Aw my absolute pleasure. So cool you saw them perform 🫶

Wow. Thank you so much! So much for me to unpack in that little reel. Had on the verge of tears at moments.    I saw Alok in person last month with my wife and a couple trans friends. They were so funny and on point. OMG.    -Timi

Always here if you need us!

Not sure whether you need a fb acct to view. Lovely & empowering message from Alok (they/them).   https://www.facebook.com/AlokVMenon/videos/1628249924255972/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Thanks so much and in particular for the book recommendation. I will give it a read. Nice to find caring folks with a similar background 

IKR

Well, I guess I'll drop it for now.

@Joanne Grace good luck dear! I'll be thinking of you! Bless your heart - this may be exactly the right time for your colleagues to understand the humanity of trans women. I pray they will surprise you in the most positive way.

This is a very tough day for trans people in the UK – with a long legal road ahead to right this wrong. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/17/supreme-court-tough-day-trans-people-labour?CMP=share_btn_url

I'll quote my husband whom I shared this new with - "What a psychopath." 

I thought about it some more, and I agree that you have a point, @awkward-yet-sweet.  In the U.S., hate speech is, indeed, protected by the 1st Amendment, except for obvious things like inciting a riot or causing a panic.   What our admin fails to understand or appreciate is that (most) other countries don't have a "1st Amendment" in their constitutions, if they even have a constitution.  Demanding that they adhere to ours is nonsensical and will result in being ignored.  Germany has good historic reasons for their hate speech laws (Nazis, etc.) and other countries have valid reasons for theirs.  We just look like bullies telling everyone else what to think.  And yes, sometimes that shoe is on the feet of liberals, too.   Carolyn Marie

I thought I looked really girly and feminine in these pics, taken yesterday.  Do you like pink?      

Yes, yes, Fearless Leader is the Champion of Free Speech. Except when CBS broadcasts an interview with Zelenski, etc, etc. 

Opps! My apologies for posting a news link in the coffee thread.    Don't know what got into me.    Perhaps either too much coffee or not enough coffee!   Busy few days coming up with the Triduum and Easter Sunday -- lots of music for me to practice and play. Also putting together my dj set for the easter egg hunt after church on Sunday. Also doing my house cleaning chores and planning for the Easter Sunday meal.    Maybe better stock up on coffee lol!   -Timi

Not in El Salvador. Apparently there is a hard red line stopping that:   https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2025-04-17/trump-el-salvador-prison-politics   -Timi

I am in the upper half of my 70's and only came out in my 60's and have never had a problem using the ladies RR's due to my age appearance. 

I do not think Tom who is part of a group that used to go out with Dennis and I each wednesday was or is aware of my past, we were part of a regular wednesday night social gathering of husbands and wives, partners, the group said to me just because Dennis had passed away didnt mean i should feel excluded, and credit to them as Dennis has been passed now for four years and the group has kept me going during those difficult times, I think it was a comment without thought about something that is in all our news papers and television channels

Yes, this all sounds familiar. I moved to a secure app for journaling, https://dayoneapp.com . Now I feel much safer knowing that nobody can "find" it. Also, with that security, I'm able to feel more gentle compassion and accpetance for myself about what I've written, and be less self-judgmental and seeing it as "a bit crazy." It's been valuable for me to see how my journey has progressed. I don't journal as much as I'd like to, but I'm glad about what I do. I think I'd like to try a hybrid method where I write by hand, then take photos or scans to transfer to the secure journal. I have yet to do that though ...     If you haven't already done so, I invite you to carefully observe how women in your community choose to walk alone in public and how the present themselves when doing so. I find that my "male privilege" ingrained in my subconscious lets me be willing to take risks that women would be wary to take, like walking alone at night. Please keep your safety in mind! Yes, be bold and brave, and yet also careful. In my case, I found a group of trans friends through a local support group, and we go out together from time to time. I feel much safer in a group. Turns out ... that's what women do as well when they go out. If I go out alone presenting in a way that I know might attract unwanted attention, I think about it beforehand and make sure I feel safe and comfortable in the environment I will be in.    -Timi