I'll have to say that talking about suicide right now is taking me to a very dark place, so I am gonna say my piece and bow out.

In my state, GID folk are legally delusional. That hurts like hell, because I lived a long work life, was a successful family person, had my own Contracting company ... yada yada yada. I think that is probably typical of most TG folk. I think those of us who "do it" have become socially issolated, and that is enough to eventually drive most of us over the edge.

I have read some articles that say the GBLT organizations are discussing why T folk are so compromised, and I think that one good explanation is that in our society, men have the power and men can not understand why one of their own would defect. Another aspect is that sometimes men are sexually attracted to us and that ignites confusion within them. Some wonder, "Am I gay, am I some sort of pervert?" We may think it is hard for us, but it can also be hard for those who encounter us. So, I think that one of the things that GBLT organizations are thinking about is: "how can we help our sisters to be less issolated"?

I know of a post op person who is now living with a couple college women, and she knows that she is there partly because they need her to pay 2/3 of the expenses. She says that is fine with her, but there are times when it all gets emotionally exhausting. She just told me that one of the girl's mother, (a psychotherapist) visited them for several days, and it was hard to keep from reacting negatively to mom's probing, intrusive comments and questions. She said that she came away with a much better sense of her personal boundaries, but it wore her out.

I have lost hope that I will ever be seen as a woman who is suitable to pose on a Magazine cover, but it would just be nice if people could just refer to me as the trans without the negative social connotations. Maybe in the next generation.

Gwendolyn