I recently moved to Seattle for a few reasons.  But one was definitely the thought that there aren't many better places in the world to transition.

I love my neighbourhood, the representative for my neighbourhood is Cheri DiNovo which got Toby's Act through in Ontario providing protection for the trans community from discrimination, I can pretty much go to any bar and meet acceptance and I know 2 other trans girls that live in my vicinity.

By design, I just moved into a well know, very gay part of town. For some reason, I thought each and every one of my neighbors would be LGBT.    There are gay clubs all over the place, and it seems pretty friendly. This is the place I am finally going full time.

I live in a western suburb of Toronto in Mississauga since 1991 (I was born in Toronto living in various areas of the city). My burb is a big sprawling area, many housing communities, so homes for families. Because it is family oriented my sense is that there could be an uncomfortableness with trans people. I have been out and about in the south west end a lot with no problems or attitude, but I do get a questionable look sometimes. I walk in parks & mostly been friendly hello's in passing or smiles. One bar that I used to go to for a while, had a mixed attitude when I went enfemme one Halloween night & thought it was all wrong. some ladies had me join them in a group pic & thought it was brave of me & they were okay, I knew them a little bit. I talked to the manager about  the clientele & if I wanted to come enfemme again, he said I would be taking my chances & would have to find my way of dealing with a rude person with an attitude. I thanked him for his opinion & never went there again. A few doors away a classier restaurant/bar known for it's good food & service, my wife & I have been going there on weekends for 3 1/2 years. It really is community, we have made many friends & know management & most of the staff. My wife will not go with me if I want to go girly. About 4 times last year I have been there female only late on Friday afternoons before any of our friends arrive. Then I go home, change, pick my wife up from the commuter train station & go back in the evening. I explained my story briefly to some of the female service staff & they were unbelievably accepting. One of the gals said I understand your trans issue & I have your back. Wonderful to have that support. So far I feel that is my safe place if I occasionally want to drop in for a drink. I just blended in among the patrons, no one has bothered me. I haven't been to see my friends in the lgbt village of Church St. in Toronto in about 1 1/2 years. I had been going on weekends when I could since 2001 to last year, known my friends of rainbow that long. Miss them & should try to get there again some time.

@Antonia, I used to live on High Park Ave. just north of the Bloor subway stn., from 1970 to 1991. Loved the area. You have a Great Lady in Cheri DiNovo as a government rep. Good to know the area hopefully tolerant. Fortunately Toronto has a liberal media that is helpful in bring peoples stories forward to help educate & open peoples minds to gender diversity. A lot of people in my area work in Toronto & read the papers, so I hope that has transcended to change peoples attitudes in my area.
Sorry, I ran on.
Cheers
Jamie

Apparently, Nottingham is quite t-friendly.  I attend a Chameleons group there so it would be more convenient to live there (and I can still get to a another Chameleons group in the East Midlands with public transport and without a huge amount of trouble).  I can't wait, I just need to save up some emergency money first.

When I came out, privately - just being me, my neighbour did ask what was going on, I told her, she was very accepting and next day another neighbour came to my door with a bunch of flowers. Later on I had to change a car tyre, I realised I could no longer lift a wheel or use a jack, the next door neighbour men came around and changed the tyre for me.

For me, being accepted is accepting others, they may be cis but I accept and try to understand their point of view.

It may sound silly, but unless I can accept others why should they accept me?

Cindy

I'm sad to hear Mississauga is like that, I've been out dancing and dining in Oakville quite a few times and never had any issues.

High Park/Junction area is really nice and I love it here, I didn't know just how trans friendly is was when I moved here but I loved the vibe and atmosphere, in any case you are always welcome to join us for Girls Nigh out over in Oakville if you want to meet some more trans girls, we meet every two weeks at the Bouncing Bomb which is about as trans friendly as you can get

- Antonia

Quote from: Jamiep on September 25, 2014, 11:31:22 PM
@Antonia, I used to live on High Park Ave. just north of the Bloor subway stn., from 1970 to 1991. Loved the area. You have a Great Lady in Cheri DiNovo as a government rep. Good to know the area hopefully tolerant. Fortunately Toronto has a liberal media that is helpful in bring peoples stories forward to help educate & open peoples minds to gender diversity. A lot of people in my area work in Toronto & read the papers, so I hope that has transcended to change peoples attitudes in my area.
Sorry, I ran on.
Cheers
Jamie

all these nice stories

Quote from: suzanne on September 26, 2014, 04:02:08 AM
Last week three neighbours from further down the street had heard about my transitioning and out of the blue they stood in front of my door inviting me to come over for a drink, they want to know all about it and told me this is great and they will be supporting me.
One of them (the biggest "harley" dude in the street) even got a tear in his eye during our talk! That's one I will never forget. 
It was really very beautifull and it made me so happy I smiled about it all week.

What a fantastic story!  Thank you for sharing that.

I've always thought that Holland seems like a really great place to live.

Quote from: Cindy on September 26, 2014, 05:04:05 AM
For me, being accepted is accepting others, they may be cis but I accept and try to understand their point of view.

It may sound silly, but unless I can accept others why should they accept me?

I think that makes a lot of sense.  Because of the difficulties trans people used to have (and still do sometimes), we often have an almost combative attitude toward society.  And if not combative, we're definitely evasive.  But if we're normal, accepting people, then society will be much more likely to accept us.

About as intolerant, ignorant, bigoted and hateful as it's possible to get. People in my little corner of the world hate you if the grass in your garden is an inch too long. Anyone who is perceived as different has no chance. None.

I sometimes think that were Beelzebub himself to take a stroll through my neighbourhood, he would be packing pepper spray and/or a taser.

Well that sounds unpleasant. 

I moved away from a similar situation.  Have you considered that?

I live in a very small town in Ireland, and my particular neighbourhood is fine.  No children here, and for the most part people keep to themselves.  The few people I do see are fine.

The most interesting one was my next-door neighbour--a 60ish woman living on her own.  The first few times I ran into her after I came out, I couldn't read the look on her face: disapproval, hostility, what?  She never said a word to me, but she didn't look happy.  Eventually I decided she was simply thoroughly baffled.  Probably she'd never met a transperson face-to-face, and there's no telling what she'd heard about us.  As an older woman on her own, you could see why she might be worried.

But eventually she thawed.  One day as I was coming home, I ran into her outside her front gate and stopped and had a chat with her.  We introduced ourselves all over again, and then we were friends again.  I think perhaps she'd realized that I was never a threat to her before, so why would I be one now?  We're on very good terms these days.

Quote from: katiej on September 26, 2014, 01:29:07 PM
Well that sounds unpleasant. 

I moved away from a similar situation.  Have you considered that?

Not really an option at the moment, hon.

It's okay for the most part. I keep to myself and have very little to do with any of the curtain-twitchers in my immediate vicinity. A policy of avoidance which is, so far, not incredibly unworkable, lol.

Maybe at some point.

I don't know how trans friendly it is where I live but it is certainly very Rosie-friendly. I don't think most people care too much whether you are trans or not but are more concerned about whether you are an objectionable whatnot. This has been true for Reading, Bristol, Bath, Birmingham and all the other places I have been to in the UK for the last year and a half.

That said, I shall probably get an entire day's worth of grief tomorrow.

Rosie

The neighborhood I currently live in, is pretty conservative. I've lived here since August 2009. However, I'd already had my total male fail a year before so I was already full time when I moved here. My neighbors for the most part see and treat me as cis tho I'm not anywhere near stealth, and I've told those closest to me my history. All but one have been nothing less than fully supportive. The only other two peeople here I've had problems with were my former business partner and a friend of his, who I thought was my friend too but found out differently when I told him the full story. Neither of these two live in my neighborhood tho, and the one that does live here who has a problem with me just leaves me alone, and I do the same.

For an island in a swampy lake chain in rural Florida it's more supportive than I could ever ask for.

Ally

My neighbors are farmers/ranchers/OTR truckers... They run a 1000 acre ranch/farm here in western SD...

They knew me as a "city boy from Chicago" when I moved in next door 2 years ago...  They never specifically mentioned my transition to full time female but they have been VERY accepting of the new woman next door

They came and cut and baled my 37 acres of grass for me earlier this summer   I talked to them again yesterday when a stray dog showed up... They came right by to get him and actually found his owner today... They are always VERY nice and they do know whats going on here 

Im NOT a young easily "passable" woman either... Im 45 and while I do believe I look pretty good, Im newer to all this... Started going out as Female 10-11 months ago and Im only 5 1/2 months on HRT...

I had ZERO trouble when I just started out very much looking like a "man in a dress"... Thankfully things are MUCH better for me today and I do believe I "pass" 95% of the time and that includes cis straight bars and getting picked up by men who honestly didnt know   Im still alive and well so far

So yea I guess its OK, no real "trans" scene here... Just look and be a woman and you will get treated as one here I guess 

I honestly don't know if it's trans friendliness or just New England reserve, but nobody in my neighborhood batted an eye as I transitioned in place.

@ Antonia, after putting a bit out there about myself I thought about sending you a pm, possibly getting together in your area, or the village. I knew there were a couple of places in Mississauga, didn't quite remember what bar, I think once a month one on Brown's Line, but don't recall their names. It surprised me that you would go to a place in Oakville. I searched & know where it is, not far from me. It will be a pleasure to meet you. You can let me know here or pm me & i will give you my phone number & let me know when the next outing is. I appreciate the invite. I used to be in a support group when I went to a gender Doctor at a facility in Mississauga. I would be pleased to meet some trans people in a  social environment.
Thanks
Jamie

@ Sephirah,

I always love your amazing philosophical posts over the years, I am not on the same levels as you, but you pull me along. I am so sorry that where you live is not accepting. You are a Beautiful person & I hope attitudes will change in your area.

From many others here it is wonderful to read that there are a lot of positive reactions from the cis binary realm of people. Warms your heart.
Cheers
Jamie

My neighborhood is very trans friendly. My neighbor had seen me dressed several times, in passing, so I decided to tell him I'm trans and was transitioning. He told me, "That's great! Congratulations, what name do you want me to call you?"