This is turning into a full time job

Jan29

Many of you may be aware that I help coordinate a local Transgender support and social group. It is something I’ve been doing for the past four years or more.

The group has received much praise for the work it does and is well respected within the local community.

Through 2019, and especially toward the latter end of it, I felt that I was running out of the energy and motivation needed in order to continue to work for the group. I expressed my need to back away to the other Coordinator and we began to look for other group members who could step up and take over some of the responsibilities involved.

It was a slow process, but help was forthcoming and I was able to sit back in a more minor role and just keep my finger on the pulse.

Then, of course, 2020 happened.

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Connections and motivation

Jan23

It’s as if a weight has been lifted, not just from my shoulders but from those of the world.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been working with a colleague, D, from another local LGBT+ organisation on revamping and expanding a Transgender Awareness training module that the co-coordinator of our Trans support group and I put together a couple of years ago. Well, I say “working on”; I guess what I really mean is “trying to work on”.

As with so many things I talk to people, make notes, think about ideas, make mental plans, but actually getting down to action? Well, that’s something else. That final motivation and inspiration is often lacking, a situation that is oh too common since my accident some thirteen years ago.

I started this week very much not able to function in any real sense, but then something changed. A light began to emerge from the darkness.

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A Dream Deferred

Jan11

I have a very dear friend who is an artist. They work in pencil, water colours, pen and ink, and among other things also engrave on glass.

They have just released their beautiful promotional video and it is with great joy that I’m sharing it with you today.

You can find more information and follow their blog at cmralph.com.

Has it gone? Can I look yet? …

Jan6
Bare Tree Media GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Wow, what a crap fest 2020 was, right up to the last day!

On New Year’s Eve I realised I wasn’t going to be able to suffer the pain any more over the upcoming long weekend, and so got an emergency appointment at the dentist and had two teeth removed. That doesn’t leave me with a vast selection any more.

Roll on 2021, I thought.

Hmmm….

Welcome to 2021. Welcome to … A new lock down until at least the end of January! Wonderful!

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Scotland first in world to make period products free

Nov25

I’ve never forgotten a conversation I had with a female work colleague back in the early 1980’s in which I stated my belief that period products should be free for all women the world over.

She looked at me in astonishment and said something to the effect of how amazing she felt it was that a guy would have the understanding to hold such an opinion. (Back in those days I was still very much in “male mode”, although this was the same young lady who was the first person I ever told that I felt I should have been born in a female body.)

Well, I sat here just now with my jaw dropped and with tears forming as I heard the news that Scotland will be doing just that; making sanitary wear free for all women.

This makes me even more proud to have made Scotland my home.

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Just when I needed them: Pronouns – and a challenge

Nov23

I’ve been finding it hard lately to come up with something to blog about. Oh sure, there’s a whole rack of YouTube videos I have flagged and ready to roll, but knowing which is most important or what to say to lead into them has been somewhat holding me back.

Today that changed, and thanks to Beau for this insightful message to everyone. I’m not sure he really knows what a sea-change he may have started.

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The impact of Lockdown on Scottish LGBT+ Communities – Study

Nov16

Rainbow Responders, an initiative developed in Scotland by Pink Saltire, have just emailed me the results of their recent study into the effects of lockdown on the Scottish LGBT+ community, and I’m relaying the email to you in full in this post. It makes interesting, and concerning, reading.

Study uncovers an ‘epidemic of loneliness’

2 out of 3 LGBT+ people have faced isolation or loneliness during the COVID pandemic and it has been the single biggest challenge for the community, as outlined in a new report published today.

‘Community Matters – The Impact of Lockdown on Scottish LGBT+ Communities’, released as part of the Rainbow Responders programme managed by Pink Saltire, details a worrying number of LGBT+ people are dealing with mental health challenges, with many turning to drink and drugs to help them cope.

The research has also evidenced very low levels of trust in public services amongst the LGBT+ community and disproportionately low levels of funding for vital services.

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I’ve had enough of this, it’s time for some hard talking

Oct9
From Wikipedia

Ok, so I know this might make me very unpopular with a lot of people but I really have had enough of the world wide incompetence regarding Covid-19.

Let’s be absolutely honest here, we, the human race, are at war.

But the point is we are at war with something that almost no government in the world seems to have an appropriate sense of urgency in addressing.

From Wikipedia: As of 09:23 UTC on 9 October 2020, a total of 36,542,723 cases are confirmed in more than 227 countries and territories, and 26 cruise and naval ships. There are 10,003,011 active cases and 1,062,360 deaths.

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