Susan's Place Transgender Resources

My brothers and I met up with a LGBTQ activist for an interview this afternoon. I told her my story first in the middle and then she interviewed them after that. One thing they were asked was seeing what I went through before I came out and transitioned. They said I never grew up as a happy brother bottling it up seeing I was unhappy at times in my life. Included I was a ticking time bomb at times. I agreed with them 100% on that and was that way. They said that went away when I finally did come at age 20 and knew a much happier sister with a new lease on life. Best part was I started my new life as Nikki 3 months into my transition. My older brothers, they saw a whole new sister in their life that was living a better life. My younger brother, he saw a big sister in his life that was much happier come out of me. They were asked if they do not miss the brother they once had and said they do not miss the unhappy brother they had loving and accepting me as a sister in their life.

Thanks for being out there telling your story Nikki! I have been doing speaking events for 12 years now and had been thinking about moving on from it but, I think maybe what I have to say is needed now more than ever! I have 6 speaking dates at the local university next month!... Keep speaking your peace sister! You truly have some amazingly wonderful brothers! 🤗

Onward We Go Brave Sister!

Ashley 💕

Quote from: tgirlamg on March 22, 2025, 08:59:58 PMThanks for being out there telling your story Nikki! I have been doing speaking events for 12 years now and had been thinking about moving on from it but, I think maybe what I have to say is needed now more than ever! I have 6 speaking dates at the local university next month!... Keep speaking your peace sister!

Onward We Go Brave Sister!

Ashley 💕

Hi 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

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 💕

Quote from: NikkiM on March 21, 2025, 09:51:17 PMMy brothers and I met up with a LGBTQ activist for an interview this afternoon. I told her my story first in the middle and then she interviewed them after that. One thing they were asked was seeing what I went through before I came out and transitioned. They said I never grew up as a happy brother bottling it up seeing I was unhappy at times in my life. Included I was a ticking time bomb at times. I agreed with them 100% on that and was that way. They said that went away when I finally did come at age 20 and knew a much happier sister with a new lease on life. Best part was I started my new life as Nikki 3 months into my transition. My older brothers, they saw a whole new sister in their life that was living a better life. My younger brother, he saw a big sister in his life that was much happier come out of me. They were asked if they do not miss the brother they once had and said they do not miss the unhappy brother they had loving and accepting me as a sister in their life.

That is interesting.

Thank you for sharing.

Chrissy

I love this!  Living vicariously.  My siblings belong in Arkansas, they are that intolerant!
Good on you.  A happy sister far better than a morose brother.  But then, my siblings wouldn't like me an any case, or so i feel.

You are so lucky!  Continued love and success wishes to you.

Quote from: tgirlamg on March 22, 2025, 08:59:58 PMThanks for being out there telling your story Nikki! I have been doing speaking events for 12 years now and had been thinking about moving on from it but, I think maybe what I have to say is needed now more than ever! I have 6 speaking dates at the local university next month!... Keep speaking your peace sister! You truly have some amazingly wonderful brothers! 🤗

Onward We Go Brave Sister!

Ashley 💕

I would like to hear one of your talks !

Quote from: tgirlamg on March 22, 2025, 08:59:58 PMThanks for being out there telling your story Nikki! I have been doing speaking events for 12 years now and had been thinking about moving on from it but, I think maybe what I have to say is needed now more than ever! I have 6 speaking dates at the local university next month!... Keep speaking your peace sister! You truly have some amazingly wonderful brothers! 🤗

Onward We Go Brave Sister!

Ashley 💕

I surey would love to attend when you are speaking sometime. Are you ever on the east coast?

Quote from: she she on April 21, 2025, 03:30:29 PMI would like to hear one of your talks !

Quote from: Annaliese on April 21, 2025, 03:54:38 PMI surey would love to attend when you are speaking sometime. Are you ever on the east coast?

She She & Annalise

Thanks so much for the interest sisters! I am afraid I just speak here locally! I recently made a post in my blog about my experiences with being a speaker...🌻

Reply #73 here:

https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.60.html

My hope when I posted was that others might be attracted to the experience as well... I think it is an important time to be out there telling our stories and building more understanding about who we are...🌻

You don't need to be far into transition or anything else to make an effective speaker... Just open your heart and help others to understand what you seek in your life and why... Help others see that the things we seek, are what all people seek... Loving connections with others...happiness,... a fulfilling meaningful life that reflects who we are, lived in peaceful secure surroundings...🌻

Onward We Go Brave Sisters!

Ashley 💕