The Subversive #9

Explorations

, Editor

An excerpt from a letter I wrote in reply to one of our readers:

When I started the Gender Conference on AOL [later renamed the Transgender Community Forum], it was because at the time there were only erotic public rooms available to TG people. Now, I get as erotic as the next woman, but that is only a part of anyone's life. Transition for the TS and coping for the TV are not erotic endeavors. They are serious, deep, and gentle emotional experiences that are so fragile they can break with the slightest crudity or lack of compassion.

It seemed to me that a safe haven was needed as a growth medium to nurture evolving personalities. That is what I have worked to develop in the Gender Conference. And more than that, through The Subversive and our Email network, a whole family of supporting friends is available.

As for me, I don't go to my local support group meetings any more. I have not gotten anything from them in a long time, and can no longer offer much, since they might as well have a genetic female come in and talk to them about the good life. That is one reason I lurk in the shadows a bit more than I used to in the Gender Conference: the people who can best help each of us, are those who are just ahead of where we are in our own development. They are far enough ahead to offer guidance, but not so far away as to be unrelated.

So, I just fuel the infrastructure and keep the safe haven alive and well. The rest is up to our members themselves. And the only dues to be paid is that each of us who is benefiting from those a step ahead, should take the time to help those a step behind.

In the Subversive, my own interests are evolving more into a feminist mold. But that is in addition to all the fine contribution of our readers. You see, the point is not to change the nature of The Subversive by replacing old directions for new, but to add new natures to it, side by side with the old. So, this allows me to grow, while keeping the mechanism running to support even the novice who is starting out. The farther we range, the more people we can reach, the more we can support. And by increasing the spectrum of our members, we cannot help but foster understanding and tolerance across an ever-growing range of human souls.

May you never find occasion to say, "If only....."

The Subversive #9

For a complete collection of all past issues of The Subversive visit:
http://heartcorps.com/subversive/

In the belief that information should belong freely to the people,
The Subversive is made available on the World Wide Web at no charge.

	Hi, I'm Melanie Anne Phillips founder of this, the world's first transgender support web site, in 1994 Click here to see an introductory video
Our Most Popular Free Support Materials
	How To Develop A Female Voice Our Most Popular Article! A step by step approach to developing a truly authentic female voice. Seven steps plus exercises guide you to the voice you've always wanted!.
	Transgender Diary A 1200 page trilogy writing over a twenty year period, covering my Transition, Transformation and Transcendence from being an ordinary husband and father to a normal life as a woman in today's society.
	Transgender Videos Informational, Instructional and entertaining videos on transgender life, transition, and living as a transgendered individual in a mono-gendered world.
	Transgender Blog Twenty Years After Transition - an ongoing exploration of what life is like more than two decades after changing genders.
	Photo Album Friends, Family, and Me.
	Hormones Everything from types and doses, to physical and emotional effects and personal descriptions of experiences.
	Surgery Sex reassignment surgery, facial feminization surgery, information, videos, photos.
	Sex Change Handbook Everything you ever wanted to know about sex change, but were afraid to ask!
	TG Q & A Answers to popular questions about transgenderism, the transgender experience, and the transgender lifestyle.
Other Popular Departments on our Web Site
Audio Diary	For the Young TS	TG Webzine	Mental Sex
Editorials	Advice	Information	Opinions
The Zen of Transgenerism

Copyright Melanie Anne Phillips - Founder of the Transgender Support Site

Number 9

Table of Contents

Explorations

by , Editor

May you never find occasion to say, "If only....."