So today was our normal local trans support meeting day and when I showed up, we had a full room! Wahoo!!! This is a group that has grown from four people. Literally. Two of those...are my wife and I. So...yea. To say I'm pretty proud when we've now got a room of 14 people...and many were missing...yea. I was stoked.
In this crowd...there was one two spirit, one bigender, and Me!!! Non binary people at my local meetings!!! Face to face! For realz!!! So many people seem to think that there's only one token non-binary per town or some such...perhaps that non binary folks only exist online...I'm here to say...not so my friends! Not so!
Also, this meeting is held at the local LGBT center. That's right. They respect us and think we're a valuable part of the community :D
I guess I must just live in a bizarre land or something. On top of it...my city is QUITE conservative and catholic in it's history (and current state of mind...) and yet, we've all found our way. :) Makes me happy. So I thought I'd share.
How very cool!
Thank goodness for that! I'm glad to hear it. You know, we really need support for the non-binaries exclusively, I think. Not that the trans issues aren't relevant for many of us, I just think it'd be neat if we had our own exclusive groups IRL. Really dig deep into the issues that make us unique. A caucus if you will.
I think that a non binary convention would be A-MAZING!!! I think a monthly style, ongoing support group likely wouldn't work. I've heard about other gender queer/androgyn/questioning sort of folks locally but none of them come to the meetings. Even though our meetings are so so mellow and are really fun. We're not a super serious group, even though we're totally there for each other. We split up into small sub groups all within the same room. Anyone can join in anywhere. No one has ever been left out (at least I don't see it, or feel that anyone has been. Someone else may have different views) and really the support comes just from being in the same room as a bunch of people who are going through, or have been through...similar things as you. Support isn't something we *do*...it's something we *are*.
Since I really feel bigender (but rarely outwardly express myself as such...it's somehow difficult for people to grab onto...) when I heard one of the other members introduce hirself as bigender I just lit up. I wanted to talk to her about her gender experience so much, and find out how she finds her balance, and what goes on in her head. Ze wanted...to talk about roleplay games and shamanism though. So...*shrugs* Wasn't sure what to make of that....
I wonder how difficult or easy it would be to create a non binary convention!!!?! That would be so so so amazing.
Fantastic! I admire your courage in putting this together. People really need support and most are not willing to put a group together. We seem to be so splintered, shy, and in manay cases, down right cowards. I put myself in the last group. Good for you!
Cindi
I would attend a non-binary convention in a heartbeat.
I'm one of the shy cowards that would think its a cool idea but not attend.
I'd turn up were it convenient enough.
Quote from: espo on December 18, 2011, 02:38:55 PM
I'm one of the shy cowards that would think its a cool idea but not attend.
I didn't say I'd actually talk to anyone there. xD
:D That made me laugh
Money would be the primary issue for me. But social awkwardness and reluctance to speak would be part of it too...it'd be funny if we all showed up and no one spoke, ha.
That would be really awesome. :)
A former member of my taiko group posted once she might be genderqueer, and i felt just a bit of kinship from that even though we never talked. A whole convention though? That'd be something. :)
We've got a genderqueer group in Chicago :)
http://genderqueerchicago.blogspot.com/ (http://genderqueerchicago.blogspot.com/)
I want to go, but it's one of the many things I want to do that I don't in order to keep the peace. :(
Quote from: Maya Zimmerman on December 19, 2011, 01:02:46 PM
We've got a genderqueer group in Chicago :)
http://genderqueerchicago.blogspot.com/ (http://genderqueerchicago.blogspot.com/)
I want to go, but it's one of the many things I want to do that I don't in order to keep the peace. :(
:o I want to go, but I don't want to go because it'll be scary, but I want to go...
Quote from: Julian on December 19, 2011, 02:13:07 PM
:o I want to go, but I don't want to go because it'll be scary, but I want to go...
Oh, you should totally go! It seems like such a cool group!
I think Pittsburgh had a group like that but i don't think its active anymore. :'(
How would one go about creating a convention? Where would androgyns like to meet? Perhaps a hotel or convention center would be inappropriate for androgyns...some place that would draw out our shyer community members. Hmmmm
In a forest somewhere :).
Hehee, creeping round a forest with andros.... hehee.
It would be like a family reunion! There always seem to be family reunions going on in the forest preserves around my area...