All excellent observations and all on the money. You have every right to be mad at the situation.

I have said this many times: There is no 'Transgender community'. Pockets of individuals supporting one another, some larger organizations working for (trans)gender rights and equality - but a 'community'? Hardly. The F2M side of the hall definitely have their act together compared to the M2F side.

Queen of the hill and trannier-than-thou are norm for most 'debates' about issues because we are - in general - a rather myopic lot.

But we're not all like this. Are you like this? Do you want to be like this?

It angers me that I can't do "my part" (at least right now) to show this allegedly freedom-loving America that we who consider ourselves transgender, or two-spirit, a "womon," or whatever f--- else word you want to use to describe yourself, aren't a bunch of freaks or child molesters, etc. Well, I can do it, but that entails risking a very important relationship (which I will not do), as well as a means of surviving - and after fighting to get back what I have lost because I had the gall to fall ill.
I don't know your situation and but I'll assume that there is a 'good reason' for your not being able to 'do something'. But 'doing your part' need not be a grandiose gesture. It can be as simple as participating here, helping others to better understand what it means to be transgender. It can be 'correcting' someone when they make a false statement about us. It can be working 'behind the scenes' for an activist group.

There is a lot you can do without putting yourself out there in plain sight.

Me, I couldn't hide any longer. I needed to be me all the time, and as a result, I'm openly trans all the time. No, I don't go around in a dress and heels - that's not my thing - but I do present as rather androgynous. I challenge people's peceptions and assumption on a dialy basis. I'm 'out' at work and recently found that I am the first in our firm of 20,000+ employees to actually stand up and say I'm Transgender (read about it here: Being the first to step forward.)

I didn't set out to change the world and I doubt that I will. I do this because I have to - I do it to survive. I do it because this is who I am. And I do it because it has to be done - people need to see us and know who we are.

Society sucks - no doubt about it. But whinging alone won't change things. If you have the desire to make a difference, then find a way to do so. Every little bit helps!

Love & Stuff,
Donna