Definitely seems like some folks spend too much time reading the news.  And bad news is always highlighted.  Certainly in politics, folks on both major sides of any issue tend to feel like the apocalypse is just around the corner.  For whatever reason, the world keeps turning and it often isn't as bad as people fear.    I try not to spend much time reading news stuff.  Maybe 15 minutes, and I try not to do it first thing in the morning.  Its no good to start the day stressed if you have a choice.

If there was a cure, I would DEFINITELY take it.  I do not believe that not-fitting in the body I was born with is exactly healthy.  It is not something I wanted, something I'm comfortable with, or something I would ever choose.  Others may accept and enjoy who they are, and that's great.  For me, I will always feel like I'm less-than, like it is something I do my best to work around and overcome.  I can even find good in it....because we can always bring good out of a less than ideal situation.    Why is there no cure?  Well, how can you cure an issue of a soul matched with the wrong body?  I don't think a doctor can ever find an answer, because it is something that goes beyond the physical.  I find the answer in my faith, in the concept of original sin...which informs me that the world is a broken and messed up place where things are far from God's ideal.    Since everybody's reality is affected by things that go beyond physical nature, it also makes it a poor choice for one person to judge another's walk of life.  I don't even have the complete information about myself, so I certainly don't have that information about another person - how they fit in their body, how they feel, that sort of thing.  Which also makes a "cure" an impossible thing to invent.  You can treat a broken arm step-by-step.  You can treat a lot of cancers step-by-step.  For such physical things, there are usually instructions.  But when everybody experiences gender issues in their own unique way, how can that be treated?  And is attempting treatment beyond surface physical stuff even ethical?  I doubt it. 

I hope the court rules in favor of the parents.  Parents are 100% in charge of their kids' education, and they should be able to make decisions to opt-out their own kids from content they find objectionable.  Kids do NOT belong to the school or to the state.  The school is a servant, not a master.    That said, I hope that schools and other institutions will be allowed to provide education and services to parents who DO want these things.  I believe in consistency regarding parental choices... it is a sword with two edges.  "The customer is always right."

I am an Episcopalian and the LGBTQ ministry groups I communicate with, as well as our Presiding Bishop and the Bishop that slammed DJT at his inauguration prayer servic , and my own Bishop and others have praised Pope Francis' position as being open to reconciling and including LGBTQ people in the churches as a whole.  For the future, the majority of the Cardinals who will be electing the new Pope are all appointees of Francis and are in the age ranges that will be elected.  No possibility for women at this point, but the real rulers of the church currently are at least open to progress. 

This -- after I just get done reading about the arrests of three different officers at churches who were recently arrested on child molestation charges ---!

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/listen-live-supreme-court-hears-case-on-religious-objections-to-lgbtq-storybooks-in-public-school     Carolyn Marie

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/pope-francis-created-seismic-shift-acceptance-lgbtq-catholics-say-rcna202113     I am neither religious nor a Catholic, but I have warmer feelings towards this Pope than any other I can recall.  I believe he was a good man, a compassionate man, and a humble man.  I can only hope the next Pope is as good.   Carolyn Marie

Dolly D.:  Carl Sagan once said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."   Here's my second A.I. pic of my Idealized Feminine Self, based on my actual facial features:

@Joanne Grace!! How beautiful! Congratulations! Blessings and abundant happiness on you and your colleagues! 🤗❤️🙏

The only cure for normal human health is to make the person sick enough to die.  SIMPLE!!  Being Trans is completely within the population of healthy human possibilities of life.  What is unhealthy is the human tendency to believe that ONLY our personal life should govern the life and being of all others.  Today's efforts against us are all attempts to cure us of being the well and wonderful people we can be, if given the chance. 

Hi all, today I've taken a great big step in my transition,  I have come out to my work colleagues,  my boss and myself set up a meeting,  they were not told what the meeting was for. I sent a message on the WhatsApp group chat, and told them that I am transgender with a brief explanation, and I will be coming in to the meeting to introduce myself to them. Before the meeting,  a couple of them texted with messages of surprise and support.  In the meeting,  I got a round of applause from everyone,  there was about 15 that attended.  I got an overwhelming vote of confidence from them all, they all excepted and support me. I can now finally go to work as myself,  I'm buzzing.  Hugs and kisses 🥰 Joanne 

If there was a "cure" I would not take it.

Hi Jenna,          and welcome to TGP, well done re weight, not an easy one, I try keeping myself fit and healthy best i can, i also worry alot and i am sure that helps too.I too lost my dad three years ago, but i lost my mum several years before that, life has its ups and downs!! lovely to hear that you will be starting hormones soon too, social groups, I just tried to google some in your area, i am sure there are plenty but here is one, no doubt there will be plenty of others so a search might be a way to find more. https://theouthouse.org.uk  And another search for your area http://transliving.co.uk  transliving club nights are normally held monthly (with a short break over the summer). we have exclusive use of the venue (basildon post office sports & social club, gardiners way, basildon, ss14 3ap) with a licensed bar, changing facilities and disco: a great opportunity to make new friends and socialise with existing ones! Good luck kat

My thought exactly

While we try to be Trans Positive on this site, even here it has gotten a bit dark at times.  Do not hesitate to post about the good and uplifting events in your lives here, and give the dark topics a scroll-over as self protection.  There are positive things going on right now in our communities, we have notable Trans celebrities doing remarkable things, and believe it or not we do have allies saying wonderful things about us that are out there too. 

It's so hard not to be consumed by the bad news these days, but it is so important to keep a healthy balance.  Doom scrolling is the habit of reading one negative social post after another, and there's lots of evidence that point to it having a significant impact on mental health.  Too much doom scrolling and it's easy to believe the "sky is falling."  We owe it to ourselves to take a break from bad news, to seek out the good news.  Unfortunately, bad news sells, which is why the press and social media is so full of it.  It means that sometimes, we have to search for the good news.   Whenever I start to get that "sky is falling" feeling, I ask myself if what I'm reading, I'm actually seeing.  In some cases I do see some of what I read, but in most cases, what I read doesn't really affect me from day to day.  As a part-time woman, I am still expressing my feminine half out in the world, and I'm finding that my experiences don't match the doom I'm reading in the media.  I'm not naive.  I know some bad things are happening to our community, but overall, life hasn't changed for me.  It gives me hope and it reminds me that I can't let myself be overcome by all the bad news I'm reading.    In the current anti-trans climate, it is important to keep a healthy news balance.  It's also important to gauge the news against our real-world experiences. 

Just got back from my interview. I think it went OK. I hope to hear good news in a couple days.   It is at a small satellite campus of the community collage in Cheyenne.    Hugs, Kymmie

Welcome, Jenna! It sounds like you are well on your way into transition and have a solid plan for moving ahead. I am sure some of our members will jump in to offer ideas but you can also wander the forums where you'll find lots of information. Feel free to ask questions and to jump into conversations where you feel comfortable.

Good afternoon all   Hope everyone has enjoyed the bank holiday.   Just a quick introduction. I am 49 6ft3 and 17 stone and i am just starting my transition for the 2nd time. I started transition originally 9 yrs ago and got through the whole gic process to getting accepted for hormone treatment when my dad became ill and i had to make the hard decision to stop my transition so i could become full time carer for him. Unforunately he passed away 3 yrs ago and i am finally in the situation where i can recomence my transition. I have had gic appointments and have been told i have until october to show i am presenting as female in my work and social life, change my name and lose weight and hopefully will start hormone treatment shortly after october. So far since january i have managed to lose 2 stone in weight but still a way to go. Work wise i have informed most people that i will be presenting as female shortly and am slowly changing bits as i go. Socially i am struggling a bit as i have always struggled socially anyway as a male and being the size i am and being heavily tattooed it is near impossible to pass even slightly. I changed my name legally this week so will now be Jenna which i absolutely love. I am hoping to meet some likeminded ladies and gentlemen who are transitioning or have already transitioned that could offer me advise and help. I live near Romford in essex so if anyone lives near to me that would be willing to become friends in the area that would be great too. I see my quick intro has ended up being a bit of an essay but that is me. Hope to hear from people soon Thanks for reading.   Jenna