LGBTQ+ community and Pride

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

I've been thinking a lot about how our experiences differ in terms of our journeys. At the same time, as trans people we become part of the LGBTQ+ community. There of course is no obligation to identify as such, but I wonder about my fellow sisters interactions with the LGBTQ+ scene?

Do you consider yourself part of the LGBTQ+ community? If so was this before or only after transition? And have you enjoyed interactions with the community such as attending pride events, LGBTQ+ bars/venues or usage of community resources?

I ask as identifying as gay and then pansexual, I have always identified with the community. I stood beside my brothers, sisters and others at pride events. Partied at LGBTQ+ venues. And am accessing LGBTQ+ councelling soon. This year I'm volunteering for my local pride. But similarly i appreciate others may not seek such association, choosing to just live their life as their preferred gender. Or may have only considered engaging since transition.

Charlotte 😻

[Dawn Kellie]

My daughter tells me I am in the community. I never thought about before Kellie came out. I don't have a problem with being in the community.
It's nice knowing I'm not alone and there are resources if I need help. All that being said, I guess I am in the LGBT+ community 

[PhilippaRees]

I never even considered that I might be part of the LGBTQ+ community until the lady in the clothing shop suggested some LGBTQ+ friendly places to go in my new outfit.
Now I'm looking forward to my first LGBTQ+ event, which I think is a picnic on the hill in my home town. Then I'm looking forward to Trans+ Pride in London in July.

[Dawn Kellie]

My daughter is excited for me to go with her to a pride event

[KathyLauren]

My wife and I attended Pride parades long before I ever thought about coming out.  One of my brothers is gay, so I have long been an ally, and my wife already was because she is just a decent person..

So, when I transitioned, I accepted my automatic membership in the LGBTQ+ community as an obvious fact.  When the town we live near had its first Pride "parade" a few years ago, in response to an anti-trans protest, my wife and I were enthusiastic participants.  (There were 300 of us, across the road from five pathetic-looking antis.)  We have participated in local Pride Parades ever since.  We also attend Pride parades in neighbouring centres as spectators.

We are moving soon, and we intend to be active with the Pride organizations in the nearest town.  The village / hamlet we are moving to probably has a population of 100 or less.  So we are already the talk of the community.  "Oh, you are the ladies who bought the [family name] house?"  It's not like we can hide our relationship, so we might as well celebrate it.  We will fly pride flags for special events like Pride Week, TDOR, etc.

[Lori Dee ✅]

I grew up in a very conservative and homophobic environment. In the military, I was often accused, and even assaulted, because some thought I was gay, even though there was no evidence of it (I am asexual). Living under those conditions, I was only exposed to the LGBTQ Community through the conservative media, which did not paint a nice image of us. And at times, I have had to agree with commenters who would point to screaming activists in drag and ask how anyone can take them seriously when they act and look like that?

When I was first diagnosed as transgender, I rejected it. No way! Not me! And I sought other professional opinions. I finally ended up talking to a VA psychologist who took the time to explain to me what being trans really means. I spent two years in therapy figuring out what that meant and if it applied to my life.

When I finally accepted that this is who I am, our VA LGBTQ Care Coordinator invited me to the local TransVeterans Support Group. I was terrified. But I met five wonderful women, and I quickly realized that they were going through the same issues I was. Some of us became friends outside the Group, but it was more about veteran bonding than trans bonding. But Ilearned I was not alone.

I began admitting to friends and strangers that I was transgender. The world did not explode as I expected it to. When South Dakota became unbearably anti-LGBTQ, I moved here to Colorado. I arrived just in time for the local Pueblo Pride event and parade. There were close to 1,000 people (LGBTQ and allies) there, and everyone was having a good time. No anti protestors, no police. Even the Republican Party had a booth there (though most people stayed away). It was a lot of music, dancing, and shopping.

I think we become members of this community when we accept that this is who we are. Most of us are not activists screaming at the news cameras. We are just normal people living our lives as best we can.

My dental hygienist in SD (cis-woman, and married) said she enjoys going to gay bars. I asked if it was so she doesn't get hit on by the guys. She said absolutely not! She said the LGBTQ community is the happiest people on Earth. Who wouldn't want to party with them?

I am Proud to be a part of this community. I am no activist, but I wear my Pride flags and pins everywhere I go. I refuse to allow the bigotry of others to influence my happiness. Those days are over.

[darksou]

I kinda always knew I was part of the LGBT+ community in a way, but it took me a while to figure out I was transgender. When I was around 12-14 years old, I experienced my first crush on a girl my age and I used to think I was a straight cis girl at the time. It was hard for me to accept my bisexuality. I only managed to fully embrace it after I began my transition as a young adult.

I don't think I ever felt too far from the LGBT+ community. It felt like home. It was the place I could be myself and not a monster to be hated or mocked. I could be normal among the others in the community. Nowadays I'd say I feel much closer to it than ever considering my acceptance of my nonbinary existence.

[Tig58072]

I consider myself part of the LGBTQ community. You don't have to be gay to be part of the community. Fargo has a good sized pride festival but it's in August which is right in wheat harvest so it's hit and miss for attending. Grand Forks has one now too. They are a growing community and I attended that last fall too. I have a lot of fun, I feel more free to be me. It's amazing when you ask someone where they are from and they are from small towns/communities all around. When you gater us together, all the groups of people that are under that flag/umbrella we're a lot of people.

[tammy753]

Are there parts of Pueblo CO you would avoid? I am hoping I can get approved in my current job to work remotely permanently. I had been looking for a home there before our company decided we all needed to be in a specific building to do the work we have done for 6 years remotely. It sounds like and amazing community! I have a jeep so I am Colorado ready LOL!

[big kim]

I haven't considered myself to be a part of the LGBT community for a long time. The Blackpool area "community " is a shallow superficial group of bitter old queens,sour faced lesbians and trendy young kids who think everyone over 23 is a silly old bastard who talks out of their arse.The trans community think dressing like a teenage scrubber and drinking til you spew is what its all about.
Felt unwanted for a long time.

[KristaFairchild]

I was on the board of our local LGBTQ+ nonprofit as an ally before transitioning. Let me back up. 

I was raised a proper homophobic boy in middle America in the 60s.  No one was out as gay in my my high school or anywhere in my corn and soybean community. I didn't know what trans was. 

I was the sort who questioned things and was well over my homophobia before I was 30. I became a a proud ally, mostly a social media activist, listening, sharing, sometimes getting angry and doing the social media ridiculousness. 

Then George Floyd died at the hands of a cop in Minneapolis. More like the knee, crushing the life out of the 46 year old black man. And I had to take action locally. I joined a local group but they weren't active. I joined another group but they couldn't seem to get my email in their distribution list so after missing two meetings I didn't know about, I quit. 

I was as frustrated as I was committed to doing SOMETHING locally. I thought about repressed communities. Discrimination. Hate. In my conservative community that would embrace Trump - a place famous for a double murder of a gay couple - I decided to support NorCal OUTreach. I joined a committee of theirs required for a grant. Two years later I joined the board. 

That was early 2023 and I identified as a cis-gender straight ally. I had experimented with dressing up but had dismissed it. Mostly. Though it lingered. 

When I came out as questioning later that year, it was at a SafeZone facilitator training. I had landed exactly where I needed to be, in the LGBTQ+ community. Now I see that I was drawn to NorCal OUTreach because it was my future home. I now help organize our Pride event (ok, others do much more work! LOL!) and help facilitate our weekly Genderquest meeting, the first place in town where I could show up en femme. 

I leaned heavily on the LGBTQ+ community to get where I am now in my gender journey. Last night at Genderquest we talked about HRT because I had my first appointment right before the meeting. 

They get me. I need them. I can't imagine not being  actively involved. "Them" of course isn't the right word. We. Us. My chosen family.  

[Lori Dee ✅]

Are there parts of Pueblo CO you would avoid? I am hoping I can get approved in my current job to work remotely permanently. I had been looking for a home there before our company decided we all needed to be in a specific building to do the work we have done for 6 years remotely. It sounds like and amazing community! I have a jeep so I am Colorado ready LOL!

Pueblo is a very accepting area. I have had no issues, except being misgendered a few times. Usually, it's homeless people strung out on meth and panhandling. Like any city this size, it has its problems. I've never liked living in big cities: the noise, the traffic, the crime. It wears on me. Many people prefer being in the city because that's where everything is.

And, well, since you have a Jeep, you are family!
😁

[tammy753]

My Current exception ends in July. Hopefully I can get them to make it permanent. If they won't I will have to decide if I am staying or look for a remote job where I can be Tammy full time.

[Jillian-TG]

Because I'm living somewhat "in the closet" and not very public about being trans, I sometimes forget that I'm part of the LGBTQ community. I have to remind myself. So in daily life I'm more of an ally to the community than an active participant. I very much respect and value the work they have done to get our rights protected.

[CosmicJoke]

I went to something called "Drag Queen Bingo" a couple years ago. I won a round of it. I got to go up on stage and dance with the 3 queens hosting the event. I went again the next year because I had so much fun the first year. I'll probably go again with my transmale friend this year.

I think I recall being initially confused by my association with the LGBTQ+ community. Granted, there are some bad apples in it but alot of them are just good people trying to live their lives. The bad apples are in every community.