We had another great meeting last night as I got to meet and talk to members who have been a part of this group and others in the community. It was a wonderful time learning about the people of our group and what has and has not worked in the past. Along with this, I have gotten to witness and experience firsthand our members' thoughtfulness, consideration, and care. I deeply value the insight, experience, and perspective that each of them has brought and will bring in the future. So far, it sounds like the most important aspect for our meetings is support and safety in an open and social setting. This is understandable as many crossdressers fear judgment, harassment, and misunderstandings about who they truly are. It is a common misconception that because a man crossdresses, he must be transgender or gay. While there are some that do go on to transition or are gay, there are a vast many that are straight and content with their gender. Those are the core demographic of this group, and it is important that who they truly are is heard and understood. It is my hope to encourage this and keep hearing from recurring and new members to collaborate on how this group can best provide for them.

The resurgence of this group is still in its baby stages. Last week it was born, startled by its sudden appearance into the world, and this week it has just been discharged from the hospital with us parents looking at each other and thinking, "Now how are we going to keep this baby alive?" Luckily the strategy is also much the same--we will take it a day (or in our case a week) at a time.

Building trust, rapport, and members takes time, and it is not something that should be rushed. I am dedicated to helping this group find its legs so that it may relearn how to walk, and eventually, run. It is also my hope for this to be an educational blog that gives others greater insight and empathy for the members of this community and more.

Thanks for reading!

Mary Hannah