I am going back to Britain the week after next, as I have done every six months since the pandemic ended, but I am very uneasy about it. The crass political situation there makes me sick and the anti-trans court ruling the other week makes me more determined than ever to remove my remaining personal belongings from there and complete settling in Italy. The same sort of sentiment regards my family whom I will be seeing but whose bigotry gets worse with time. The trouble is, any pensions I am due all come from Britain so I'll never be shot of the craziness and failure there, nor the loss in their value because of the low rate of the pound sterling they will be paid in. I was hoping to go out fully dressed when there but now I'm not feeling it. Not at present anyway. We'll see how I feel when I'm there. On the positive side, I will be seeing friends, too, including one who is having her surgery. I expect there will be some nice things to report back about my meetups.
[Add: I've just had a comment from Dee Williams, one of my very oldest trans friends whom I first met on my very first time out as Sue. Dee lives in South West England now and she's just started a blog, The Other Side of Life, which I have also added to my blogroll. She too is worried about some of the items I mentioned here.]
You'll notice that I'm increasing my contact with other trans sisters in Europe and I've recently added Carla's blog (Pink Fog - Trans in Spain) to the list on the right. Carla is an English girl living in Spain.
Other European TGirl blogs I recommend include Violetta's beautiful blog (Violetta Arden's World - this week she's walking in Austrian pastures) and Franzi's classy blog (Franziska Out and About) about crossdressing and culture in Germany.
I'd also like to mention a male friend in Portugal, also British originally, who's been a great trans ally and we've both supported each other in settling in Europe, but he has been struggling on and off with cancer for some years and I'm worried about him. Treatment works for a bit and he gets some respite and then it's back. I've lost so many friends to cancer these last four years that it's like the Grim Reaper has been flicking through my address book for ideas.
And a shout out to poor trans woman Jen of travel vlog Jen on the Move who has suffered a stroke. I really hope she makes a good recovery.
I mention all these worrying things because my trans positivity resolutions at the moment include giving as much encouragement to other trans people as I can. If not in person, then online. There are so many trans people sharing their lives in one way or another on social media and with the attacks on our community at present I can't help feeling that even the smallest like or thumbs-up or share or encouraging comment can go a long way to helping each of us continue to live authentically and know that there's support out there.
The stats here on Blogger tell me quite clearly that my political posts are not as popular as posts about trans clubs, pretty clothes and girls meeting up so I will be getting back to the more popular themes of trans life. I have not been able to overlook the awful situation that the world is in this past month and its effects on our community as it makes me ill even to think about it. But something lighter hearted and more beautiful is needed and I'll be aiming to deliver that.
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| Pretty purple and pink chive flowers in my herb garden |
Look after yourselves, dear sisters, and help one another.
Sue x
I've been suffering from a lot of anxiety over the current situation, so I know how you feel. I've started my own blog and I didn't expect to have to write about such a horrible subject as an attack on our civil rights. I hope you will be ok on your trip to the UK. Big hugs.xx
ReplyDeleteIt's so lovely to receive your comment, dear Dee. Somehow, I didn't think I was the only one who was worried about things. Good to hear you've started a blog. I'm now following and adding to my blogroll. Take care. Sue x
DeleteHi Sue. It was lovely to see your comment on my blog. The last two weeks have been quite traumatising. I share your anxieties. The UK has followed the USA in its gaslighting. There’s not a day goes by without us being blamed for the countries ills. We stick together, and fight this. We are going nowhere. Keep the faith Sue 💖
DeleteThanks so much, Carla. I guess you and I are out of the worst of it but we will always have ties to the UK so we still get affected by what goes on there. Sue x
DeleteDear Sue, first of all, thanks for mentioning my blog here. That is very kind of you. And sure, I am also very angry about the situation in Britain with that judgement of the Supreme Court. Seems to be existing of old back directed men who probalbly hide their secret passions under their robes. And yes I would agree that political posts are not so interesting for many as posts about dressing enfemme. Have a good time and all the best - and thanks for your kind visits to my blog.
ReplyDeleteVioletta
Thanks, Violetta. It seems the news from Britain has gone round the world and I know that there are those in other countries who will use it as an example to hurt trans people further. But we carry on with our femininity as before. Sue x
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