2025. Call me woke. I'm not a monster. If you're non-binary or transgender LGBTQ+, you're not either.

Good afternoon.

Despite the rumors about transgender folks, the majority of us are not the problem.

What do we want? Sometimes, all we (wee?) need is to pee.

Yes, there are lots of humans. And when you have a population, there's a likelihood that every population will be representing in most demographics. If you listen cable news or the right podcasts, you'll learn that people are claiming transgender folks are the only people causing the majorities of the nation's problems. 

Here are the troubles I'm causing: I go to work five days a week. I pay my taxes. I buy food, clothing, auto supplies and household goods. Thus, I expect to be treated the same as any other person.

I post some incendiary things online: Stories about my life and my experiences. Information about events I've attended and products I've bought to enhance my female presentation.

They call us woke. Guilty as charged! Woke, to me, means that I'm enlightened and aware.

I'm not ashamed of who I am or how I live. I do the best I can to survive and maintain my mental health and support my spouse! There is no reason to shame a person who is minding their own business.

There is never a reason to target others for how a life is lived. Especially when the targeting is based on religion. We must never use religion to target others, also. If we consider the motivation of those targeting members of the transgender community, they claim to be using Christianity to target people for how we live our lives. I was raised Catholic. I don't remember the part in Sunday School where Jesus proclaimed, "Treat others poorly. Attack them for their beliefs! Shun the needy and hungry!" The big messages I remember were "love thy neighbor and to turn your cheek."

Here's my deal...

I'm not hiding. I lived my life, hiding the real me, for much too long. I've been "out" for nearly 3 years and I WILL NOT be returning to the closet.

Stand proud. Shout it out loud. WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY!

Thank you for standing with me,

I'll be back.

Heather

March 31. Monday, 3/31/25 TDoV. Transgender Day of Visibility. You have three weeks to get out!

"Transgendered people"

Look, we all know that there's an effort to cancel us. Don't let that happen! Get out and do something in OUR world. 

You have every right to exist. You are valid. You matter. YOU need to be seen.

I have managed to be out since November 2023. If I can exist publicly in conservative rural America, maybe you can too!

The world IS ours. Don't let hate win. It isn't always easy but every day I'm out validates my existence. 

I have to put up with intolerant crap far too often. You probably do too.

Thursday, a guy came into my office and was upset with democrats over current policies. He was unhinged on a whole new level. The woman behind him must have recognized his insanity by the look on her face (and then she apologized to me for having to deal with the public).

A crazy lady came to my work yesterday, she had all the hallmarks of bigotry. I absolutely p!ssed her off when I didn't play along with her BS comments about current events. Of course, if I comment about political topics it could be reason for termination. 

The most important things I am trying to remember for my own life are, "Be true to yourself. Don't hide. Living doesn't mean to be cowering. We must not allow ourselves to be abused or stepped on or canceled. We exist and nobody can erase us. 

Thanks for reading this,

Heather.

Exist. Do it. You are the only person that gets to decide your life.

 Hi, 

I haven't been around much. I'm still existing. Heather goes to work every day. 

It's important to acknowledge our existence. You matter. I matter. You're worthy.

Things have been mostly okay. I'm alive. 

I have never shared this publicly:

I had a medical procedure in February. It wasn't great. I guess I flatlined on the table. One third of the procedure was completed before they revived me without incident by removing the anesthetic and giving me staight oxygen. 

Jeez, I can't even think straight and they gave me straight oxygen... 

I have no negative effect from the surgery and am hoping to get the rest of the work done. I have sinus inflammation and a deviated septum. The partial surgery has improved my breathing.

As a result of the incident, my ENT has referred me to another cardiologist. (I had been to a different one a year ago but he was not helpful. It took many months to get the results of my testing.) I've been going to the ENT as Heather and this new cardiologist has only seen Heather. 

The best thing about this doctor's staff is that on my second visit, I was greeted as an old friend.

Whether you are out or not, you need to remember to live. 

One weak man's negative opinion doesn't mean anything to me. He can try to cancel us but he'll fail.

Thanks for reading this.

I'm okay. I genuinely hope you're okay too.

Heather.