I am grateful for a beautiful new endorsement from Feedspot, which is metasite that ranks blogs by topic. They wrote:
“Sue Richmond's blog offers a reflective and often poetic journey through the nuances of gender expression and the transgender experience. Balancing personal stories with wider social commentary, the platform discusses identity, self-discovery, and empowerment. Richmond's eloquent writing captures the beauty of authenticity, inviting readers to reflect on their own identities while exploring the complexities of living as one's true self.”
Thank you, Feedspot, that's a very sweet and considered description. It also suggests that someone there is actually reading blogs, rather than getting some bot to do it.
I have always felt that, no matter how anti-trans or upsetting things can get sometimes or in some places, there is always something positive to being trans, and I try to reflect that here. I often refer to trans persons, both now and in the past, even the ancient past, who have been true to themselves, such as contemporary artists with a trans slant to their work, or historic rulers with gender variance. Whereas current dictatorships are often (though not always) transphobic, not all countries are dictatorships and whilst some periods of history are more transphobic than others, others are trans positive, or at least tolerant. We have options, and my option here is to point out the good stuff over the bad. I come from a horribly and damningly phobic background so perhaps to me nothing outside that background seems quite so bad.
The US election tomorrow is a source of worry to many, and to trans people in particular, even outside the US. But I'd expect a pro-trans surge in other countries as a reaction to any anti-trans surge there, that is if the phobic candidate wins.
You can link to Feedspot via the rosettes at the end of the lists on the right (which should be lining up with Sally at the bottom of this post). You can also look at some of the fantastic blogs that they list and which I also endorse via the blogroll on the right, such as the inimitable force of energy that is Hannah McKnight, the lovely Franzi from Frankfurt who shows us how to enjoy a day out, Violetta from Innsbruck whose amazing walks in the autumn leaves are truly beautiful, Lynn's wide-ranging and honest YATGB, Isobel's busy life as a transitioning woman, the amusing broad-umbrella Femulate and useful well-written sites like Crossdreamers, T-Central, Gender Variance Who's Who, Heroines of my Life. Thanks also to other bloggers like Mandy, Susie, Lucie, Jonathan and Miss Twist whose contributions to the trans blogosphere just go to show what a huge, varied global community this is and how trans people are everywhere and always have been.
Thanks to all my readers and for all your comments.
I will shortly be putting up a new page listing some trans resources but mainly quick links to the posts here that give tips and share know-how on dressing, makeup, perfume and so forth that are clearly very popular with readers.
Sally
I won a prize from my supermarket because I shop there too much and scored lots of points. This season's prizes are Peanuts characters. You could get a Peanuts dog blanket or dog bowl or plush character doll. I don't have a dog, and they don't sell them, so a dolly it had to be. I chose Sally ... because she's got a pink polka dot dress on, just like the strawberry lolita girls that have been living rent-free in my head for the last three weeks. Sigh! This is how it works, girls!
I hope she'll get on with Coco Peru and her friend, Little Miss Alien. Coco looks mean but she's got a heart of gold really.
Oh dear, how old am I supposed to be?
Sue x
