Today I went to church as female for the first time ever.  It's a small christian-based church, but they accept gay/lesbian/trans/whatever.  There was only about 10-15 people there in the congregation.  It's actually the church that my support group meets in.  So I was invited to go and I got up in time this morning to get ready and made it there at about the right time.  I would have to say that I've never felt so good going to church before.  I was able to thoroughly listen for the first time without thinking about my own problems.

The service was great and after church I went out to lunch with a small group including 2 others from my support group.  It wasn't until I was talking about why I had smooth skin on my face that one of the non-trans ladies realize I was trans and even then, she had trouble believing it.  That felt really good when she said that.  So, it looks like I now have a new church I can go to and be accepted as myself.  They are not meeting next wek because of the local pride event, but they will after that.  I enjoyed it so much, I look forward to going next time.

Melissa

Melissa
Thats great!

KateAlice

So now you have a bigger support group.
The size of the church doesn't matter it's the size of their God that does.
I'm happy for you Melissa.

Jillieann

 
Hey Melissa my beautiful friend. I am so glad to read your post. Tino & I went to church a couple weeks ago, it was okay but not what I am looking for. I might like a smaller group. There is a church here that I heard is no-condeming, I'd like to go there. I am always happy when I hear people are recognized and when we get to connect with support.

~Amy aka Spike

Hey Melissa,
       Great news!!  Church is a great place to get support.  Marco and I are going to start going to a Calvary Chapel here in Rancho Cucamonga after his top surgery and the effect of hormones is on its way.  He had a "passing" issue in a restaurant the other night and doesn't really want to go anywhere until the start of T and after the top surgery.

Jillieann, I really like what you said. I couldn't agree more.

Hi Amy...I know I told Tino that I was going to send you a message last night, but I got the "Sunday Night Blues" and crawled into a hole (figuratively of course).

Again, Melissa, congrats on finding a good church!

Pam

Glad to here it went well Melissa.

Not all churches are accepting of us (as you found out once before).

I go to a Calvary Chapel here in So Calif and as long as I stay in the background I am ok, but a lot of the people here do not accept me.

Sarah L.

Thank you for you comments everyone.

Quote from: Sarah Louise on June 13, 2006, 09:55:30 AM
Glad to here it went well Melissa.

Not all churches are accepting of us (as you found out once before).

I go to a Calvary Chapel here in So Calif and as long as I stay in the background I am ok, but a lot of the people here do not accept me.

Sarah L.

Like I said, they accept me for who I am.  It does help that I seem to pass well, but that doesn't really matter.  There were some "not so passable" (low chest voice) TS people there and they were accepted with wide open arms as well.

The great thing about being in a group like that who accepts you for who you are is that you can be open.  Usually I don't know I'm passing until someone later says "I had no idea".  There are so many people that know I'm TS, because I'm fairly open about it and they don't treat me as anything but a normal woman.  It's been a wonderful confidence booster.  In fact, more people not know me as Melissa than as my former identity.  Some professionals I have worked with in my transition don't even know my male name, yet haven't seen me in makeup.

Melissa

Congratulations on finding a place to worship!  The older I get, the moe convinced I am that worshiping together is a good thing.

Chaunte

that so nice to hear was it a church you went to b4?

No jaded.  It's a brand new church for me.  I don't feel comfortable going back to the church I went to anyway.

Melissa

well im happy to hear you found a place you feel good at