I was wondering if people were up for talking about how they view their current town or city, and how they are treated.
Personally, I haven't had much issue in Toronto, even in the very yuppy area that I currently live in. My partner and I are respected, never denied service but it does help that we're adorable :laugh:
New Orleans is known for its weirdness... so ... I'm treated like I'm nobody different :D
There's a huge trans presence here, I see a trans person almost every time I go out in public. As a matter of fact, including me, I know of at least 5 in my neighborhood alone and I've only lived here for a little over a month! NOPD has been known to be awful to us, but the Dept of Justice demanded that they clean up their act and they're pretty much now forced to address us according to our gender ID. There are low cost clinics that cater to transsexuals here, too. If you qualify for the cities healthcare system, visits to the clinic and lab tests are paid down greatly. If you're HIV positive, there are houses that cater to you and will not discriminate on you if you're trans, and they'll respect your gender ID. So many LGBT bars, clubs, hang out spots dot the city, so it's hard to ignore us. We are also well known for our LGBT festivals (Fringe, Southern Decadence, some of the Mardi Gras Krewes). There were a couple events for Transgender Day of Rememberance, too.
Of course with our huge presence, there's a bigger chance to get clocked. But even on the rare day that I am clocked, they don't act any different from how they treat any other girl. We have the occasional jerk-wad, but they're usually either tourists or the random bible thumper.
Who doesn't love New Orleans, though?? Laissez bon temps rouler! :)
Portland Oregon is another weirdness place. Very Trans friendly. We have a trans doctor (MtF) here and a trans therapist (FtM). We have several groups that are trans only groups and we have one of the largest Drag shows, Darcelle's.
And we have a saying here that is used by many cities.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.keepportlandweird.com%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2FKPW.jpg&hash=1a767e67b3b3dcadf183af00e09cdc08030edf1f)
I just moved to TO a couple months ago, and, ya, it seems pretty relaxed. I'm not visibly trans, but I am visibly queer and I haven't been bothered or anything.
That slogan might be used by several places, but it originated in Austin, Texas as part of the effort to keep the SXSW Festival there.
And in San Francisco, we don't even need to tell - or in the case of Portland, sell - people on our weirdness. We don't even see it that way. It's just 49 square miles of beauty surrounded by reality.
I live 120 miles east of San Francisco in a historic gold rush era town, nice little scenic place and my family goes back over 70 years here.....but! It is very conservative, mostly older retired and I see signs around for weekly "Tea Party" meetings,
It's easy to fill in the blanks and figure out how trans folks could be treated here if not careful.
It's part of the reason I like to go see my daughter in San Francisco as often a I can :)
Quote from: Michelle G on November 21, 2012, 12:46:28 AM
I live 120 miles east of San Francisco in a historic gold rush era town, nice little scenic place and my family goes back over 70 years here.....but! It is very conservative, mostly older retired and I see signs around for weekly "Tea Party" meetings,
It's easy to fill in the blanks and figure out how trans folks could be treated here if not careful.
It's part of the reason I like to go see my daughter in San Francisco as often a I can :)
Girl.. time to make that move whenever possible. That just sucks to live so close to an awesome, one of a kind place like SF and be stuck in Haterville. There's only a handful of cities in the USA that is completely unique, and SF is one of them. It's kinda why the first chance I was able to, I went 300 miles south east to New Orleans. Not everyone in the country is blessed to live near a gem like we are ;)
I live about thirty minutes east of Columbus, Ohio and my town is amazingly good for a "red" town and what i have found out about my city is that at least here you can be who you want and no one will tell you anything to your face. Ironically Columbus is an amazing town where everyone supports everyone and even if they dont they keep their mouths to themselves. So all in all my city is an amazing place and everyone here knows about me due to an accident with an ex-friend who went and spread the word around. But i would love to hear where else is quite accepting in the world.
Adelaide is very friendly to everyone.
Yes there are creeps but they find stones to live under.
It is against the law to discriminate against TG or anyone else for that matter, and it is enforced.
I've never had a problem. We have lots of festivals and stuff and our climate is pretty magical as well. Very Gay friendly - either/all genders, Gay/lesbian politicians and judges. Some one said there were some straight people as well :laugh:
Quote from: Cindy James on November 21, 2012, 01:34:15 AM
Adelaide is very friendly to everyone.
Yes there are creeps but they find stones to live under.
It is against the law to discriminate against TG or anyone else for that matter, and it is enforced.
I've never had a problem. We have lots of festivals and stuff and our climate is pretty magical as well. Very Gay friendly - either/all genders, Gay/lesbian politicians and judges. Some one said there were some straight people as well :laugh:
I can second Cindy's comments about Adelaide. I've not had one problem, well, apart from some odd looks and comments - those I return with a gleeful smile.
Quote from: kelly_aus on November 21, 2012, 01:57:07 AM
I can second Cindy's comments about Adelaide. I've not had one problem, well, apart from some odd looks and comments - those I return with a gleeful smile.
Talking about cities, you know any good places to catch up and eat at?
Manchester, England is known for its LGBT friendliness and its "Gay Village" is widely publicized in the city's tourism & leisure literature. I just spent a weekend in rural Wales as well and had no problems there either. The UK seems to be a very accepting place and there are lots of legal protections for trans folk.
Ok, I'll put in a plug for Albuquerque New Mexico. Actually very trans friendly, we got a great trans center (amazing for such a little town), and a really active trans community. No one yet really quite sees me as the guy I am but almost no one gives me a sidewise glance. If you like green chili it's even better, but my stomach doesn't tolerate it.
--Jay J
I live in Blackpool it has a large LGBT population and several pubs and clubs including Funny Girls drag show bar.There's a large trans population with girls significantly outnumbering the boys and a good support/social group called Renaissance which meets fortnightly here. There's a few rough areas so you don't go there unless you have to.The police are pretty good too homophobia/transphobia is dealt with very seriously.Never been refused services for being TS and don't know anyone who has.There's a few haters but they tend to be ignorant teenagers or drunks.At weekends the place is pretty rowdy as it's a popular place for stag/hen nights and the football supporters when Blackpool play at home.More disturbingly there have been several demonstrations by far right groups like the BNP and EDL in recent years.It's a bit run down but there's a lot of worse places to live!
Canberra, the Australian capital, is known as a boring place to most Australians from larger cities. Other trans people have had bad experiences, but I can only speak for my own experience from the times when people used to notice me for being trans (not for being a tall, striking blonde like they do now ;D ). Back then I would get comments or stares, mainly from teenage boys. Most of the people here are highly educated, and working in the federal government or one of the universities. This group of people doesn't seem to have much of a problem with trans people. There are plenty of safe places to go and socialise, and I have travelled on the buses without ever being hassled. The local government (Canberra is an independent territory) is very trans friendly, providing generous funding for A Gender Agenda, a local trans advocacy and support group. I haven't delved too far into the lesbian community, but I have found people very accepting of me there as well. There seems to be less antagonism amongst LBGTI groups here than what i understand is the case in other places.
The only problem is it is almost impossible to go stealth as you bump into the same people over and over again, and half of them know you from before transition, and all of them know someone who knows you! A lot of people I knew here have moved to larger cities (Melbourne seems to be the favourite) to start a new life.
Despite Cindy's inferences :laugh: Hobart, capital of the Australian state of Tasmania is generally a pretty accepting place. There are a minority who are trans/homophobic, but most people are pretty relaxed.
We are currently in the middle of Pride Week, and the Anti-Discrimination and Vilification Act has just been amended to give specific protection to Intersex people, which I understand is a world first. Also an attempt to have religious groups exempted from the Act was defeated.
Apparently it is one of the strongest Anti-Discrimination Acts anywhere, which is a big change from even 20 years ago. The local support and activism groups are fairly prominent and effective having a captive island audience as it were.
Karen.
Twin Cities have been all right. I don't know much about the community outside of the University of Minnesota but I hear there are other resources. I will say the problems I've had have had typically came from a rougher crowd who were likely to give me grief no matter what.
Green Bay, where I grew up, on the other hand scares the crap out of me. I will return after I go full time but that day, I dread.
Why do I suddenly find myself wondering when my next high school reunion is?
My city has less than 200 000 people. The whole region is less than 300 000, and it's isolated from any other populated area by a good 2.5 hours of road. Statistically, that makes 1/10000*300000 = 30 trans people in the whole area, I think, all ages together. With the population getting old, that makes about 3-6 of them being remotely young. 1-4 of them being girls, still hypothetically. Actually, I believe I'm the first or second "young" patient with transsexualism that my psychiatrist sees. And he's the only one for referring trans people in the whole area.
And that's if they stay. But they don't. They'll tend to move to Montréal and such, where help is more readily available and there's even a support group. And trans or not, most young people who want to study eventually go away for studies, and they don't always come back.
All that makes it so that transsexualism is an almost nonexistent phenomenon here, and whatever exists, people view it as almost exclusively for old people, like that white-haired local historian who publicly came out as transgendered.
This has the advantage of not really readily raising people's suspicions. It also has the disadvantage that there's a good chance I'll become a pretty popular conversation topic when I socially transition next year. A bit annoying that I have to do it with the same classmates, eh.
Lol, Tessa, about the French separatists. That sounds like a funny scene. xD
My city is one of the most violent places to live in in the world that aren't war zones, more than 10 transgendered women are murdered on a yearly basis, and cis women get murdered so much, new legislation has been passed by congress so as to typify the murder of a woman as a crime set apart from normal murder. The police force is corrupt and many times involved in criminal activities.
On the plus side, the gay community is growing and pressuring to have itself heard, there have been growing gay pride parades for 5 years now. Also if you're one of the lucky few that have enough money, you can get to do whatever you might wish.
I haven't a clue about my city as I don't intend to ever out myself. When I moved to SE England I had already transitioned. The only TG resource I have used is 70 minutes drive down to Westminster.
Horrible but I could not care less cause its my hometown.
My Hometown was Indianapolis IN in the USA. It was passable only because I was. Actually in the 1980s it was so rare to run into a Trans person, that most folks never realized that there were such folks around-- much less in their midst. So I got by.
Surviving and thriving are two very different things, and it wasn't until I went to a larger city (Wash DC suburbs) that things really started happening for me, and I met the love of my life. I now RV full time and tour quite a bit. We will spend more time in the New England area as there is more opportunity and less intolerance. We love PA for the gorgeous scenery, but its more hatefilled there than even in the deep south.
I run into a LOT of real bigotted conversation (mostly related to the recent elections and not directed to me). In those times I realize I am just a tourist, and take heart in my plans to keep moving along.
So we have some tests for a region. If there has been lots of big changes such as plant or military base closings, huge influx of a new ethic group, &c., the kind of things that make folks fearful-- we stay away. Frightened folks are the worst, and the cowardly are quick to make and act on targets which seem threatening. Hope this helps-
Lexi Calgari in South Georgia for Thanksgiving-
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on November 20, 2012, 11:47:42 PM
Portland Oregon is another weirdness place. Very Trans friendly. We have a trans doctor (MtF) here and a trans therapist (FtM). We have several groups that are trans only groups and we have one of the largest Drag shows, Darcelle's.
And we have a saying here that is used by many cities.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.keepportlandweird.com%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2FKPW.jpg&hash=1a767e67b3b3dcadf183af00e09cdc08030edf1f)
This is not the first time I've heard good things about Portland. I'd be interesting in paying the city a visit one day.
I'm currently in Denver. And personally, I've never had any issues whatsoever. In addition to the large LGBT presence, most everyone has a who-cares attitude.
Quote from: monica.soto on November 21, 2012, 08:56:00 AM
My city is one of the most violent places to live in in the world that aren't war zones, more than 10 transgendered women are murdered on a yearly basis, and cis women get murdered so much, new legislation has been passed by congress so as to typify the murder of a woman as a crime set apart from normal murder. The police force is corrupt and many times involved in criminal activities.
On the plus side, the gay community is growing and pressuring to have itself heard, there have been growing gay pride parades for 5 years now. Also if you're one of the lucky few that have enough money, you can get to do whatever you might wish.
Do you live in Chicago?
I like Portland, it is always the goofy stepsister to Seattle which is actually a good thing :)
Do you live in Chicago?
Harsh. And truer about Detroit.
Quote from: Tristan on November 22, 2012, 09:21:58 PM
Do you live in Chicago?
Wow Tristan, I never knew Chicago was so tough! I live outside of the USA, south of Mexico...
Quote from: monica.soto on November 22, 2012, 10:55:16 PM
Wow Tristan, I never knew Chicago was so tough! I live outside of the USA, south of Mexico...
brazil maybe?
Here are some choices north of Mexico, that are Mexico, but in the US. Did I say that right? The list:
Mexico, Indiana
Mexico, Kentucky
Mexico, Maine
Mexico, Maryland
Mexico, Missouri
Mexico (village), New York
Mexico (town), New York
We're playing guess my city?
What if somebody finds out where I'm from???? the horror! :o
Okay, it's a Spanish speaking country in the American continent (so it's not an Island), it's neither Brazil or Mexico, but located geographically somewhere in between these countries.
That should be enough, but If you guess right I'll never confirm it ;) (at least publicly..if you're dying to know just PM me)
My area isnt that bad, It to be one of the most alternatives places and the place with most GLBT people.
But the countrys threatment of transexuals itself in general sucks about them wanting to forbid homones for transgenders and all sort of things. and sadly I have to live under this.
I am in a capital city. We have an LGBT group but no trans groups. I think there is only like 1 out trans person in the whole city.
Quote from: monica.soto on November 23, 2012, 02:13:34 PM
We're playing guess my city?
What if somebody finds out where I'm from???? the horror! :o
Okay, it's a Spanish speaking country in the American continent (so it's not an Island), it's neither Brazil or Mexico, but located geographically somewhere in between these countries.
That should be enough, but If you guess right I'll never confirm it ;) (at least publicly..if you're dying to know just PM me)
I know, but I am not telling.
For a really small city, Manchester, NH doesn't seem bad at all. Just the fact that it has a small population period means a smaller population of LGBT, of course but it's also close to Boston. It was cool to hear that NH is the most LGBT state in the U.S. Washington D.C. beat us but it's not a state, technically.
I'm back in Green Bay for the holiday and none too happy about it. Still presenting male and knowing that it's going to be very hard for me to come back here when my outside matches my inside.
It just hurts so much to be here. There are good people and places to eat to be sure, but, the lack of resources... I hated myself for so long... I thought if I admitted what I felt that I would be sent to a pray-away-the-trans camp or something.
I feel like lamenting that I could have my vagina already if I had somewhere I could have gotten help here. Still, my life has been good and I am ready now to transition. Better late than never eh? And maybe I'm being unfair too. It was me that denied myself for the last eight years since I started fending for myself in the world. Faugh, in any case, it would be nice to not be in a place that reminds me of so much regret in my life.
I hope anyone else here now has an easier go of it. Not that I see any indications of change bouncing around here the last few days...
I haven't had any problems in my city when I go out. I live in Phoenix, Arizona. I have basically been all over this city as me Scottsdale, Mesa, Peoria, Chandler, Avondale and every little suburb in between. I haven't had any issues. I have only noticed a couple people "spot" me but I don't really pay attention to anyone else when I'm out.
I live along lake Zurich, Switzerland, in a conservative village. My experiences with the local court (for official gender change) and other departments (for the driver's license, for example) have been excellent even though I'm supposedly the first case in 20 years. I guess it helps that I and my partner are adorable :) The cities of Zurich, and San Francisco, where I also spend time, are of course great; not so much Paris, which I have found to be as bigoted as it is beautiful. In fact just a week ago they had a big demonstration in Paris against gay marriage with a turnout between 200-400K people (depending on the source). So France has a long way to come relative to say, London, NYC, SF, Berlin, Copenhagen, or in fact, my little hamlet on lake shore Zurich. Hugs, Beatrice
Well, I'm at a game store in GB and clearly someone here is having an easier time being themselves here than I ever did. <sigh/>
Where is my list o' regrets????
I live in a fairly small town (population around 36.000), and have never had any bad reactions from anyone. The cashiers at my local grocery store sometimes seem to have a hard time staying serious or something, but that's pretty much it. (I have always shopped there, and a couple of them seem to fight off a giggle fit when they see me. I guess they aren't used to the beard yet. :P )
There are plenty of friendly folks in my town (San Angelo, Texas) who probably wouldn't give a flip either way (or would keep it to themselves, if they did); but the folks who might not be as friendly about it, have the potential to be unfriendly in a very serious way.
It's not a chance I'm willing to take, though I know there are folks here who do... p'haps it's just because I've always lived and worked amongst the rougher folk, and as such have a more narrow view of the population.
naaaw... i think i got it right.
Quote from: beabela on November 24, 2012, 01:19:09 PM
not so much Paris, which I have found to be as bigoted as it is beautiful. In fact just a week ago they had a big demonstration in Paris against gay marriage with a turnout between 200-400K people (depending on the source). So France has a long way to come relative to say, London, NYC, SF, Berlin, Copenhagen, or in fact, my little hamlet on lake shore Zurich. Hugs, Beatrice
Wow. I thought Parisians would be more progressive than that. They are very unfriendly In general I can tell you that.
Quote from: mintra on November 24, 2012, 11:55:52 PM
Wow. I thought Parisians would be more progressive than that. They are very unfriendly In general I can tell you that.
Actually when they found I was Australian and not English or American, Parisians were really friendly.
Yesterday was the Pride March in Hobart. 500 attendance and address by a State Gov't Minister as well as good, if brief, coverage on 3 TV News was pretty neat.