This week, I’d like to step away from the typical TV show and movies I cover, and share a podcast with you.  I listen to a group of podcasts from the Frogpants Network and its sister network, The  Diamond Club.  Both (The Tadpool and The Diamond Club respectively) of these networks have amazing communities and I’ve met a lot of cool people online through them.  One of those people is Abby Wessels.  Abby, like me, is Transgender.  I’d like to give her credit for helping me accept myself and start my coming out process almost exactly a year ago.  While marathoning 3 episodes of her podcast, Diary of a Trans Woman, I realized that it sounded all too familiar and I needed to do something about it myself.  Abby was the first person with whom I shared my thoughts about being Transgender .  Having someone to share my thoughts on being Trans did wonders for me.

The episode from September 19th, Episode 41: Dinner Theater, hit me kind of hard .  It really inspired me.  Abby talked with a longtime friend of hers, Jamie, a Trans man, and his mother, Nancy.  The thing that touched me the most, and what I want to cover, is how to give Trans youth the words to explain who they are.  This is something I am pretty passionate about, being educated as a teacher, and being part of the community myself.  If I had had the words when I was younger, my life would probably be quite a bit different.

I went to a support meeting for the first time this past week.  I really wish I had started going to them a year ago when I was first seriously trying to figure out what being Trans meant to me.  It was a great experience being able to connect with people who were like me.  There was a wonderful teenage girl there who was thinking of starting an LGBT group at her middle school.  I thought this was a wonderful idea.  I know in my high school there were quite a few LGBT individuals, but as far as I’m aware, we didn’t have any type of support group.  While I didn’t know what I was back then, just that I liked to crossdress, I know there were plenty of others who would have benefited from a group.

I also think it is important for parents to help children define who they are.  I now wish I had opened up to my parents 20 years ago.  Who knows how it would have turned out, but either way, I know they would have supported me no matter what.  My mother always made it clear to us kids that no matter what, she would always love us.  Despite this, I had a very difficult time coming out to her and my father.  Had she not told me that as I grew up, it may have been almost impossible for me to tell her.

If you enjoy my articles, and enjoy listening to podcasts, I highly recommend Abby’s podcast.  She covers topics important to the community, but keeps her cisgendered listeners in mind and explains any terminology or concepts incase anyone doesn’t know them.  Abby has done episodes on the timeline of hormone changes, thoughts on shows like Transparent, and a wide array of interviews.  Please check her out, I think you’ll enjoy it.  You can find it on itunes, stitcher, or the Inked Geek Studios website.

Thanks Abby, I know I’ve said this many times, but you have been a great inspiration to me.  I hope I can be as great of a woman as you are!

-Stay Brave!