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sophiaserpentia.livejournal.comWhat are TG support groups like these days? In what ways are they like groups were 10 or 20 years ago, and in what ways are they similar? Are they as numerous and well-attended as they used to be?
It has been years since I was a member of a support group. When I first came out, in 1987, it was still somewhat difficult to find others -- but not nearly as difficult as it had been in previous decades. It is hard for me to imagine at this stage in my life being that restricted in my self-expression, yet at one time they were a major part of my social life. I met the woman who became my wife at a support group.
When I first started attending support groups as a teen, I was the youngest CD any of them had ever met -- at least ten years younger than most others. Now it is not unusual at all to encounter young TGs; things have changed in many ways.
For many TGs back then, especially those still closeted, the support group could be an essential lifeline. The internet serves that role to an extent now, but I wonder how many people still rely on support groups as a lifeline?
There is another thing I wonder about. Is there still a great divide between "open" and "closed" groups? For those who may or may not know, a "closed" group is one that only welcomes heterosexual crossdressers. "Open" groups welcome CDs, transsexuals, and transgendered of all orientations. The only groups I have been involved with have all been "open" groups.
Last night while going through some of my papers, I found an old newsletter from the TG support group I belonged to in Dallas-Fort Worth 8 years ago. I had forgotten about the contentious situation that had developed because the group was actually made of two groups who met together -- an "open" group (the Metroplex CD Club) and a chapter of the "closed" national group Tri-Ess (Delta Omega). Tri-Ess leveled a demand that more members of the group become national members, and set some meetings aside only for Tri-Ess members (I guess to keep them from having to learn how to be comfortable around bi or gay CDs or, goodness, transsexuals).
The group responded by electing an openly gay CD as the next First Lady and opting out of association with Tri-Ess.
It has been years since I was a member of a support group. When I first came out, in 1987, it was still somewhat difficult to find others -- but not nearly as difficult as it had been in previous decades. It is hard for me to imagine at this stage in my life being that restricted in my self-expression, yet at one time they were a major part of my social life. I met the woman who became my wife at a support group.
When I first started attending support groups as a teen, I was the youngest CD any of them had ever met -- at least ten years younger than most others. Now it is not unusual at all to encounter young TGs; things have changed in many ways.
For many TGs back then, especially those still closeted, the support group could be an essential lifeline. The internet serves that role to an extent now, but I wonder how many people still rely on support groups as a lifeline?
There is another thing I wonder about. Is there still a great divide between "open" and "closed" groups? For those who may or may not know, a "closed" group is one that only welcomes heterosexual crossdressers. "Open" groups welcome CDs, transsexuals, and transgendered of all orientations. The only groups I have been involved with have all been "open" groups.
Last night while going through some of my papers, I found an old newsletter from the TG support group I belonged to in Dallas-Fort Worth 8 years ago. I had forgotten about the contentious situation that had developed because the group was actually made of two groups who met together -- an "open" group (the Metroplex CD Club) and a chapter of the "closed" national group Tri-Ess (Delta Omega). Tri-Ess leveled a demand that more members of the group become national members, and set some meetings aside only for Tri-Ess members (I guess to keep them from having to learn how to be comfortable around bi or gay CDs or, goodness, transsexuals).
The group responded by electing an openly gay CD as the next First Lady and opting out of association with Tri-Ess.
