These past three years of my transition have been nothing but misery. I was going out and riding my bike enjoying myself, but now I'm afraid to even step foot outside my house. My area of Baltimore, Dundalk, is a predominantly conservative district. My car has been vandalized, crude comments have been made to me by thuggish types, and it's been an ongoing delema as some of the people in my area have known me since childhood and I'm probebly the least person they would have expected to be who I am today. I found myself, but no one wants to accept it. I've been undergoing HRT thankfully. My entire wardrobe is womans. Physically, I'm gaining weight, I feel sometimes like I've completely stopped caring about myself. Today was a whistle blower for me that I need friends, like someone going through or been through a similar situation as this. I am not able to obtain a job for financial support to move to Mount Vernon, or Hampden. Mount Vernon and Hampden are two of the most progressive and diversified areas of Baltimore, but I can't afford to move into those areas because they've been gentrified due to being considered diversified "hip art districts" which really doesn't make any sence to me because I'm an artist and I know those kids aren't rich and the homes are kind of shanty. I really don't know what to do or where to go right now.

I haven't had much luck in finding work  myself, which is a real bummer, but it seems the NoVA/DC/SMD area has slowed down economically by a rather large degree in the past few years, probably too many defense contractors feeling the budget cuts (not that I work in defense, but everything is related).

To be honest it seems like you could use a fresh start, the people who knew you from childhood can cause you a great deal of harm, but it seems that simply moving and getting new friends would really help you out. However, if you don't have work obviously that is going to be difficult and you seem to have already contemplated this. Perhaps expanding your horizons outside of Baltimore?

I don't know too much about the area, the only time I ever go thru there is to get to BWI (I hate Dulles) but, most of my friends seem to be scared of Baltimore, saying that there are gangs and crime and whatnot. Like I said I have no firsthand experience, but it is enough to scare me away... Perhaps it is possible to find more work in the exurbs of the District such as Laurel or Rockville, MD or perhaps even NoVa, There seems to be no shortage of jobs in Fairfax, VA (however, prices are such were one commutes to work in Fairfax, any sort of housing there is just insanely priced). 

I wish I could be of more help, but aside from that advice all I can really do is tell you to stay strong, and never give up on yourself. I wish you the best of luck.

I am from the west coast, so I can't offer any advice on where you should go. But it sounds like. You definitely need a fresh start. It's not just you, work is hard to find here on the west coast as well.

    Keep your chin up, Your a good person, living in a not so nice area.

     Hugs, Erocse