On The Road To Oz

he holiday season provides a host of things that we have all come to expect each year: good will, a helping hand, a little more patience from strangers, and the classics on television - no, not Santa on the Norelco razor. I’m referring to A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, A Wonderful Life and the Nutcracker ballet.  I was lounging around home this past holiday season and watched yet another classic, the Wizard of Oz, which I hadn’t seen in years. I wondered, is Dorothy really so different than us? A girl lost in a far off land, yearning to find her way home. They say that home is where the heart is, so perhaps we are trying to find home as well. She enlists the help of many strangers to assist her along the way, only to discover that she alone had the power to make her dream come true.  

There is always that day when you look in the mirror and realize that regardless of whether your “girl” desires are fashion, passion, or bedroom fantasy, they don’t seem to be going away. You acknowledge, for the first time, that this is not a phase that will pass, nor can you pretend it will never happen again. What an exciting – and horrifying moment! Has the tornado just plucked you from out of your own dream and dropped you into reality? Well, you’re not in Kansas anymore, that’s for sure! Of course you know you can’t go back the way you came, because you don’t even know how you got here in the first place. So now what? Glenda, good witch of the North, had the right answer, “it’s always best to start at the beginning.”  

The path to self-discovery can be lonely and confusing, but, one step at a time, whether you like it or not, your quest has just begun. And while the journey’s end may be yours alone, it doesn’t mean that the road, yellow brick or not, shouldn’t be accompanied by friends. Dorothy, the Tin man, Scarecrow and Lion, were total strangers with different backgrounds, experiences, and goals. Yet, they shared an adventure resulting in joy, sorrow, fear, courage, and a friendship that they could never have imagined, and their lives were enriched. 

Are you ready?  Are you ready to step out and find out who you are, not merely what you like to do? If so, friends can make any situation less scary, more insightful and fun. That’s right fun. You’re allowed to have a little fun. That doesn’t mean you will never stand frightened before the raging fire of the Wizard, like Dorothy and her friends did. You may be confronted by many unknowns and tremble through indecision and confusion. But, with friends at your side you may gain strength from their presence, and they from yours. 

With anything in life, variety is a good thing, and so too is your choice of friends. Find transgender parties, support groups and advocacy groups to attend. Interact with other transgender people. Have fun, learn what you can and teach what you know. By listening to others, understanding their point of view you expand your own horizons as well as theirs. Does this mean you should follow the collective vision of the trans community? Or, should you embrace your own individuality, while enjoying the company, and respecting the thoughts of others? Dorothy and friends stuck together yet thought for themselves. Sounds like a good plan to me. 

At the same time, take your newfound gender expression and make other friends outside the trans-community - gay, lesbian, straight, married, single, everyone!  Dorothy wouldn’t have found her dream if she stayed in munchkin land. You have to expand your horizons in order to grow. I was on my way to a gay bar and invited a friend to come along. She said, “they don’t like us there,” and choose not to attend. Do people really dislike transgender people as a group, or do some of us hide behind that idea to mask our own insecurity? Is it possible that a person can be liked for who they are, transcending their gender expression? Through my own adventures, I say, yes you can.  But if you decide to share your journey with strangers, who may or may not become close friends, you have to be honest and real. No fronting allowed, because you’re only fooling yourself. Saying, “I’m different and I’m proud,” is different from actually believing it, which then makes saying it unnecessary. On the flip side, saying, “I’m no different from the average guy n the street is a bit of a stretch as well, because in some ways we are different than the mainstream. It doesn’t make us better or worse, just different. 

In 2004, see if you can expand your social circle to include people from various types and backgrounds. Observe the way in which they interact with you, and you with them. If you’re comfortable with yourself, others will be too. Treat them with respect and be genuine to who you are and you may find a whole new world out there, beyond the rainbow.  However, don’t rush out into the mainstream without doing your homework first. Make sure the environment you plan on going into is safe and generally accepting. Always be careful and safe by traveling with a friend, or two or more.

 As always, be happy, be safe, and think pretty.
Brianna Austin  

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