Hi there, I'm Allyson!

[Allyson]

Hello, everyone!

I'm Allyson...my friends call me Aly...and I'm a young-ish trans-woman and (almost) life-long Christian. I was raised more-or-less heathen ( ;) ), became a very conservative Christian when I was a teenager, and have pretty much been moving to the left ever since. It took me a couple of decades of movement to get to the point where I could reconcile my trans-ness with my faith. That was about a year ago. Today, I'm out to my family and a few close friends, all of whom (much to my surprise!) have been incredibly accepting, and most of whom have even been very encouraging.

I've had the opportunity to meet Equality Riders in 2006 and 2007 and have been so incredibly inspired by their faith, hope, and love! After my family and I navigate my transition, I'm hoping to go into church-based LGBTQ activism and advocacy as a career.

I suppose I should add that, outside my family, I'm still pretty deeply closeted. Coming out to the world right now would jeopardize my job, and so we're waiting until I can comfortably change careers. So please forgive me if I seem a little unforthcoming when it comes to personal matters.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know you better and being a part of this community!

[BruceChris]

Welcome to our forums. Personally, I think it would be Awesome if you could post a photo, but of course, your privacy must remain your own.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[Sherrie Z]

Hello Allyson!

Great to have you with us ... and how very cool that you want to have an activist career ... that is fabulous! And I've been moving left for quite some time ... and along with you ...

How great that you got to meet the Equality Riders ... they were just at my alma mater ... Fresno Pacific ... and they did a wonderful job there.

Hoping to hear more from you here ... and best wishes with your career change too! Please keep us posted ... : )

Hugs,

Sherrie Z

[Zerbie]

Hi Aly,

Welcome! :)

I see you're in school in Texas. I have a degree from Rice, so am familiar with the Houston area. Texas . . . I love it, but it can be a hostile place to the queerfolk a lot of times.

Best of luck with your goals! Stick around and chat.

[tdogg]

Welcome Allyson! Glad you found your way to the forums. Hope you enjoy it here, stay around and share some more! :D :rainbow:

Tdogg

[BenL]

Welcome from a gay man married to a transman. The forum membership is made up of ALL kinds of people, so make yourself at home. I am in awe of trans people ever since my spouse came out. I have learned more about my own gender identity in the last few years. Never stopped to think about it before.

Again, welcome, and join the discusssion.

[Allyson]

Thanks so much for the kind welcome, y'all!

BruceChris, as much as I love to gaze at photos of myself (I'm a bit Mary-Poppins-ish that way :D ), I'll probably not be posting one just yet. One never knows who one might run into online. Yes, I'm paranoid...but is it paranoia if lots of people really are out to get you? ;)

Sherrie, I think you and I might know each other from somewhere else... (Shhh! :) )

Zerbie, yes, Texas can be a bit scary for us, can't it? I do like it here (even though I'm a transplant), but I'm still looking forward to relocating when I get out of school.

tdogg, thanks for the welcome! I love your quote, by the way.

BenL, what an incredible story! I think my wife is experiencing some of the same things right now, in her own way. I hope I get a chance to hear more about your experience sometime.

:love: y'all!

[NathanATX]

Allyson,
I am excited to hear about your interest in ministry! I believe the MCC and UCC churches are both in desperate need for annointed & called trans clergy.

Peace,
Nate

[Sherrie Z]

Sherrie, I think you and I might know each other from somewhere else... (Shhh! :) )



Hi Allyson!

Very intriguing ... I sent you a PM ... : )

Hugs,

Sherrie Z

[JudB]

Hello Allyson,

Thank you for your ministry. As mentioned above there are congregations in need of trans ministry. I am a member of a UCC congregation and we would welcome you.

[Vanessa White]

I embrace all members of our LGBTQ community at large, but hold such a special awe and respect for trans-men and women. What courage it takes to go through the process to be who you REALLY are inside yourself, and to tell others about it. Pure guts, I tell ya, no matter if all people that you meet know yet or not!! Safety has to be first and foremost, emotional and physical safety. ANyway, thanks for being here with us, share what you are comfortable to, and stick around, it is always fun, loving, and interesting. Peace and love, Vanessa :love: :love: