TDOV, Visibility, publicity, awareness, social media and the flaws associated with it.

Hi again.

I've noticed that Facebook has been showing me lots of pages promoting the upcoming Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. 

Hmm. I didn't see any of these social media posts last week when March 31 was actually a thing that was upcoming. Truthfully, I didn't post anything about TDoV on Facebook this year but in the past few weeks I've liked and followed a few LGBTQ friendly pages and also some pages directed toward trans women.

I have accounts on a number of social media sites. Of course with technology, if you visit a topic... every portion of your computer or handheld device knows where you've been and will immediately suggest that topic.  On my facebook page, I posted a screenshot of the financial market indices and the advertisement was for Rago shapewear. 

I wonder what the people from my family, high school friends, acquaintances from former jobs and people I've encountered in life thought when there were lingerie ads in my screenshot. 

I question what the ulterior motive is.of social media. Of course, these billion dollar companies are trying to get your eyes on to their chosen topic and information. 

Time to be off.

Have a great weekend!

Heather.

Monday. March 31, 2025. Transgender Day of Visibility is here.

Hi,

First of all, why are you here reading this when it's Transgender Day of Visibility? Aren't y'all supposed to be out doing things to be visible?

Technically, it's 10:10 pm pacific time here so it's really TDOV eve... but you know what I mean.

Yesterday was nail day. I got a cat's eye look in a shimmery grey. I'll try to post a photo in the near future. Kids and I went to Ulta Cosmetics, Sprouts, Costco, WinCo supermarket, youngest collected auction items while oldest and I were at the nail salon and another supermarket and then we returned to their house. It was a great day. The nail salon was awesome, as always. The staff loves my kids and by association... me. It's like when I've gone to the cardiologist, welcoming me like an old friend.

Monday will bring 8 hours of work and then my spouse and I are off to dinner with the kids. I'm SO looking forward to this.

It's after ten and I'm working tomorrow. Time to get my dress ready! Did I mention that it's going to be windy in Southern Nevada tomorrow? Fun times!

Have a great day. Go out and be visible!

Heather

A quick Good Morning to all!

 Hello and Good Morning!

Wednesday, March 26. Just a few days until Transgender Day of Visibility!

I have contacted my kids and we're have solid plans to get dinner in Vegas Monday night! My kids, spouse and I enjoy Mediterranean food and we discovered a place that's not hard to get to for the kids and us. I'm thinking about wearing a favorite dress and sandals. I'm really looking forward to this. Thinking back to the times before "outing" myself at work full time, I'd always wanted to do something special on Transgender Day of Visibility but never managed to make it happen.

We all have to remember to be the best person for ourselves because if we don't speak out for ourselves, nobody else will. I keep seeing things online stating that the number of LGBTQIA+ people are increasing every year. I think the percentage has remained the same but we're tired of living in the closet and made the decision to live openly and honestly! I am happier today with myself than I was three years ago because I present the real me every day.

I'm thinking that my spouse and I will be taking a short vacation in the near future. Nothing too far away. I just need time away from home and work. I need an adventure! It'll be like the Reno trip with my kids a few years ago. I won't bring any "male" clothing, no way to hide or back out, a full time Heather on the road!

Okay, time to get myself dolled up for work.

Happy Wednesday!

Thanks for stopping in.

3/23/25 one week away from TDOV. Stand up to tyranny!

 Howdy!

We're a week away from Transgender Day Of Visibility. I've heard of places promoting TDOV on Saturday, March 29, 2025. 

https://www.middletownct.gov/1451/Transgender-Day-of-Visibility-2025 

I'm working next Monday. I'll be visible to the public and am hoping to wear a favorite dress. After work, I'm hoping we'll get dinner out with my kids. It'll be worth the ridiculous drive.

If you're in a place where it's safe to do, go out and be visible. I have steeled my resolve to not let the haters win! I've continued going about my business wearing what I choose. Friday morning I had the pleasure of getting a cardiac stress test. This happened at the same office that previously had welcomed me as an old friend on my second visit. I wore the same clothes I've worn to work numerous times, sports bra, panties, black under shirt, jeans and lovely blouse. The people were terrific. I've never told them to call me anything other than my birth name but present fully as Heather at every visit. On Friday's visit, I did something that's totally out of my normal: I engaged people... including total strangers. Part of the stress test included injecting a radioactive element into my bloodstream so they can track heart function before and after exercise. After the injection, my spouse texted me that she had to stay outside since I was "radioactive." Of course it led me to find the rock song from the '80's "Radioactive" by The Firm. I played it on my phone while waiting... A member of the staff walks by the waiting room and says to the technician who'd injected me, "I feel heat" and I quipped that it was me since "I'm radioactive." She laughed. We started talking about the song and I showed her that I was just watching the video... She loves that song...  Another patient comes into the waiting room... The staff lady had a strong NYC accent and I told her that we're from the same region. Me Mass and her Long Island and find out the new arrival to the waiting room was from Indiana. We chatted about liking the desert over cold weather... It felt good.

Yesterday, my spouse and I were going through our rarely worn clothes pile and I found a bunch of garments I'd forgotten about. One was a lavender "body-con" dress with high/low hem. I'm wearing it right now! Someone, who is married to me, is uncomfortable with how short the front is but I love it. The low hem at the back is almost too long in my opinion, almost maxi-dress length. I feel as though I'm either dragging it or will step on it even with my 2.5" heels on. But it looks terrific on me.

With the rarely worn clothing, we're going to sort the stuff out for selling online, selling locally, donation and tossing out. I have a pretty good collection of clothes that I'd bought prior to "coming out" and thought I'd never have a chance to wear outside the house. Time passes and we forget that those things exist... It makes me wonder what else I've bought and forgot!

I'm a transgender person. I have told many people that I cannot put this part of me back into a box. I will stand beside my transgender sisters and brother and any/all nonbinary people or those on the LGBTQIA spectrum against the current government leaders trying to erase all mention of us. I don't care what they do because I'm here and they can pound sand! Enough people support our cause.

Have a good week.

• Be safe out there but BE OUT THERE!
• We are valid.
• We are a part of society. 
• We MATTER. 

Thanks for visiting

Heather.

Saturday. Beware the Ides of March...

Hey, well, I'm the friendly stranger in the black sedan
Won't you hop inside my car?
I got pictures, got candy, I am a lovable ma'am
I'd like to take you to the nearest star

I'm your vehicle, baby
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go
I'm your vehicle, woman
By now I'm sure you know

That I love ya (love ya)
I need ya (need ya)
I want you, got to have you, child
Great God in heaven, you know I love you

Well, if you want to be a movie star
I got the ticket to Hollywood
But if you want to stay just like you are
You know I think you really should

I'm your vehicle, baby
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go
I'm your vehicle, woman
By now I'm sure you know

That I love ya (love ya)
I need ya (need ya)
I want you, got to have you, child
Great God in heaven, you know I love you
Oh, you know I do

Well, I'm the friendly stranger in the black sedan
Won't you hop inside my car?
I got pictures, candy, I am a lovable ma'am
I'd like to take you to the nearest star

I'm your vehicle, babe
I'll take you anywhere you wanna go
I'm your vehicle, woman
By now I'm sure you know

That I love ya (love ya)
I need ya (need ya)
I want you, I got to have ya
Great God in heaven you know I love you

And I'm your vehicle, babe
Alright

You know I love ya (love ya)
I need ya (need ya)
I want you, got to have you, child
Great God in heaven, you know I love you

Song by "The Ides of March." All credit to the songwriter, Jim Peterik

The Wikipedia page on this song is pretty interesting.

Vehicle (song) - Wikipedia

A bit of artistic liberty was taken when the lyrics were transcribed to my blog.

I remember liking this song from the first time hearing it (and paying attention to the tune and lyrics) as a young teen. The driving beat, brass and lyrics stuck with me. Forty something years later, I still enjoy hearing "Vehicle."

It's interesting how music stirs something deep inside us. It's almost like music and the arts are an essential part of the foundation of human existence. 

Looking at current events, one can only wonder how people can cut funding to the arts because of "woke" attitudes infesting are institutions. Do the people furthering these ideas not understand that the arts have been performed by "diverse people" for hundreds, nay thousands of years? Can you just imagine how their minds would be blown when they learn that in the 1500's, actual men wore "female" clothing and acted in "female" parts on the Shakespearean stage? I know! It's an outrage. Dang ol' woke people with their new ideas trying to destroy all that is well and good about "Merica."

ps. (if you didn't know) I'm a person who was born into a body that I never felt comfortable with and live as my daily life as a woman even though the interior shell differs from the exterior presentation.

Part of why I posted about "The Ides of March" is that a couple of weeks ago someone posted photos of a banner at a political conference showing trump as Julius Caesar and promoting "The Third Term Project." We all know how March 15 worked out for Julius...

We all have to remember that nobody can define who we are. We know what's best for us. I'm an open-minded person and when presented with valid and factual information, I'm willing to change my thinking.

March 31, 2025 is a Monday. It's also Transgender Day of Visibility and I want to invite each of you to participate in being publicly visible. I will be at work. I don't know if I'm going to be doing any extracurricular activities outside of work. I'd like to believe that we'll do something special like dinner.

Another crazy thing I'd learned this week... A teacher was reprimanded over posters in their classroom. The propaganda on the posters,

"Everyone is welcome here"

and

"in this room, everyone is:

welcome

important

accepted

respected

encouraged

valued

equal"

Updated: A West Ada teacher was asked to remove signs promoting inclusivity. Controversy ensued. 

Regarding visibility, we do have a dental appointment on April 2 and I'm genuinely not sure how I'll present myself. The dentist is not exactly tolerant. My therapist asked why we go to a dentist who I called a "dick?" The simple answer is that when my spouse discovered him, they got along really well and she was comfortable. We didn't know what he'd become until a few years ago when his colors were revealed. I've thought about really putting him off and going in full regalia. I won't be able to change my nails since I had them done at a salon and long dippy colorful nails are going to be obvious. We'll see what happens. Of course, I'll blog about it.

I'll be back with more insights.

Have a great weekend.

Stay visible!

Heather

Another Sunday. Where will my day bring me?

Good morning to my friends.

What's in store for me? I'll be driving to the "big city."

I'll have to suffer through a visit to that evil bastion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Costco. I'll see if the kids want to go along and maybe I'll go to Kohl's and Savers too. 

My Costco membership card has a photo that's easily 20+ years old, me with ample facial hair in the early 2000's. I don't look like that in 2025 To enter Costco, you no longer "just flash your card to get in the store," your card is scanned upon entry and the person at the door compares the photo with the actual person. I've been challenged a few times with, "is HE here with you today?" To which I reply, "yes I am!" leading to apologies from them and both of us chuckling about it. I've really decided that if there's no ill intent, it doesn't bother me. The employee is simply doing their job, making sure that nonmembers aren't using the card of members.

I'm addressed by my other name at work. My co-workers will ask for help or guidance and call me using my other name. If I have a good interaction with customers, they'll often ask my name. I give my birth name. It's what's on my work ID and on my paycheck. I feel more powerful afterward. It forces THEM to understand that we exist and to understand that the garbage they're hearing on the biased media channels is not accurate.

The attacks against transgender people from the Oval Office have only strengthened my desire to move forward in life.

I. AM. NOT. GOING. AWAY. 

I hope you will also continue to live authentically. We must remain visible and present in the world.

Heather.

ps. Remember that Transgender Day of Visibility is coming up in three weeks. It's a Monday, you know that I'll be a publicly visible transgender person who is gainfully employed.

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.

March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility.

It is nice to feel represented in modern society.  The person in our nation's highest elected office recognizes that transgender people exist.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/03/30/a-proclamation-on-transgender-day-of-visibility-2022/ 

The person in Nevada's highest elected office recognizes that transgender people exist.

https://twitter.com/GovSisolak/status/1509224051918573568 

I know that both of these leaders have done things in the past that don't exemplify the values they express today AND I acknowledge that it's possible that maybe these people have learned and evolved.  More than anything, I appreciate that there is a change from the previous Administration's effort to return any non hetero person to the stone age or 1950's.

So... tomorrow is Transgender Day of Visibility.

I've aspired to participate in years past but never have succeeded. My wife and I have a recurring event bi-weekly Thursday nights.  I will be attending tomorrow's event in a dress.  

Go out there and be visible!

Heather.

Easter?

Hello again,
Heather's been busy and preoccupied so I've been derelict in my duties of blogging.  I have not been able to be out in a while.  I think the last time was on Christmas day so I haven't had any interesting stories to share.

The group with whom I volunteer is going to be handing out candy at an Easter themed "trunk or treat" event and since I'm so personable and don't mind tossing candy into a thousand little bags...
I have been asked to participate.  I'm not interested in wearing a rabbit costume! I told my wife it would be funny and totally inappropriate to say I would rent a bunny costume and show up as a Playboy bunny! I'm sure the locals would be offended by my blasphemy.

I won't be renting a costume.

On another note, March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility. I have every intention of being fully visible on March 31. I have put in a request for time off from work and am setting up some plans.

Thanks for stopping by

Heather.