Accepting places vs not

[Sally24]

To balance the reporting I will note a few personal experiences. I've talked with police maybe 8 times while dressed. It was a non issue in 7 of those cases. The other 1 was a young state police who was certain I was waiting to meet someone for sex. He ended with "I don't want to see you here again". I've been confronted in the parking lot of one of our meeting places. The man was cruising around apparently looking for one of US. He pulled up almost against my van and screamed "get out of here" while shining a spot light thru my tinted windows. I remained calm and pre dialed 911 on my phone and showed it to him. He left and I went on to have one of the most memorable nights of my early days. I have also run into the occasional single person who confronts our group while our at a club and insults us to our faces.

Now, I've been actively going out for the last 7 years. I would guess I've spent nearly 200 days out in public and these few incidents are the only real negative ones I've had. I think I pass quite often now but that is not always the case and certainly not years ago. These were all individuals and not really group reactions to a CD. I do thimk that for the most part that New England is pretty easy going. We also have more transgendered protections than about any other region of the country.

So be aware that its not all peaches and cream out there. But like anything else, most people are decent and honest. I really have seen a change in reaction to us over the last 5 years, even in liberal Massachusetts. We are not the rarity that we once were. People are still curious, but they aren't surprised or shocked to see us. That is a good thing and I think will increase as we become more and more visible.

To those that do want to get out I say this. Practice your art much before you venture out. The better you present yourself, the better your experience will be. Be confident and smile at those around you. But be safe a DO NOT drive to dark, closed parking lots for your first trip out. Go to a movie or some place else. Don't avoid people, just keep a low profile. And enjoy yourself. You are doing nothing wrong.

If you do run into one of the sub humans that gives you a bad look or says something rude to you. Do this to them. SMILE! That's the best comeback I've ever found.