I emailed the Minister of Congregational Life for where I attend. I started going there in 2018 a little bit after my wife passed away. I was unchurched at the time, but knew I needed community. And my local congregation had a reputation for being accepting. And at the time I couldn't figure out why I felt I needed acceptance. The first couple weeks I met so many people and felt welcome. I learned that they offered a grief recovery course and towards the end I understood the whys of needing acceptance. And for a few years I believed that I was gay.

Covid hit, right after I got fired from my job, and just as my unemployment ran out I was hired for a third shift warehouse position. Initially I couldn't make services, as I was spending Sundays doing chores. It was during the second winter of Covid, that I realized that I was a trans woman, started HRT and had my GRS scheduled for November of 2023. Late March, I thought I was having digestive issues, but after one restless night, where I couldn't get comfortable laying in bed, I decided that I needed to go to the emergency room. One quadruple bypass surgery later (and very thankful I didn't have cardiac arrest) and 12 weeks medical leave, I started going back and I realized how to adjust my schedule. Needless to say my GRS was cancelled.

Now I was attending presenting as a woman, and was welcomed back into the fold May of 2023. Fast forward to this past January, when I had my GRS, and currently recovering. Lots of things fell into place, but this morning cinched it. I was invited to my friend's church, where she is a minister, for morale support as the sermon she was giving, was personally difficult for her. I attended the first service, as I going to UU's second service. The sermon was beautiful and heartfelt, and nothing about the church itself, nor the congregation bothered me. But I was uncomfortable about the religiosity, having been brought up Catholic. On the drive I had decided to go ahead and sign the book and become a member.

I am a trans woman, and I volunteered to represent trans persons at today's pride service. I had been mulling over what to say, but I knew I wanted to relate to this song. I could have been angry, but chose not to be. I finished writing this five minutes before the service began.

One of my touchstone songs was written by the great theologian and reluctant rock n roll hall of famer, Todd Rundgren. Change Myself, off his Second Wind album. Sorry I'm not going to sing it, but I have a few quotes.

I want to change the world I want to make it well How can I change the world When I can't change myself Try again tomorrow

Trans persons, as well as the rest of our community are the current low hanging fruit, to the media. Since my surgery, I've become a media consumer. I don't watch direct sources, as I don't want to give these commenters the clicks. But I've seen enough to know that they will misdirect, beg the question, be willfully ignorant and quote from faulty studies. When Todd sings about conquering your Citadel, it's about our intellectual honesty, and what we show the world. We have to be better than the forces raised against us. They may call our Pride a sin, but our Pride is the antithesis of shame. Feel good and confident, not boastful.

We can break barriers, with our friends and allies and being the better people.

If I want more peace in the world Then I must make peace with myself If I want more trust in the world Then I've got to trust in myself If I want more love in the world I must show more love to myself

I view the song as a wish to be a better person, and also realizing that we will fall short.