lobolance

Some months ago I started actively participating on the deFrank's LGBT speaker's panel (I'd tried earlier... but that's a long story). I've been on several now, two in the last week.

Sometimes months go by between engagements.

I've been on panels at city colleges and private and public universities, for curious undergrads, for dedicated seniors, for required classes and voluntary (and extra credit!) discussions.

It's been really interesting. I see differences between the groups, probably what one would expect. One of the more interesting ones is that in the required smaller school panels, I've seen more real fear and real work on the part of the students; people really working to face their own (cultural) issues. I really honor that. I feel admiration when I see them open the doors in their minds just a tiny bit.

I feel excited when I see new doctors and psychotherapy students tilt their heads and look at something from a new direction. I feel amused when I see an old school dyke lookin' out for dissin' from the man. And sympathetic as well.

I feel wow'd by the experience of the young, brand new transmen, who've had nothing but support from their families, or when I hear a surgery was covered by parental insurance. And envious!

I am happy to imagine I am helping make the world just a little bit better here and there for the next gen. And I think of folks who do this way, way more than I do, and am I humbled.

Still wish I knew the perfect answers to dating and sex (then again, I imagine everyone wishes that). :-)

... I also am reminded of the actual experience of safe space. Walking around a campus at night, walking between a closed building and a chain link fence. Safe! A woman sits in the dark jabbering on her phone - safe! University is an amazing place. It is nice to be reminded of that.