Which countries are "Safe" for (trans) women?

[Stottie Girl]

I see that the FCO have now advised against all travel to Turkey? The issue then becomes travel insurance as much as personal safety? I hope you can still make it Charlotte and are able to have fun.

I've done some batsh0t crazy things in my life and been in situations which used up more than my 9 lives. I've had guns held to my head, been caught up in cross-fire, been evacuated without possessions during a civil war, re-entered Britain as UN refugee, been on planes hit by lightning as we took off and another which filled up with smoke. It goes on and on. I've seen so much death and trauma, including in members of my family.

I wrote a bestseller a while back which is being made into a film.

So I'm pretty trauma-triggered these days. It's another reason why the Western Highlands of Scotland appeal so much and why I get out for hikes every day. Over the last few years I've tried as much as possible to be 'far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife.'

xx

Woah! you wrote a bestseller? Can I ask what it is called?

You've led an eventful life alright Tills! No wonder you want the tranquillity of Scotland!

I had a shotgun pointed at me before, it's not a nice experience. The crossfire sounds very dodgy! I had an incident one time when I was flying solo and the door catch popped open which got my attention as I could barely hear air traffic control, you can't reach the door to close it when you are in the left seat and flying! That pales in comparrison to smoke in the cabin, that has got to be terrifying!

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Hi Tills, I've checked the UK government site and still says travel is ok to Turkey so should be OK. In reality, as long as flights still go then I'll stil go, as I want this FFS badly!

That sounds like quite a life for sure! You've certainly seen some things in your time that pretty much all of us never will. I'd definitely rather not face all that for sure. But at the same time I have absolutely no interst in a long life, so aren't going to avoid danger for something i want to do now.

I'm keeping fingers crossed to fly Friday or will just be another thing to add to the list of constant disappointment!

Charlotte

[Tills]

You're right @Charlotte Kitty ! I was misreading the advice: apologies.

@Stottie Girl thank you honey. I just want to take stock because much as I'd love many of you to read it, I don't know if I'm ready to out myself on here. Although having said that, it's me in the photo! An added complication is that the book was published just before I transitioned, and under my old male name. Last month a Second Edition was published but try as I might I had to publish it under the same old name. It doesn't bother me actually as to me it's just a pseudonym now. I tried to publish under my new name but hit massive buffers on copyright and losing all the links to the first edition and when the film comes out the new edition would have been lost instead of earning me royalties. Plus I have some nice reviews which would have also gone down.

Just one of the complications of this transitioning malarkey 'eh?

Anyway I am now at a furniture store for a day's shopping. There are only 2 mainstream furniture suppliers who deliver to the Cowal Peninsula in the Western Highlands. I'm at one of them right now as I type.

xx

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Artistry is a pain when you transition for sure, when things are published in your dead name. I have most of my music released in my dead name which is annoying as it's now separate on stores from Charlotte. However I'm not popular at all, so apart from the annoyance doesn't cause an issue.

Hope you enjoy your shopping today too and get some nice furniture.

[Stottie Girl]

You're right @Charlotte Kitty ! I was misreading the advice: apologies.

@Stottie Girl thank you honey. I just want to take stock because much as I'd love many of you to read it, I don't know if I'm ready to out myself on here. Although having said that, it's me in the photo! An added complication is that the book was published just before I transitioned, and under my old male name. Last month a Second Edition was published but try as I might I had to publish it under the same old name. It doesn't bother me actually as to me it's just a pseudonym now. I tried to publish under my new name but hit massive buffers on copyright and losing all the links to the first edition and when the film comes out the new edition would have been lost instead of earning me royalties. Plus I have some nice reviews which would have also gone down.

Just one of the complications of this transitioning malarkey 'eh?

Anyway I am now at a furniture store for a day's shopping. There are only 2 mainstream furniture suppliers who deliver to the Cowal Peninsula in the Western Highlands. I'm at one of them right now as I type.

xx

Sorry Tills, I wasn't thinking straight there! I totally understand where you are coming from, no worries at all.

I've just sold my house and had an offer accepted on the new one today so I'm deep in the whirlwind of the house market too. Not going anywhere as nice as you are mind!

[Tills]

Sorry Tills, I wasn't thinking straight there! I totally understand where you are coming from, no worries at all.

I've just sold my house and had an offer accepted on the new one today so I'm deep in the whirlwind of the house market too. Not going anywhere as nice as you are mind!

Oh massive congratulations Stottie. I hope it all goes as smoothly as possible. It's such a stressful process.

xx

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

I've just sold my house and had an offer accepted on the new one today so I'm deep in the whirlwind of the house market too. Not going anywhere as nice as you are mind!

Congratulations. Hope it all goes smoothly now x

[ChrissyRyan]

We should be safe world wide.  But, that is not the case.

[KathyLauren]

I've just sold my house and had an offer accepted on the new one today so I'm deep in the whirlwind of the house market too.

Congratulations!  I am in a similar position: an accepted offer on the new house, though we aren't listing our house for sale for a couple of weeks.  We are moving 100 km down the valley to a forgotten side road with lots of hippies.

[Stottie Girl]

Congratulations!  I am in a similar position: an accepted offer on the new house, though we aren't listing our house for sale for a couple of weeks.  We are moving 100 km down the valley to a forgotten side road with lots of hippies.

Congratulations right back at ya! Were all movin about on here!

[Pema]

Congratulations to all of you!

@KathyLauren, will you move your observatory?

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Congratulations on all the home moves x

[Lori Dee ✅]

Congrats to all on the moves!

I have often said, "Vote with your feet, and get out!"

😁

[KathyLauren]

@KathyLauren, will you move your observatory?

I sure will!  It has hit the road twice before.  Third time is the charm.

[Pema]

I sure will!  It has hit the road twice before.  Third time is the charm.

I love this! Maybe you should just keep it mobile. Although that would probably require extra stabilization equipment. But imagine the flexibility...

[KathyLauren]

But imagine the flexibility...

Trust me on this, we are never, NEVER moving again!

[Tills]

I sure will!  It has hit the road twice before.  Third time is the charm.

Wow @KathyLauren

I didn't know you were into astronomy, and some. What telescope or telescopes do you have in there?

I've dabbled in amateur astronomy from time to time as it fascinates me but not on your scale. I did once grind and coat my own 6" reflecting mirror, and then built a telescope for it which was a lot of fun. Subsequently I bought a 10" Celestron.

I just began re-watching the original Carl Sagan Cosmos series (well, original with the 10 yr on mini updates). It's the first time I've seen it in 40 years and it's what really inspired my fascination with the stars. He was such a brilliant communicator.

Around that time I was going to run away to the Canaries in order to help build the new observatories on La Palma (Roque de los Muchachos Observatory). But my mother discovered my packed rucksack and a stop was put to my plan! A few years ago I got a personal tour of their site including the optical Gran Telescopio Canarias (GranTeCan or GTC) which at 10.4 m (410 in) is I think still the largest optical telescope in the world? I even got to see it move around which was pretty cool.

Wow. Please tell me more. What's inside? How did you get into astronomy? etc. etc. etc. etc. 😀

[Lori Dee ✅]

@Tills

You missed the whole discussion! 😆

Check it out on Kathy's Blog here:
https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=247087.msg2326642#msg2326642

[Tills]

Lol! Oh wow, I really did.

I'll read back through and drool.

How funny that our demographic should have a lot of astronomy interest.

In haste, just sorting property things out but I'm in awe of Kathy's observatory.

xx

[Sarah B ✅]

Hi Everyone

Just a gentle reminder that the original purpose of this thread is; "Which countries are 'Safe' for (trans) women?".  It seems the discussion has started to drift away from that focus and even the thread owner Tills mentioned they are "sort-of losing the point of this thread."  I also tend to agree with her.

There has recently been talk about fish, houses and mushy peas.  While those may be interesting topics, they are not really related to the purpose of this thread.  It would probably be better that these conversations on those subjects were continued in a more appropriate threads.

Perhaps we could all help by bringing the discussion back to the original objective.  Sharing information or experiences about countries that are considered safe places to live or travel would help keep the thread useful for people who are following it for that reason.

Thank you everyone.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Northern Star Girl @Devlyn @Lori Dee @Jessica_Rose @Tills