but, also the junior college, local churches, police academy, local city employee training, rape crisis center volunteer training etc... often as part of a panel but, many times as a solo speaker as well.🌻
QuoteLexxi.... "One day I got to thinking that maybe people wouldn't hate trans people if they knew more about us. If they can see that we're just normal people and not the monsters they've been told that we are."
☝️😀 <{Exactly}
I no longer need the experience for what I sought from it in those early days but, continue now because I enjoy the interaction with the generations which shall soon inherit the world and... I like being part of dispelling misconceptions and bringing understanding about who we are to others who, in many cases have no deep understanding of why we do what we do and need what we need in life... I think we do ourself, as a group, far more good offering others a bit of ourselves... than we do when we make demands of them. The things we seek will flow from understanding...🌻
All that said... in my experience, I don't think I would ever look at speaking as something that would have much potential to pay the bills! I have always been a volunteer but, despite a lack of financial gain... the experience is rich in reward in other forms for both ourselves and the world! 🌻
Onward We Go Brave Sister!
Hugs!
Ashley 💕
