resistance to change

[Anonymous]

Well said and I totally agree with you. Count me in on the meetings and I will do whatever I can as I believe their needs to be changes in our quality of life.

Cheers….Karly

[Anonymous]

I certainly wish you well with your efforts and I really hope you get the support you need to make it a success. I know from experience how hard it is to get any positive support for a movement to effect change, either within the Trans community or to try and sway public opinion of us just a little.

[Anonymous]

I was at Transformal and the one activity I attended on the Saturday was the Transformal Q and A session where a panel of transgender people from a range of backgrounds was assembled and they commented on various gender topics that TgR people had sent in. This panel included members of Gender Agenda, a gender support group from Canberra. Their input was priceless and I wonder whether there are similar support groups in Adelaide and more importantly if contacted what can they do for us? I wonder whether it would be a worthwhile exercise in contacting these organisations and getting their representatives out to Carrousel meetings and allow members to ask those questions that have always seemed to be too hard and in doing so perhaps piggy back on other support groups and create a wider network for the Trans community in Adelaide and possibly from there who knows where it could go.

[Anonymous]

I was also at the Transformal Q N A session with a friend from SA as well and sadly Helen_2 there are no other real support groups or anything else for Transgender people to turn to. This is why Kristyana is trying to start one so as to be more open and purpose driven. The members of the Carrousel Club “no offence directed or meant” are very closeted and do not wish to be in the public eye. There are some small Trans groups starting to pop up in different suburbs but if they all stay disconnected then no one wins and we will get no advancement on our rights. I am meeting with a couple of girls from one of these groups next week at my own home to discuss what options we have to interlink and become a larger voice without loosing their individuality. The main reason for the smaller groups is the difference of ages, the young ones don’t really want to hang out with the oldies but would like things to change also.
Cheers…Karly

[Elizabeth]

The reason why Canberra has such a gem as Agender/Agenda (AGA) rests entirely on the highly proactive organisers without whom AGA wouldn’t exist. It’s the same old story, any organisation is only as strong as the leaders; remove the leaders and the organisation collapses in a heap to non existance. TgR is a prime example, without Amanda TgR would be no more.
Peter Hyndal the highly motivated and proactive CEO of AGA, was the original instigator of AGA; Peter is supported by equally keen and supportive members. Supportive members bring their professional skills to the support of AGA, hence AGA gains funding for the continuing supportive role of AGA. AGA is dynamic, and as far as I know is unique not only in Australia but in the southern hemisphere.
AGA like so many other organisations is not self perpetuating, it takes hard work, unique foresight and that super extra ability possessed by only a few, ‘go getter’
There are trans people in Canberra (as there are elsewhere) who are willing to be publicly upfront not only about themselves but about the trans community. I think it’s a matter of telling the general public that there is a trans community and we’re here to stay. A prime example of that would have been:
The Transformal and the 2012 Transgender Sister Girl Conference in Queensland.

[Deleted User]

I don’t think I’m alone here in regarding The Butterfly Effect
as a subtle but powerful element for change in attitudes.

refer to books on Chaos theory for more background!!!

(The flapping of butterfly wings in the amazon jungle ultimately creates a wind of change that effects the whole planet)

What I mean is that the more times we are seen in the general community the
less anxiety that we and our fellow citizens will feel and the winds of change will alter peoples perceptions about TG people.

In my opinion there is a subtle but powerful element of change of attitude transmitted to the wider community through Major events such as Transformal as we are up close to many during the Katoomba weekend . Its always enjoyable to breakdown a few barriers in regard to perceptions that some have.

Transformal also brings new exposure to our group by people intimately involved in the event however may have not been familiar with TG people beforehand . the band, photography , make up, etc . I’m certain they will go away and tell their friends of their experiences of an event like this and it will be good.

Roll on more events that allow us to express ourselves in such a free way

Enjoy life to the full

Caroline

[Anonymous]

I’ve had the first social action discussion group and it was a worthwhile undertaking. We found some common ground and for those that could not attend you will have another opportunity. In one month we will be holding the second meeting. I will provide a briefing of the last meeting to anyone who wants it before the next meeting , then of you feel therea further point to add you can email me back and I will share it for consideration before we meet. The next will if numbers increase have to a bit more formal and focused. I will organize for someone to take full minutes to give us an effective reference for future development of the discussion and action.

Anyone wishing to be informed and involved in the next meeting feel free to contact me. I will post an event date on TGR shortly it will be a month. Residence is futile! !

[Anonymous]

I am glad all went well with the first meeting and look forward to the second.

Change is in the air and it smells sweet as the ozone after a lightening storm.

[Anonymous]

I applaud your efforts Kristyana and I think that if you have the passion then you can and will provide benefit to the whole TG community, especially in Adelaide.

To perhaps give you some understanding of those within Carousel who are more reluctant to persue this endeavour I think you need to consider things from their perspective / point of view. I’m assuming Carousel is much like Seahorse in NSW and Qld, a fairly conservative group often a first point of contact for those who are very much in the closet / may still even be in denial of their gender diversity. These people, and their loved ones, are SCARED. Yes, personally I believe their fear is mostly unfounded but it is there nonetheless. It is this fear that I suspect drives their reluctance, that and a resistance to change (which in itself is scary!).

I believe that your endeavour is a valuable one. I also believe that as others in your local TG community see the value of it they will come to support it. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I wholeheartedly agree with Caroline that

Quote:

the more times we are seen in the general community the
less anxiety that we and our fellow citizens will feel and the winds of change will alter peoples perceptions about TG people

In the last few months I’ve spent more and more time in public in the communities of the NSW Southern Highlands, to the point where I now present full-time as Chantelle. I’ve had no (obvious) adverse reactions from the people with whom I’ve interacted and very few stares. Some people I see regularly have taken a genuine interest in my gender variance, asking many questions in a polite and inquisitive manner.

My local (male) greengrocer, who had seen me in boy-mode (but with painted fingernails), now carries the box of fruit & veg to my (Chantelle’s) car.

I had been fearful of presenting as a woman in these small communities, preferring instead the anonymity of visits to Sydney. My presumption was incorrect: the few unpleasant incidents I’ve had in the last year have been in Sydney, all involving groups of young men.