SUPPORT
Being transgender can be a lonely, isolating experience. Many of us have felt at some time that we were alone, and there was no one with whom we could share our true selves. The first support groups that appeared in the 1960s arose from this universal need. Although the internet has now made it much easlier to find kindred spirits, there is still no substitute for meeting other transgender
people in person. If you are concerned for a friend or family member, we are here for you, too. Spouses, partners, siblings, friends, and parents of their adult trans children have all found help on their journey. Some guests say they were nervous about attending their first meeting, but then express their relief and appreciation. EDUCATION
Many of us came to Delaware Renaissance, or another support group, for the first time seeking to learn about transgenderism and gender identity. We educate ourselves formally and informally. We invite speakers, many of them experts in their fields, to discuss issues of interest. Some topics have been: family relationships, disclosure and coming out, choosing clothing and appropriate presentation, sexuality, spirituality, transitioning, reassignment surgery, the history and origins of transgenderism, and advocacy. More informally, we share what we have learned with each other. We help each other locate needed resources whether online, in print, or personal contacts, be they local, regional, or national. OUTREACH
Our members reach out to the greater community in many ways. We have been interviewed on radio programs, given presentations and joined panel discussions at churches and colleges, and served on LGBT committees in professional organizations and employer programs. Each year we participate in the Delaware Pride Festival in Rehoboth and send representatives to the Trans Health Conference in Philadelphia, the Keystone Conference in Harrisburg, Fantasia Fair in Provincetown, and the Empire Conference in Albany. Many of our members are well known in their local communities as transgender, and carry the title with pride.
