Blogs

How to start a blog after two weeks of holiday? Do I tell you about music festivals and weddings and time spent playing mobile phone games, of traffic jams and burnt out trucks and the taste of German lager? Should I talk about avoiding the news, all news, for nearly two weeks? How about my reaction to the appalling assault on Owen Jones, to the ongoing political situation which means that on top of everything else the long-awaited reform of the Gender Recognition Act is most definitely kicked into the long grass?

A fantastic meeting with volunteer Joanne Lockwood on Friday lunchtime clarified some thinking about what Chrysalis gains from everyone who is part of our community and what Chrysalis gives to each and every person who we touch. This started off as an exercise to find the right words to describe people who come to the Chrysalis groups but soon spidered into a fantastic diagram about what people give and what people gain from being part of Chrysalis. I would love to hear what your gains and gives are, why not message us and tell us?

I’m loving all the photos of friends and colleagues and people I have yet to meet celebrating Trans Pride in Brighton, the photos of everyone celebrating in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, seeing all the positive and affirming stories. Being accepted and included isn’t something that everyone one can take for granted and when you haven’t felt included the empowerment you get from being in a safe space yet visible and with those of similar mindset is incredible.

Where have I been? I’m so late in posting I hear you say. Terribly bad show and all that don’t you know? Well I hope that you accept my apologies and consider being invited to the raising of the Hampshire Flag on our very first Hampshire Day a reasonable excuse.

Wasn’t it great to see trans people 100% included in this years Pride in London event, and to see all the wonderful photos from Black Pride? An incredible day in the capital with people from around the world celebrating, being free to be themselves. I saw a comment below the line somewhere complaining about ‘Pride Month’ – saying that one day they would want a whole year! Now wouldn’t that be amazing? Are we getting closer to being able to be out and proud the whole year round?

What a beautiful weekend. It’s been great to see so many photos of happy faces all over social media, I hope you all had at least some opportunity to enjoy a bit of warmth and relaxation over the last few days, or if not then that you’ve got some coming up.

I’m back! Did you miss me? Hopefully not as part of my work here is to make myself dispensable :0, to put into place the systems, processes and most importantly people who can take Chrysalis into the future. Speaking of which did you see that our trustee Sammy has made it into the international press, NBC News no less?

Today I am sad, I have been sad all weekend and indeed before that. Two homophobic attacks in the press in the last week. Those poor women in London and then after that the cast of Rotterdam. Only the night before Sammy and Jodie from Chrysalis were part of the cast Q&A after the show. The atmosphere was positive and everyone was feeling that we genuinely are making progress towards acceptance and understanding for all.

I’m writing another job description, thanks to the Lottery we’re going to be looking for a project coordinator very soon, and the drive in today got me thinking (always better than listening to the news) about our staff handbook and how Chrysalis should work towards promoting freedom of expression, body positivity and authenticity.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and here I am stuck in a windowless room! Ah pity me, poor thing who has just had an amazing few days off catching up with friends in the North.