Community
I love people because they are what make up the world. It’s not so
much the html code that is the backbone of this blog nor the 0100101
that my typing is converted to and then moves along an Ethernet cable
to some servers that are then served up yummily to your browser when
you click on this link – no. It’s really all about people. Connecting
and interacting. Knowing and being known.
Groups of people can either be a gang, a rabble or…a community. A
community is (in the words of the Wikipedia): “an amalgamation of
living things that share an environment…What characterizes a
community is sharing and interaction in any number of ways.” There
have been some very cool things recently that mark our community, I’m
proud to say that these came from trans-women helping other
trans-women. I hate to “classify” us really. But given that we are
trying to change the view of society of trans-folk (for both the men
and the women) from societal
pariah to really just people, I thought these bore out some highlighting:
* Just recently a sister of ours is heading to get FFS (Facial Feminization Surgery). The word went out into our community that she needs support, encouragement and love as she goes through this very difficult operation. Many sisters responded to cheer her on!!! Image how it makes her feel 
* A friend who transitioned is a Physician. She needed help in order to be able to continue on with being a Physician during a tough time. The word went out. Lots of sisters pitched in to make that a reality for her!
* I read on a Yahoo Group that a sister recommended a bunch of us getting together for lunch on a regular basis – why? Because (as she wrote) “There is more to relationship building than merely
clubbin’ it.”
* I’ve heard of so many other stories this past year of sisters in trouble who were aided by other sisters – not to mention just plain listening to each other and being a shoulder for each other. I’d love to hear stories of brothers too – I’m sure they are out there.
The point to all these is that they are proof we are not powerless, we
*can* help each other – in both large and small ways…(psst, even if
we are still in the closet to some degree 
).
Some links on community worth a read:
