The Chicken & the Pig Go To Breakfast
Perhaps you remember the story about the chicken being involved in breakfast because she laid an egg but the pig was committed because he supplied the bacon. Our Gender Family has a similar story. Many are involved and attend meetings and go to special events and have a wonderful time. Unfortunately, in too many instances only a handful are committed to run the organizations, stage the events and change society into a more accepting environment for all of us. At times they become so committed that they lose perspective and burn out their own lives in service to others. There are good reasons for our Family to behave differently. We know the pain that comes from a lack of acceptance. Since our actions hold the key to improving our situation, we ought to consider taking action that will help our Family while maintaining a healthy balance in our personal lives. Here's some ideas to consider.
Grunt, grunt, grunt...no that's not the pig returning but a plea to volunteer your time with a local support group to do some grunt work. Help plan/run an event, join a committee or answer correspondence. Every organization needs more hands so loan them yours. It doesn't require a big commitment, just a small step.
Help someone. Many of us are struggling to find answers to questions that you have already resolved in your life. By making yourself available to help them find similar answers you can rescue someone from a life of pain. Marsha and I have started working with Peggy Rudd and SPICE and find it particularly rewarding to be able to help someone in need of support and understanding. We can all share what we have learned.
An ounce of prevention is worth... You can have an enormously positive influence on young minds to keep them open and accepting towards us. By talking to a college class you can help prevent the pain from occurring. Many psychology and sociology professors seek speakers who can discuss homosexuality, transsexuality, transvestism and related topics. Many of our organizations provide a speakers bureau and training. You don't have to be a skilled orator, just be willing to speak from your heart.
"Out" yourself in a constructive way. Cross-dressers love to pass as women but that does nothing to change attitudes. The public needs to see men in dresses acting just like men in pants. I flew home from the Holiday en Femme in a dress and made every interaction as normal as possible. While there were some giggles, for most people it was a non-event. Our Family needs a plethora (I was just dying to use a big word) of such uneventful encounters. Instead of passing in their new sexual role, transsexuals can let others know that they have had surgery, adopted a new life and are just like anyone else. Gays and lesbians can find more ways to responsibly demonstrate pride in who they are rather than melting in.
Or you might...?
As long as we hide, conditions won't change. Don't make a New Year's resolution because they only have a shelf life of a month or two. Instead,
MAKE A WRITTEN COMMITMENT
THAT NEXT YEAR
YOU WILL TAKE ONE STEP BEYOND
WHEREVER YOU'VE BEEN BEFORE,
SHARE THAT COMMITMENT WITH ONE PERSON
AND MAKE REGULAR PROGRESS REPORTS!
If each year each of us takes a new step to improve our self-understanding, to help someone in our Family or to educate the public, the cumulative impact will make real progress in the world.
"No man can fight his way to the top and stay at the top
without exercising the fullest measure of grit, courage, determination, resolution.
"Every man who gets anywhere does so because
he first firmly resolves to progress in the world
and then has the stick-to-itiveness
to transform his resolution into a reality."
B. C. Forbes
