Inroduction

[Cameron]

Hi all,
  I apologize that it has taken so long to jump in the fray as my health isn't always well.  So I received a message from Oni encouraging me to introduce my self and so that is what I will do.  My name is Cameron Bonham, my friends call me Cam.  I am a 54 almost 55 year old pre-op female to male transsexual.    So what does that mean?  It means that I was born female and actually in my case spent almost 50 years as a woman, not exactly knowing what else to do. I tried really hard to be a woman, I went the straight and married route a couple of times.  When that didn't work, I lived as a lesbian for over 20 years.  Pre-op means, I have had no surgeries.  I hope in the next year or so to have top surgery which is similar to a double mastectomy  but rather than just cutting it off, they try and contour your chest to make it seem more masculine and they resize your nipples and reattach them.  I have been injecting Testosterone for several years which has the advantage of lowering my voice, growing lots of hair.    Luckily for me, my mother's side of the family doesn't have male pattern baldness.  LOL  I have a beard and moustache which helps make me look male. I am a Vietnam-era Army Veteran. Originally from MOntana,  I have been in Alaska for over 20 years, was very active in the GLBT community for many years.  As lesbians, my partner and I put on the Women's Coffeehouse for about 4 years until the Women's Bookstore closed.  I was on the board of Identity for several years and was the Helpline Coordinator, also a Helpline volunteer which I still volunteer. My partner and I put together the Pride on the Parkstrip for several years before it got too big.  As lesbians, my partner and I performed in the Celebration of Change when it was at the PAC and I have been a volunteer at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center since it's opening.  I have seen the demise of the Womens Bookstore, the demise and the resurrection of Celebration of Change, the exodus of many of the women who were here and involved with the Womens community and now a new batch of women getting involved and lots of young people which is great. I am on disability and don't work and have slowed down considerably.  As a trans person, I speak to UAA classes, have to churches and other organizations to educate people about trans folk, I tell people that Trans folk are where Gay people were 20 years ago, people are just learning about us.  My partner of 15 years is still with me.  Beyond all that, I'm an avid reader, I belong to an online mystery reading group and I like science fiction and horror, I'm a movie buff and a TV addict. I am not religious but as a spiritual person I believe in a Higher Power, when I do participate in religion I go to the Immanuel Presbyterian church in Anchorage, it's a More Light church which means that it's welcoming and affirming, none of the gays are going to hell routine.  I am always open to questions, so if you are looking for more information or are just cvurious, feel free to ask. I hope I haven't bored you.