Kappa Beta Serving the transgendered community since 1988

Something that's been on my mind lately is trying to describe to the non-TG what it's like. Of course there's no real way to do that. But here's the beginning of my idea:

We've all had to be in really hot rooms for a while, especially here in the South. You start sweating and you can feel your energy sapped from you. It affects you ability to think and interact. It certainly makes you irritable.

"Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it." — W. Clement Stone

One thing we need to explain to people, somehow, is that "activist" does not mean "militant." You don't have to be right out front, leading the march. You don't have to be the one in the park burning some symbolic item. A person can, quite effectively, be what I call a "passive activist."

If you correct people who make stupid jokes about crossdressers or point out that not all crossdressers are drag queens, you are a passive activist. Just getting out "in drag" is activism of sorts; people will see you and know that you are not a monster; you've made an impression on them. The more they see us in a positive (or at least non-negative) light, the less likely they are to fight us.

The more store owners see us with our money, they more willing they are to serve us. The more often restaurants see us (and our money) and know that we aren't there to create a scene, the more willing they are to have us, even at the expense of less reliable customers.

Did you ever stop and realize that some of the things you commonly say are not really what you mean even though they are generally understood? A very common example of this is when you say "I don't think…" when what you really mean is "I [do] think … not …" For example, "I don't think Nancy is an ugly woman" really should be "I think Nancy is not an ugly woman."

What brought this on? Well, the other day, I told my sister "I love being a girl." She corrected me, without realizing it, by saying "You love being you." Well, duh!

Hello to all. Well I thought that I would write at this time and say that KB's meetings the last two months were really happening! I'm glad to report that attendance is "UP!" Let's keep it that way.

The more members in attendance,the better time we have... don't you think! We should all get excited and attend as much as possible! I do think that those in attendance had a great time this past month!

The April meeting is not far off and the May meeting is scheduled to be in N. Augusta, SC. at Kari & Marilyn's house. Those who attended there last year know that we had a really good time. Our May meeting date conflicts with race week in Charlotte and Kari & Marilyn are gracious to host our meeting again this year. Please talk with Kari or Marilyn on directions.